Should you buy the Google Pixel 8 or wait for the Samsung Galaxy S24?

The Google Pixel 8 is now official. Whereas the most recent Pixel isn’t an enormous departure from its predecessor, it does convey a extra highly effective Tensor processor and some different enhancements. Is it price selecting up, or do you have to anticipate its greatest Android rival as a substitute?

Pixel 8 vs Galaxy S24: Efficiency and specs

Google and Samsung may each run on Android and supply wonderful pictures experiences, however their approaches are pretty completely different. Beneath, we take a more in-depth take a look at how they differ. Please word all the pieces we all know in regards to the Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence proper now’s based mostly on rumors, however because of a ton of leaks we’ve a reasonably stable concept of how Samsung’s subsequent flagship is shaping up.

The Google Pixel 8 is a comparatively modest improve in a number of methods. There are nonetheless simply 128GB and 256GB storage choices. Moreover, it has the identical 8GB of RAM, although it does improve to the quicker LPDDR5X RAM commonplace.  Even the show is an AMOLED with the identical Full HD decision and 60-120Hz refresh charge. Nonetheless, the display screen is barely smaller than its predecessor, at 6.2-inches versus 6.3-inches.

The excellent news is efficiency will nonetheless take a stable leap ahead because of the brand new Tensor G3 SoC, not less than on paper.

The brand new chip has next-gen ARM CPU cores consisting of a single Cortex-X3 at 2.91GHz, 4 Cortex-A715 cores at 2.37GHz, and 4 ARM Cortex-A510 cores at 1.7GHz. These are just like the cores discovered within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, although the Tensor’s configuration remains to be not fairly as much as the identical degree of efficiency. There’s additionally a more recent Mali-G715 GPU and a next-gen TPU. The TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) permits machine studying capabilities like Magic Eraser and superior photograph and video processing.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the Tensor’s tendency to overheat, not less than traditionally. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 each had issues with getting a bit too sizzling to the contact. We’ll have to attend and see over time if the Pixel 8 suffers the identical destiny.

Whilst you may not take into consideration software program when it comes to efficiency, good software program assist may also help a telephone shine brilliant for a few years to return. The Pixel 8 is actually as much as this, as Google now guarantees seven years of OS updates, safety patches, and have drops. Proper now, Samsung affords 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of safety, placing Google within the lead right here. That’s except the Galaxy S24 makes a change to its software program dedication.

Earlier this 12 months, the Galaxy S23 broke custom, eschewing Exynos processors utterly in favor of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in all areas. It was advised this could be the norm going ahead, however over the previous few months, rumors have known as this into query.  The latest rumors come from the Korean outlet The Elec, which claims the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus will make the most of the brand new Exynos 2400 SoC in each area besides the US. On the brilliant aspect, the Galaxy S24 Extremely supposedly will nonetheless retain Qualcomm chips globally.

The Exynos 2400 is rumored to have a single high-performance Arm Cortex-X4, 4 A720 cores, and 4 power-efficient A520 cores. It’s additionally mentioned to supply AMD’x next-gen graphics know-how. That is in distinction to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is rumored to have an eight-core setup. The Snapdragon will reportedly have one Cortex-X4 core, two A-5XX cores, 5 A7XX cores, and an up to date Adreno GPU. The latter chip can be supposedly getting a serious machine studying improve.

Whereas the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will probably be the higher performer, the Exynos 2400 is an honest improve and will nonetheless present an honest expertise. We’re just a bit disenchanted to see Samsung return to its previous SoC fragmentation routine.

As for the telephone’s different specs, the Galaxy S24 will reportedly leap to Thirteenth-generation (M13) OLED panels which can be thinner and extra power-efficient. The Galaxy S24 can be rumored to have 12GB of RAM and a base storage measurement of 256GB. It’s also possible to anticipate a 512GB storage variant, although we haven’t heard something a few 1TB model for the Galaxy S24 or S24 Plus simply but.

The Google Pixel 8’s design isn’t an enormous departure from its predecessor. There’s the same metallic digicam bar on the rear, although it’s a bit thicker than the Pixel 7’s digicam visor. The telephone additionally has slimmer bezels and a curvier design with rounded corners. It’s additionally a a lot smaller telephone, measuring 150.5 x 70.8mm with a thickness of 8.9mm.

It seems to be just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 received’t change issues up a lot both, not less than for the vanilla mannequin. In keeping with photos leaked by tipster OnLeaks and SmartPrix (as seen above), the Galaxy S24 could have the identical total design simply with flatter, polished edges.

Whereas we don’t have an official phrase on dimensions but, Samsung has saved the identical total footprint because the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S23 measures 146.3 x 70.9 with a thickness of seven.6mm, whereas the Galaxy S22 has the identical thickness however measures 146 x 70.6.

The Pixel 8 digicam isn’t a dramatic departure from the one discovered on the Pixel 7, although it’s not with out a few adjustments. The brand new Pixel 8 has an improved 50MP sensor with a wider aperture of ƒ/1.68, which ought to enable higher image high quality. The 12MP ultrawide lens additionally has a wider area of view at 125.8 levels, versus 114 levels on the Pixel 7.

A lot of the Galaxy S24 digicam rumors have been in regards to the Extremely. Whereas it’s attainable the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus will nonetheless have a couple of surprises, rumors recommend a lot of the enhancements must do with software program. Properly-known leaker Yogesh Brar claims the S24 could have “huge” software program enhancements. For what it’s price, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is predicted to have some large machine studying upgrades, so this might be associated.

In any case, the Pixel’s {hardware} is rarely as innovative as a few of its rivals, and but it’s nonetheless top-of-the-line digicam telephones as a result of its wonderful video and picture processing. Maybe Samsung is hoping to take the same method with the Galaxy S24.

The Pixel 8 has a 4,575mAh battery, a few 220mAh enhance from final 12 months’s Pixel. Not solely is the battery larger, however charging has additionally seen a pleasant improve from 20W to 27W. This isn’t as spectacular as lots of the different greatest Android telephones, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a leap ahead.

The Galaxy S24 is rumored to have a 4,000mAh battery, which is a 100mAh enhance from its predecessor. As for charging speeds? Sadly, present rumors recommend it should retain the identical 25W wired charging speeds because the Galaxy S23. This can be a bit disappointing, although the precise battery cost instances must be fairly comparable between these two telephones.

How lengthy do I’ve to attend for the Galaxy S24?

The Galaxy S flagships usually arrive someday between January and February of 2024. Except this sample adjustments, we’ll see the Galaxy S24 within the subsequent three to 4 months at a particular Unpacked Occasion.

• Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Extremely: $799, $999, $1,199
• Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, S22 Extremely: $799, $999, $1,199
• Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Extremely: $799, $999, $1,199

The Samsung Galaxy S24 remains to be a couple of months off, so we are able to’t communicate on official pricing but. Nonetheless, we are able to draw a couple of conclusions based mostly on Samsung’s current historical past.

Whereas the previous few fashions have caught to the identical $799 beginning worth, this wasn’t the case for each area. Earlier this 12 months, Samsung elevated costs within the UK and most of Europe as a result of rising inflation. The US may need averted this worth enhance in 2023, however odds are the Galaxy S24 will find yourself $100-$150 extra per mannequin subsequent 12 months.

If Samsung will increase pricing, it received’t be alone. The Google Pixel 8 begins at $699, a worth hike of about $100 from the Pixel 7. On the brilliant aspect, it’s nonetheless prone to be not less than $100-$250 cheaper than the Galaxy S24.

The Google Pixel 8 is an effective telephone, nevertheless it’s not precisely an Earth-shattering improve, particularly when in comparison with the superior Pixel 8 Professional. The most important change is the brand new Tensor processor, which introduces a couple of new AI tips like Audio Magic Eraser and fashionable ARM cores. The Samsung Galaxy S24 can be trying like a largely iterative expertise, however there are probably nonetheless a couple of surprises in retailer for us that we aren’t conscious of but.

No matter whether or not you favor Pixels over Galaxy telephones or haven’t any actual desire, our greatest recommendation is to attend slightly longer except you completely want a brand new telephone now and may’t maintain out any longer. Even in the event you don’t find yourself within the Galaxy S24, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll get a greater deal on the Pixel 8 when the subsequent Galaxy comes out. Google has a historical past of slicing costs a couple of months after launch, normally across the time its latest Samsung rival exhibits up.