Google Pixel 9 Pro Vs iPhone SE (2022)

The Google Pixel 9 Pro, released in September 2024, and the Apple iPhone SE 2022, launched in March 2022, represent distinct approaches to the smartphone experience. While both are capable devices, they cater to different user preferences through their operating systems, design philosophies, and core feature sets. The Pixel 9 Pro operates on Android, offering a modern, feature-rich experience, whereas the iPhone SE 2022 runs on iOS, providing a compact form factor with a traditional design.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability. These two devices offer different expectations in terms of their practical lifespan.

• Release Timeline and OS Support: The Google Pixel 9 Pro, being a more recent device from late 2024, benefits from Google's commitment to providing seven years of operating system and security updates, extending its software support until at least August 2031. In contrast, the iPhone SE 2022, released in early 2022, typically receives 5 to 7 years of major iOS updates, with security updates potentially continuing for a bit longer, likely until around 2028-2030. This means the Pixel 9 Pro offers a longer guaranteed period of software relevance.
• Repairability: The iPhone SE 2022 generally has an average repairability score, with components like the battery and screen being relatively accessible for replacement, though strong adhesives and specialized tools are often necessary. The Pixel 9 Pro, however, has been noted to have a lower repairability score, with strong adhesives making disassembly challenging and increasing the risk of damage to components like the display during repair attempts.
• Build Materials: The iPhone SE 2022 features stronger glass on both its front and back, similar to the iPhone 13 series, and carries an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. The Pixel 9 Pro utilizes Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for its display and features a matte glass back with a polished metal frame, offering a modern and durable construction.

Performance is a key differentiator, with both devices offering capable processing power tailored to their respective ecosystems, but with varying capacities for demanding tasks and multitasking.

• Processor Capabilities: The Google Pixel 9 Pro is equipped with a current-generation Google Tensor G4 processor, designed to handle demanding applications, advanced AI features, and extensive multitasking smoothly. The iPhone SE 2022 features the Apple A15 Bionic chip, which provides robust performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and general app usage, offering a responsive experience within its ecosystem.
• RAM and Storage: The Pixel 9 Pro comes with 16GB of RAM, which significantly enhances its ability to manage numerous applications simultaneously and support complex background processes without slowdowns. It offers storage options ranging from 128GB up to 1TB. The iPhone SE 2022 includes 4GB of RAM and is available with 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage, which is suitable for typical user needs but offers less headroom for extensive multitasking or large media libraries compared to the Pixel.
• Battery Behavior: The Pixel 9 Pro houses a 4700 mAh battery, generally providing over a full day of use for many users and supporting fast charging and wireless charging. The iPhone SE 2022 has a smaller 2018 mAh battery, which, while optimized for its hardware, may require more frequent charging for heavy users. It also supports wireless and proprietary fast charging.

The visual experience on these smartphones differs significantly due to their display technologies and physical dimensions.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Google Pixel 9 Pro features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a high resolution of 2856 x 1280 pixels, resulting in a sharp image with deep blacks and vibrant colors. This is often referred to as a Super Actua display. The iPhone SE 2022 utilizes a 4.7-inch LCD Retina HD display with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels, offering good clarity and color accuracy for its size, though it does not achieve the same contrast levels as an OLED panel.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The Pixel 9 Pro's display boasts an adaptive refresh rate that can dynamically adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz, providing smooth scrolling and animations while conserving battery life. It can reach a peak brightness of up to 2050-3000 nits, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone SE 2022 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate and a lower peak brightness, which is adequate for most indoor and outdoor viewing but may struggle more in direct sunlight compared to the Pixel.
• Screen Size and Viewing Experience: The larger 6.3-inch screen of the Pixel 9 Pro offers an expansive viewing area, enhancing media consumption, gaming, and productivity. The compact 4.7-inch screen of the iPhone SE 2022 provides a more pocketable and one-handed friendly experience, appealing to users who prefer a smaller device.

Both devices offer capable camera systems, but they differ in their hardware configurations and computational photography capabilities.

• Camera System Configuration: The Google Pixel 9 Pro features a versatile triple-rear camera system, including a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens with autofocus and macro capabilities, and a 48MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. It also has a 42MP front-facing camera. The iPhone SE 2022 comes with a single 12MP wide-angle rear camera and a 7MP front camera.
• Photography and Video Features: The Pixel 9 Pro excels in computational photography with features like Night Sight for both photos and videos, Super Res Zoom Video, and AI-powered editing tools such as Magic Editor, Add Me, and Reimagine. It supports video recording up to 8K at 30 frames per second and includes Dual Exposure video capture for improved dynamic range. The iPhone SE 2022 benefits from the A15 Bionic chip's image processing, offering Smart HDR 4, Deep Fusion, and Portrait mode for human subjects. It records video up to 4K at 60 frames per second with its rear camera, but lacks a dedicated Night Mode and advanced video stabilization features found in more premium devices.
• Audio Quality: The Pixel 9 Pro includes dual stereo speakers for an immersive audio experience. While specific microphone quality details for the Pixel 9 Pro were not extensively detailed, Pixel phones generally offer good call quality. The iPhone SE 2022 provides clear microphone quality for calls and recordings, and its speaker output is suitable for media consumption, though it may not match the richness of larger, more modern devices.