Google used Wicked twice to stage its Pixel-versus-iPhone rivalry. The original headline most likely refers to “Defying Gravity,” a 60-second Pixel 9 Pro commercial released on November 12, 2024. A separate, later spot called “For Good” arrived in November 2025, featuring the iPhone 17 Pro as Glinda and the Pixel 10 Pro as Elphaba.
Watch and identify the commercial
The two ads are easy to confuse because both turn Google and Apple’s phones into animated characters in the world of Wicked.
| Clue | “Defying Gravity” | “For Good” |
|---|---|---|
| Release | November 12, 2024 | November 2025 |
| Movie tie-in | The first Wicked film | Wicked: For Good |
| Featured Pixel | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 10 Pro |
| Creative clue | Yellow Brick Road, the Wizard and the “Defying Gravity” theme | iPhone as Glinda, Pixel as Elphaba, with a “For Good” musical-style ending |
The 2024 commercial is listed by PhoneArena and iSpot. The later ad is covered by MacRumors, with an official Google Pixel video available on YouTube.
The 2024 “Defying Gravity” ad
In the first Wicked tie-in, animated Pixel and iPhone characters travel along the Yellow Brick Road toward the Wizard. The familiar setting turns the phones’ rivalry into a fantasy journey, while the “Defying Gravity” association supplies the commercial’s central dramatic cue.
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- Attention-grabbing design meets the latest evolution of the Google Pixel Camera on the new Google Pixel 11 Pro; Gemini Intelligence helps manage details so you can live in the moment[1]; and the phone is available in two sizes
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan: Works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers[2]
- Stay informed without looking at your screen: When your phone is face down, Pixel HiLight gently alerts you with subtle glowing lights when your favorite contacts are calling or you’re talking with Gemini; exclusive to Google Pixel 11 Pro phones
- Magic Capture catches the moment as you live it: With just one tap, Pixel 11 Pro captures video and photos, and automatically edits, crops, and unblurs a curated collection, ready to share – and you get the memory of how it felt to be in the moment
- Two new cameras for more brilliant photos: A larger telephoto sensor captures 30% more light for clear, beautiful photos and videos, even in the dark[3]; Pixel’s longest zoom ever helps you capture details from impressive distances[4]
The spot promotes the Google Pixel 9 Pro and continues Google’s established approach of treating Pixel and iPhone as recurring characters—part competitors, part unlikely friends. It is primarily a piece of entertainment marketing connected to the first movie’s release, not a technical comparison or independent camera test.
The 2025 “For Good” ad
The later commercial is more explicit about product features. Released as part of Google’s #BestPhonesForever campaign and timed to Wicked: For Good, it casts the iPhone 17 Pro as Glinda and the Pixel 10 Pro as Elphaba.
Its joke is unusually flattering to Pixel: the iPhone acknowledges Pixel as an inspiration and credits Google’s phone with introducing capabilities before Apple. The ad refers to three broad feature categories:
Rank #2
- Google Pixel 10a is a durable, everyday phone with more[1]; snap brilliant photography on a simple, powerful camera, get 30+ hours out of a full charge[2], and do more with helpful AI like Gemini[3]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel 10a is sleek and durable, with a super smooth finish, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display, and IP68 water and dust protection[4]
- The Actua display with 3,000-nit peak brightness shows up clear as day, even in direct sunlight[5]
- Plan, create, and get more done with help from Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[3]; have it screen spam calls while you focus[6]; chat with Gemini to brainstorm your meal plan[7], or bring your ideas to life with Nano Banana[8]
- AI-assisted photo editing, including removing unwanted objects;
- call screening;
- an AI assistant designed for more natural, conversational interaction.
The characters then perform a musical-style duet inspired by “For Good.” The emotional reconciliation ultimately becomes another Pixel promotion. Coverage of the creative is available from AppleInsider, MacMagazine and iTechMania.
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The campaign’s message is that Pixel is the innovator and iPhone is the follower. Giving the iPhone a starring role as Pixel’s admirer lets Google make a competitive point without staging an aggressive attack. The audience gets a recognizable joke: Apple’s phone effectively admits that Google got there first.
That “first” framing remains Google’s advertising claim. It should not be treated as an independently established ranking of every feature. “First” can depend on the definition being used, including launch date, beta availability, country, language, operating-system integration or whether a capability was delivered through an app.
How to interpret the feature references
| Ad reference | Fair interpretation |
|---|---|
| Fixing photos | Google is claiming earlier leadership in AI-assisted unwanted-object removal or related photo editing. The implementations on Pixel and iPhone need not be identical. |
| Call screening | Availability and behavior can vary by model, region, carrier, language and software version. |
| Conversational AI | The ad promotes Google’s AI direction; it does not prove superior accuracy, privacy, speed or availability in every situation. |
Likewise, “Apple copied Google” is an interpretation encouraged by the commercial, not a neutral technical conclusion. The products shown in the ad should be understood as characters representing their brands and feature reputations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Wicked works for the Pixel-versus-iPhone rivalry
Wicked provides Google with a ready-made story about two contrasting characters whose relationship changes over time. That makes the phone rivalry immediately legible: Pixel can play the misunderstood innovator, while iPhone can play the more established and recognizable counterpart.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The approach also extends Google’s #BestPhonesForever format, which has portrayed Pixel and iPhone as animated rivals and friends since 2023. The series uses humor to discuss design decisions, software, artificial intelligence and differences between Android and iOS. By late 2025, coverage described the campaign as having more than 30 installments, although totals can vary depending on whether short versions and related clips are counted.
Rank #4
- Google Pixel 10 Pro is the ultimate Pixel experience, featuring advanced AI with Gemini, unbelievable camera quality, impeccable design in two sizes, and the next-gen Google Tensor G5 chip[1]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works - Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Get a head start on syncing your data before it even arrives: After you purchase your new Pixel, look for an email that explains how to transfer your photos, videos, passwords, and more in just a few quick steps[11]
- Pixel’s pro camera system makes everything look amazing, even in low light; capture more of the scene with advanced Google AI models, and bring out incredible details with 100x Pro Res Zoom, stunning 50 MP images, and super steady videos in 8K[10]
- Pixel 10 Pro is built with durable aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for scratch and drop resistance; the 6.3-inch Super Actua display with 3,300-nit peak brightness is easy on the eyes, even in direct sunlight[3,13,18]
The Wicked tie-ins add film-promotion value to that recurring format. The 2024 spot promoted Pixel during the first movie’s release; the 2025 video functioned as both a Pixel advertisement and a crossover timed to Wicked: For Good.
Don’t confuse the ad with the Pixel theme packs
Google also promoted Wicked-themed Pixel materials in connection with the 2025 campaign. Those theme packs are separate from the iPhone-versus-Pixel parody. Google’s video description said the promotion ran through January 31, 2026, so that limited availability has now ended. The rollout initially covered Pixel 7a and newer mobile devices, with older models mentioned for later availability; eligibility varied by model, region and timing.
Bottom line
Google’s “Wicked” advertising is clever brand entertainment built around a simple competitive message: Pixel introduces useful software and AI ideas, while iPhone eventually follows. If your clip shows the Yellow Brick Road and the Wizard, it is the 2024 “Defying Gravity” ad for Pixel 9 Pro. If the iPhone appears as Glinda, praises Pixel and references photo editing, call screening and conversational AI, it is the 2025 “For Good” spot featuring the iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro. Neither commercial, by itself, is evidence that one phone is universally better; real feature availability depends on the model, country, language, carrier and software version.
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