What is the phrase comparing apples to apples?
The phrase "comparing apples to apples" means that you are
comparing two or more things that are as similar as possible
without being the same thing. Conversly, the phrase "comparing
apples to oranges" means that you are trying to compare two or more
things that are quite different from each other.
A more stringent comparison is that you cannot compare apples
and oranges by size, taste, or use, because each is distinct.
Comparing apples to apples would be valid because some apples may
be preferable to others in these or other ways.