When the first leaks of the Pixel 9 series appeared, we were not the only ones who thought that the devices looked similar to Apple’s iPhone. The flat edges, the logo design and the rounded corners all gave off an iPhone feel, even if there was so much Google as part of the package. Since we have an iPhone 15 Pro in the house, as well as both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, we thought we’d throw them side by side to show you if they really are that similar, while also talking about how good this hardware is.

Here is the Pixel 9 Pro compared to the iPhone 15 Pro.

First off, I have to admit that the Pixel 9 Pro does indeed share some similarities with the iPhone 15 Pro, but if you pick both up or look at the images here, I’m not sure you’d confuse them. As we mentioned in the lead-up to launch, the Pixel 9 Pro is still unquestionably a Google phone, looks like it would fit perfectly into the Pixel family, and has a camera bar so pronounced that you know what it is when you see it. Nobody (honestly) looks at the Pixel 9 Pro phones above and says, “Yeah, man, that’s just an iPhone copy.” It’s not.

Sure, we have rounded corners (which Google also did with the Pixel 8 series) and flat edges. It’s probably those two design choices that brought us to this comparison today. But can Apple really own these ideas forever? It would be silly to say so, so no, they can’t.

What I’m saying is that unlike Apple, Google perfected this design from the beginning. You know how Apple fans like to claim that if Apple copies others and releases software features years later, that’s OK with Apple because they did it and improved it? Google has flipped that argument here. For so long, Apple released iPhones with flat edges, only with edges that were incredibly sharp and uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time if you refused to use a case. So oddly uncomfortable to the point that it hurt that you were almost forced to use a case.

When the iPhone 15 Pro lineup came out, Apple finally rounded off the edges of the device, making it much more comfortable to hold and giving it that extra polish that showed how good Apple is at building hardware. And then Google just came along with the Pixel 9 Pro and made it just as good as Apple’s on the first try.

You can see this in the image above, where the metal frames of both phones are bent or curved at the edges before they merge into the rear glass. It’s this subtle curvature that makes all the difference, allowing you to hold both devices for hours at a time.

Google opted for a polished frame on the Pixel 9 Pro line (the regular Pixel 9 has a matte finish), while Apple went more with satin on the iPhone 15 Pro. While the shiny metal on the Pixel 9 Pro does attract fingerprints, it’s also quite grippy, while the satin on the iPhone 15 Pro is often slippery in the hand. As much as I hate fingerprints, this frame and finish choice from Google is probably the right one if you don’t like cases.

Another excellent choice from Google in this design would be the camera bar. Like previous Pixel phones, Google’s camera bar is long and stretches across the entire back of the phone, so your device doesn’t wobble when it’s resting on a surface. This isn’t the case with phones from Apple or Samsung, where the cameras are positioned in a corner. These can be annoying when putting the device down, as touching one side creates a movement that can be frustrating. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro simply lies flat and is easy to use without any worries.

Of course, Apple still adds that big dynamic island at the top of the display that houses the face unlock technology and allows access to select, active software features. Google simply includes a selfie camera that takes up less space. I imagine Google could use that area for more, but I’m also just a fan of seeing more display at all times, with space for notification icons and the addition of a fingerprint sensor that no longer sucks. Not having to rely solely on face unlock is a big deal.

Overall, I’d say that while Google’s Pixel 9 Pro has a shape that brings to mind an iPhone, this phone is still a Google phone. I’ve been using Google’s new high-end devices for over a week now, and my only thoughts on the design are that this is Google’s best work yet. This hardware is incredible.