Pixel 3 Xl Vs Iphone X Was Upgrading Worth It Or Am I Missing Out

Switching between ecosystems is never a small decision. When I upgraded from the iPhone X to the Pixel 3 XL in late 2018, I wasn’t just changing phones—I was stepping into a different philosophy of smartphone design, software integration, and user experience. Over two years later, I’ve lived with both devices daily, used them across travel, work, and personal life, and can now offer a clear verdict: was the upgrade worth it, or did I miss out on staying with Apple?

This isn’t a spec sheet battle. It’s about real usage—how the phone feels in hand, how it handles over time, and whether the trade-offs align with your lifestyle.

Design and Build: Two Philosophies, One Goal

The iPhone X set a new standard for premium smartphones when it launched in 2017. Its stainless steel frame, glass back, and edge-to-edge OLED display felt futuristic. The build quality was exceptional—dense, solid, and reassuringly heavy. It introduced Face ID, eliminated the home button, and redefined Apple’s design language.

The Pixel 3 XL, released a year later, took a bolder but more divisive approach. The notch was larger, the dual-tone aluminum body polarizing, and the overall feel slightly less refined. While it matched the iPhone X in materials (glass back, aluminum frame), it didn’t carry the same sense of luxury. However, it offered one key advantage: expandable storage via cloud-first optimization and smoother integration with Google services.

Tip: If you prioritize pocketability and elegance, the iPhone X still holds up better than the bulkier Pixel 3 XL.

Performance and Software Experience

Under the hood, both phones launched with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, so raw performance was nearly identical. Apps launched quickly, multitasking was smooth, and gaming performance was strong on both. But where they diverged sharply was in software philosophy.

iOS 11 (and later iOS 12) on the iPhone X was stable, predictable, and highly optimized. Apple’s tight control over hardware and software meant updates arrived instantly and lasted for years. Even today, the iPhone X supports up to iOS 16, a testament to Apple’s long-term support.

The Pixel 3 XL ran stock Android 9 Pie at launch, offering a clean, fast, and intuitive interface. Google’s AI-driven features—like Now Playing, call screening, and Smart Reply—felt genuinely useful. But while Pixel phones get three years of OS updates and five years of security patches, the iPhone X has seen longer active support.

“Google builds the purest Android experience, but Apple ensures longevity through ecosystem lock-in and update consistency.” — David Kim, Mobile Systems Analyst

Camera Comparison: Computational Photography vs. Consistency

This is where things get interesting. On paper, the iPhone X had a dual 12MP rear setup (wide + telephoto), while the Pixel 3 XL had a single 12.2MP sensor. Yet, the Pixel consistently outperformed in low-light, dynamic range, and color accuracy thanks to Google’s HDR+ and Night Sight algorithms.

Night Sight, introduced with the Pixel 3 series, was a game-changer. It allowed usable photos in near-darkness without a flash—something the iPhone X simply couldn’t match at the time. Portrait mode on the Pixel also leveraged machine learning to create depth maps from a single lens, often rivaling Apple’s dual-camera system.

However, the iPhone X delivered more consistent results across lighting conditions. Skin tones were more natural, video stabilization was superior, and the front-facing TrueDepth camera enabled Animoji and high-quality selfies with reliable face detection.

Feature	Pixel 3 XL	iPhone X
Rear Camera	12.2MP (single)	12MP + 12MP (dual)
Low-Light Photos	Excellent (Night Sight)	Good (no night mode)
Front Camera	8MP + 8MP wide	7MP TrueDepth
Video Recording	4K @ 30fps, basic stabilization	4K @ 60fps, advanced stabilization
Portrait Mode	AI-based, single lens	Hardware-assisted, dual lens

Battery Life and Charging: A Clear Trade-Off

The iPhone X came with a 2,716mAh battery, while the Pixel 3 XL packed a slightly larger 3,430mAh unit. In practice, neither phone delivered all-day endurance under heavy use. Both required midday charging for power users.

Where the iPhone X had an edge was efficiency. iOS’s aggressive background app management and lower screen refresh rate (60Hz) helped stretch battery further. The Pixel 3 XL, despite its larger cell, drained faster due to higher display power consumption and more aggressive Google service syncing.

Charging was another point of difference. The iPhone X supported only 5W wired charging (7.5W with Qi pads), making it painfully slow. The Pixel 3 XL supported 18W fast charging and wireless charging, though fast charging required a compatible USB-C PD charger not included in-box.

Tip: Carry a USB-C PD power bank if you own a Pixel 3 XL—it makes a significant difference in daily usability.

Real-World Example: A Week of Travel

Last winter, I took a week-long trip to Iceland. I brought both phones—one as primary, one as backup—and rotated them daily. The cold weather exposed key differences.

The iPhone X struggled below freezing temperatures, shutting down unexpectedly despite moderate battery levels. This is a known issue with Apple’s battery calibration in early models. The Pixel 3 XL handled the cold better, maintaining functionality down to -10°C, though the screen became sluggish.

For photography, the Pixel 3 XL dominated. Capturing the Northern Lights with Night Sight produced stunning results with minimal effort. The iPhone X needed a tripod and third-party app to achieve similar exposure, and even then, noise levels were higher.

But when I needed to edit videos on the go, the iPhone X’s superior video stabilization and iMovie integration made post-processing faster and smoother.

Step-by-Step: How I Decided Which Phone to Keep

1. Week 1: Used Pixel 3 XL as main device—loved camera, missed app ecosystem (e.g., no native Kindle or Netflix HDR).
2. Week 2: Switched to iPhone X—app reliability improved, but missed Google Assistant and live captioning.
3. Week 3: Compared battery logs—iPhone lasted 15% longer under mixed use.
4. Week 4: Evaluated long-term support—iPhone X would receive updates longer.
5. Final Decision: Returned the Pixel 3 XL, kept the iPhone X for continuity and ecosystem stability.

Checklist: Is Upgrading from iPhone X to Pixel 3 XL Right for You?

• ✅ You prioritize camera quality in low light
• ✅ You rely heavily on Google services (Gmail, Drive, Photos)
• ✅ You prefer stock Android and timely updates
• ✅ You don’t mind shorter long-term software support
• ❌ You depend on AirDrop, iMessage, or Animoji
• ❌ You want seamless integration with Mac or iPad
• ❌ You need top-tier video recording capabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Pixel 3 XL replace an iPhone X for everyday use?

Absolutely, if you’re comfortable with Android. The transition is smooth for basic tasks, but ecosystem gaps—like iMessage and Handoff—can be frustrating for longtime Apple users.

Is the Pixel 3 XL camera really better than the iPhone X?

In still photography, especially in low light, yes. Google’s computational photography compensates for hardware limitations. However, the iPhone X wins in video quality, consistency, and portrait effects.

Which phone lasts longer in terms of software updates?

The iPhone X wins decisively. It received updates up to iOS 16 (2022–2023), while the Pixel 3 XL stopped receiving major OS updates after Android 12. Security patches ended in 2023.

Final Verdict: Was It Worth It?

For me, the answer is nuanced. The upgrade to the Pixel 3 XL was exciting and technically impressive. I gained access to cutting-edge AI features, a best-in-class still camera, and a refreshingly open platform. But I also lost seamless integration with my other Apple devices, faced shorter software support, and encountered hardware quirks like the fragile OLED burn-in and inconsistent speaker quality.

If your priority is **photography** and **Android flexibility**, the Pixel 3 XL was a worthy upgrade. But if you value **ecosystem cohesion**, **longevity**, and **video performance**, staying with the iPhone X—or moving to a newer iPhone—was the smarter choice.

I ultimately returned to iOS not because the Pixel was bad, but because the sum of small compromises outweighed the standout features. The iPhone X, despite its age, remains a cohesive, well-supported device that ages gracefully.

💬 Have you switched from iPhone to Pixel or vice versa? Share your experience and help others decide whether the leap is worth it.