iPhone Air vs Pixel 9 Pro: Best Design vs Most Improved
Two phones with very different award stories. iPhone Air won Best Design at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards (thinnest mainstream phone ever); Pixel 9 Pro won Most Improved at MKBHD's 2024 awards. They're priced $100 apart.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
iPhone Air
Apple · 2025 · From $899
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Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google · 2024 · From $999
Round wins
iPhone Air: 2 · Google Pixel 9 Pro: 3 ·Ties: 2
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone Air | Google Pixel 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Apple A18 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 12MP front | 50MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 2,800 mAh | 4,700 mAh |
| OS | iOS 19 | Android 14 |
| Starting price | $899 | $999 |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Design
Winner: iPhone AiriPhone Air won MKBHD's 2025 Best Design — at 5.5mm it's the thinnest mainstream phone ever made.
Display
Winner: iPhone AiriPhone Air: 6.6-inch ProMotion OLED, larger than Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch.
Camera
Winner: Google Pixel 9 ProPixel 9 Pro has triple-camera system including 5x telephoto. iPhone Air has single 48MP main only. Material gap.
Performance
TieA18 (iPhone Air) and Tensor G4 (Pixel 9 Pro) are roughly equivalent.
Battery
TieBoth modest — iPhone Air: 5–6 hours; Pixel 9 Pro: 5.5–6.5 hours.
AI features
Winner: Google Pixel 9 ProPixel 9 Pro has the broader on-device AI catalog. Apple Intelligence narrower.
Price
Winner: Google Pixel 9 ProiPhone Air: $899. Pixel 9 Pro: $999. iPhone is $100 cheaper but you give up cameras.
Final verdict
Buy the Pixel 9 Pro for value — better cameras, more capable AI features, and a $100 lower price. Buy the iPhone Air only if design and pocketability are decisive for you and you live in iOS. The Pixel 9 Pro is the more rounded recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
iPhone Air or Pixel 9 Pro: which to buy?
Pixel 9 Pro for value — better cameras and AI features. iPhone Air only if pocketable design is decisive and you're in iOS.
Is the iPhone Air a Pro-tier phone?
No — single camera, A18 chip (not A19 Pro), smaller battery. The Air is a design statement, not a Pro phone.
Which is more durable?
Pixel 9 Pro — thicker body absorbs drops better. iPhone Air's 5.5mm thinness makes it more vulnerable to bending in tight pockets.