Google Pixel vs Apple iPhone:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple iPhone had more branded searches than Google Pixel among smartphone brands in Australia. Apple iPhone had about 368,000 branded searches, while Google Pixel had 53,100. Apple iPhone made up 63.9% of all smartphone brand searches we track, and Google Pixel accounted for 9.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about smartphone brands, Google Pixel appeared in all five answers and Apple iPhone in four. Apple iPhone was mentioned before Google Pixel in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Apple iPhone, about 7 searches for every 1 for Google Pixel
Who does AI mention more?
Google Pixel, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple iPhone, named ahead of Google Pixel in 3 of 5 answers
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Top smartphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Google Pixel appeared in all five answers. Apple iPhone was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Apple iPhone was listed before Google Pixel in three out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Samsung Galaxy1st- Apple iPhone2nd
- Google Pixel3rd
Nothing3rd
Motorola5th
OPPO6th
Xiaomi7th
HONOR–
vivo–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Google Pixel5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Apple iPhone4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Samsung Galaxy4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Nothing3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Motorola3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- OPPO2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Xiaomi1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- HONOR0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- vivo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about smartphone brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best smartphone to buy in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best phones for the money?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best value Android phone in Australia?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“smartphone”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best phone”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is Google Pixel or Apple iPhone more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Google Pixel and Apple iPhone by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine smartphone brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Apple iPhone, Google Pixel. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | Google Pixel | Nothing | OPPO | Xiaomi | HONOR | Motorola | vivo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 54.3% | 14.6% | 11.7% | 6% | 10% | 1.8% | 0.35% | 0.78% | 0.51% |
| Nov 2025 | 52.3% | 14.3% | 13.8% | 7% | 9.6% | 1.1% | 0.42% | 0.94% | 0.49% |
| Dec 2025 | 53.6% | 14.6% | 11.6% | 7.2% | 9.9% | 0.96% | 0.51% | 1.2% | 0.43% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.9% | 12.7% | 10.2% | 7.7% | 9.3% | 1% | 0.54% | 1.2% | 0.45% |
| Feb 2026 | 60% | 11.2% | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9% | 0.87% | 0.48% | 1.1% | 0.48% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.4% | 10.1% | 9.9% | 11.2% | 10.2% | 0.99% | 0.52% | 1.2% | 0.52% |
| Apr 2026 | 58% | 10.4% | 8.5% | 9.6% | 9.9% | 0.84% | 1% | 1.3% | 0.46% |
| May 2026 | 61.1% | 9.1% | 8.9% | 8.2% | 9.2% | 0.89% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 59% | 8.8% | 10.4% | 9.7% | 8.9% | 0.86% | 0.86% | 1.1% | 0.38% |
| Jul 2026 | 57.2% | 10.4% | 10.3% | 9.4% | 8.6% | 0.84% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.37% |
| Aug 2026 | 59.7% | 9.1% | 12.7% | 8% | 7.3% | 0.87% | 1.1% | 0.87% | 0.32% |
| Sep 2026 | 63.9% | 9.4% | 9.2% | 7% | 7% | 1.4% | 0.94% | 0.76% | 0.33% |
How has the Google Pixel and Apple iPhone comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple iPhone was ahead of Google Pixel in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Google Pixel’s share of searches among smartphone brands in Australia moved from 11.7% to 9.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 43.4K to 53.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple iPhone’s share of searches among smartphone brands in Australia moved from 54.3% to 63.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 368K.
How did search popularity change for Australia smartphone brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple iPhone gained share of searches among smartphone brands in Australia, from 59.7% to 63.9%.
In September 2026, Google Pixel lost share of searches among smartphone brands in Australia, from 12.7% to 9.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Google Pixel’s and Apple iPhone’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Google Pixel
2 branded search terms
- google pixel
- pixel phone
Apple iPhone
1 branded search term
- iphone
Other head-to-heads among smartphone brands
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