Paytm boss says “iPhone 16 is so bad”, considers switching to Pixel after desi CEO of AI giant gives positive Pixel 9 Pro review – Technology News
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has publicly expressed his disappointment with the camera quality of the iPhone 16, sparking an online debate about Apple’s latest flagship device.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharma stated he was “surprised how the iPhone killed its camera (software/app) so badly in iPhone 16,” and that the issue was serious enough to make him consider switching to Pixel, though he stopped short of naming any specific model.
I am surprised how the iPhone killed its camera (software / app) so badly in 16. It is so bad that I am seriously thinking of a Pixel now. Anyone else going through the same struggles ?
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Sharma’s critique comes as a surprise to many, given Apple’s longstanding reputation for top-notch camera technology. He clarified that he opted for the standard iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16 Pro due to its lighter weight, but the camera performance has seemingly overshadowed any benefits of the base model.
Maybe that’s the issue. This time due to lightweight, I picked up 16 and not Pro. https://t.co/5SpcF2i0HY
Adding fuel to the fire, other prominent figures in the Indian tech industry have chimed in on the debate. Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Asset Management Company, shared her positive experience with the Pixel, stating, “The pixel is fab! Migrated from iPhone to it.”
Recently, Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder & CEO of Perplexity, also praised the Pixel 9 Pro, highlighting its impressive build quality and overall performance, liking it to being “iPhone quality.”
Pixel 9 Pro is a really good phone. I bought it to test a new thing we’re working on. And realized the phone’s really well made that it doesn’t feel I’m not using something IPhone quality.
This public criticism from high-profile individuals like Sharma could potentially damage the iPhone 16’s reputation, especially in the Indian market where Paytm holds significant influence. The critique also comes at a time when Google is ramping up the launch, service, and availability of Pixel devices after years of giving India a miss.
Late last year, Google announced the opening of its own service centres in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, in partnership with F1 Info Solutions and Services Private Limited, the service arm of Flipkart which is also its exclusive online sale partner. The idea is to offer the highest levels of service for a wide range of Google products including Pixel smartphones, Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds, as well as FitBit and Nest devices, in some cases, within the same day.
In addition to the new service centres, Google has also expanded retail availability, making its devices available at Croma and Reliance Retail outlets across the country.
Last but not the least, Google launched the entire Pixel 9 series lineup in India along with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the Pixel Watch 3, a first for the company.
Cut to Apple, the iPhone-maker recently clocked 10 percent market share, according to Counterpoint estimates, first time it has recorded double-digit sales, on the back of increased local manufacturing and the opening of its retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi.
Clearly, there’s no one clear winner here. But conversations like these do tend to attract a lot of attention, bringing people together to defend their choice of brand and products, proving the world of tech and smartphones isn’t completely saturated as some of us might think.
