Google Pixel 9 vs Galaxy S24: Which should you buy?

For those who’re a affected person purchaser however are weighing up the perfect Android smartphones of the 12 months, there’s an opportunity that you simply’ve been ready for Google to point out its playing cards. Now that the Pixel 9 sequence is right here, how does it examine to its rivals from manufacturers like Samsung? For those who want an in depth comparability between the Pixel 9 vs Galaxy S24, learn on.

These two base flagships are for individuals who need all the advantages of the right premium units with out the penalty of a better value or bigger body. Which means that each telephones obtain silicon just like their Professional and Extremely siblings however put on a a lot smaller show. The Pixel 9 employs a 6.3-inch display screen that provides a better peak brightness (2,700 vs 2,600 nits) and density (422 vs 416ppi) than the Galaxy S24. The Samsung’s 6.2-inch show does have a wider refresh price vary, dropping to as little as 1Hz to avoid wasting energy and 120Hz to please your eyes. The Pixel 9’s show can solely muster 60Hz in such instances, regardless that it may well additionally hit 120Hz when required.

The Pixel line has historically cowered within the shadow of Samsung’s specs-is-everything Galaxy sequence, however this isn’t fairly the case in 2024. Google’s new cellphone makes use of the Tensor G4 SoC, a minor however welcome improve over the feverish Tensor G3. Regardless of the claimed enhancements to AI efficiency and effectivity, the Google chipset needs to be much less spectacular in a straight line than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy accessible for US patrons. For international customers, Samsung makes use of the Exynos 2400 in its compact flagship.

It’s a unique story in terms of RAM. Google stuffs the Pixel 9 with 12GB of reminiscence to help its AI ambitions, beating out the comparatively meager 8GB within the Samsung. This 4GB hole ought to give the Pixel extra headroom for Gemini actions, nevertheless it stays to be seen simply how a lot of a bonus this might be. For what it’s value, we’ve not discovered Galaxy AI wanting in terms of velocity.

There’s software program parity, at the least. Each Google and Samsung promise patrons seven years of OS updates and safety patches. Because the newer cellphone, the Pixel 9 will obtain further months of help past the Samsung. This could possibly be vital, particularly as this may increasingly imply an extra Android model replace for the Pixel 9 because of its August launch date.

The Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24 are two of the smaller fully-fledged flagships you should purchase in 2024. Due to their compact shows, each telephones are extremely pocketable and far simpler to make use of with one hand than their bigger siblings.

In actual phrases, the Pixel 9 is the bigger of the 2 units, and by a good margin. It’s 5.8mm taller, 1.4mm wider, and 0.9mm thicker than the Galaxy S24. It’s additionally decidedly heavy for a compact smartphone, simply in need of 200g. Compared, the Galaxy S24 weighs 168g, giving the Google cellphone a 30g drawback. This wouldn’t normally be an issue, however smaller and lighter is all the things for these searching for a compact Android cellphone.

Design choice is very subjective, however I’d argue that Samsung is much extra conservative than the Pixel 9. The Galaxy S24 proudly wears Samsung’s clear and purposeful styling, shared throughout the S and A sequence. You both prefer it or don’t, however the triple rear digital camera stack is decidedly and unmistakably Samsung. The Galaxy S24 is obtainable in Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Marble Grey, and Onyx Black colorways.

The Pixel 9 can also be undeniably Google. Sure, the imposing rear digital camera bar has been redesigned into an imposing digital camera tablet, nevertheless it’s a far cleaner design selection. The Google cellphone’s strains are additionally sharper, its sides are flatter, whereas its buttons are broader. It’s one of many extra iPhone-like Google telephones ever. This isn’t a foul factor, and because of its array of colours, the cellphone is a looker. You’ll be able to have the Pixel 9 in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, or Peony.

Google has historically leaned on its software program processing smarts to hone its digital camera skills, whereas Samsung opted for the brute drive method. Nevertheless, the Pixel 9 boasts extra collective megapixels throughout its two rear cameras than the Galaxy S24 throughout its three. Megapixels aren’t all the things, nevertheless it’s an fascinating remark nonetheless.

Whereas the Pixel 9’s 50MP foremost digital camera could also be carried over from the Pixel 8, the ultrawide snapper positively isn’t. It now features a 48MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and a 123-degree area of view, which ought to yield sharper and kinder ends in all lighting situations.

The Galaxy S24 additionally makes use of a 50MP major digital camera however opts for a 12MP ultrawide with a narrower f/2.2 aperture. Each snappers carried out admirably in our evaluate, even when they’re falling behind the cameras on their rivals. However, the Samsung has a devoted telephoto lens, leaving the Pixel 9 quick. Granted, it’s a 10MP 3x lens, which the Pixel 9 might drive by way of software program zoom, however the Samsung cellphone has a extra versatile digital camera setup.

Up entrance, the Galaxy S24 incorporates a 12MP f/2.2 digital camera for selfies and video calls, whereas the Pixel 9 opts for a ten.5MP sensor.

Relating to software program, the Pixel 9 affords a number of digital camera modes and enhancing instruments, starting from Macro Focus, Evening Sight, and Face Unblur, to Magic Editor and Eraser, Greatest Take, and Cinematic Pan. Samsung, in flip, contains Generative Edit, which leans on Galaxy AI to reposition, take away, or resize objects in photographs.

Pixel 9 vs Galaxy S24: Battery life and charging

Relating to battery and charging specs, the Pixel 9 clobbers the Galaxy S24, at the least on paper. The Samsung cellphone packs a 4,000mAh battery, 25W wired, and 15W wi-fi charging. The Pixel 9 has a 4,700mAh battery with 27W wired and 15W wi-fi charging, supplied you’ve the correct charging brick or Qi wi-fi charger.

It’s additionally value noting that the Galaxy S24 Snapdragon mannequin barely beat the Pixel 8’s battery endurance throughout our exams. The Pixel 8 outlasted its newer challenger when it got here to utilizing Zoom, looking the online, utilizing the digital camera, and even throughout gaming. The Galaxy S24 solely beat the Pixel 8 throughout 4K playback (maybe owing to extra frugal show tech) and 4K recording. This bodes effectively for the Pixel 9’s real-world endurance chops. In actuality, each cellphone batteries ought to carry their units by way of a complete day of use after which some, however it will rely in your utilization habits.

Properly earlier than firing up any benchmarks, the Pixel 9 seems to be the higher wager if longevity and theoretically faster charging are necessary to you.

Each telephones begin at $799 this 12 months because of the Pixel 9’s $100 improve over its predecessor. Google’s cellphone debuted on August 13, 2024, on the firm’s Made By Google occasion. Preorders opened on the identical date, with the gadget broadly accessible within the US, Canada, the UK, and different international locations the place Google sells its {hardware} from August 22.

The Galaxy S24 is obtainable globally, however as a reminder, there’s a definite distinction between US fashions and people accessible in different areas. Patrons within the former nation will obtain the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy model, whereas international markets will obtain a cellphone with the Exynos 2400 chipset.

That stated, you’ll have the ability to purchase it in lots of, many extra areas than the Pixel 9, making it a greater wager for worldwide audiences. Both manner, the Samsung cellphone has been accessible since its launch date of January 17, 2024, and remains to be accessible through main retailers.

Whether or not you go for the Google Pixel 9 or the Samsung Galaxy S24, you’ll get a premium Android expertise. That stated, every cellphone excels specifically areas.

Let’s begin with Samsung. The Galaxy S24 is extra highly effective on paper, extra compact, and accessible in additional areas than the Pixel 9. This makes it a greater wager for many who worth efficiency, a smaller type issue, and after-sales help. Importantly, it’s additionally the one one of many two telephones that incorporates a telephoto digital camera. Regardless that it’s a modest 3x lens, it’ll nonetheless attain a lot additional than the Pixel 9.

Alternatively, the Pixel 9 is barely bigger and far heavier however trades this for an even bigger battery and a extra huge show. It’s unclear how environment friendly the Tensor G4 is, however that 700mAh of additional energy ought to give the Pixel 9 extra time between top-ups. When it’s worthwhile to cost each telephones, the Pixel 9 has the quicker most charging speeds. Though it additionally lacks a telephoto lens, I consider it has the extra thrilling digital camera lineup with a a lot improved ultrawide sensor. Different minor tweaks over the Pixel 8 additionally add to its attract for Pixel followers.

So, which do you have to purchase? Contemplating every price $799, the choice actually comes all the way down to subjective preferences. There’s no winner on this specific battle, however isn’t that an thrilling growth?