Yeah, because they always just compare the new one with the old iPhone, not with competitors. "The best <insert random feature> in an iPhone ever!" Well, no shit, the new one isn't worse than the old one, gz!
And don't forget to invent crazy marketing names to hide tech specs ("Retina display" which wasn't even 1080p etc).
Comparing a companies budget phone to another companies newer halo phone is just an unreasonable comparision. The iPhone 15 pro also has many features that the pixel doesn't.
For 429 dollars you could get an Apple refurbished iphone 12 mini (so same warranties and stuff as a new phone), which has a more powerful cpu, higher storage options if wanted, a brighter display, face id, etc. Obviously, you also lose features. But the reality is, its not some simple one side is good value and the other is overpriced garbage.
oem authorized repair also applies to apple, and with almost all the same caveats
It isn't if the halo phone sucks. Like, if the Pixel 7A - Google's budget phone, crushes the latest iPhone, imagine what the flagship Google Pixel 8 Pro does to it...