Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. Google Pixel 8: Which Android smartphone reigns supreme?

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup predictably shakes up the Android smartphone market, bringing new competition to Google’s flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. But which phone should you buy?

By reviewing the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, we learned the pros and cons of each. Something good? Performance, battery life, and Samsung’s new Galaxy AI. How do these pros compare to the Pixel 8 series? Read on to decide whether to buy a Pixel or a Galaxy.

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Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Price

Samsung sells three S24 devices, while Google sells two Pixel 8s. Galaxy S24 starts at $799.99, S24+ retails for $999.99, and S24 Ultra costs $1,299.99. The Pixel 8 starts at just $699, while the 8 Pro is $999. Choosing more storage increases these base charges.

In terms of price alone, the Pixel 8 costs $100 less than the S24 and offers similar specs. And the top of both lineups, the Pixel 8 Pro, retails for $300 less than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Of course, the S24 Ultra is the only one of the group that comes with a stylus, so the higher price might be worth it if you like drawing or handwriting notes.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Design

The Galaxy S24 and S24+ have a rounded rectangular shape, similar to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. However, while the sides of Samsung’s two models are flat, the Pixel smartphone has curved edges. The square Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, has flat top and bottom edges, but gently curved sides.

These phones all integrate front-facing cameras and fingerprint sensors into their screens, but their back designs vary widely. Samsung places the camera directly on the back of the device with a circular protrusion for the lens, while Google has opted for a raised camera bar that spans the entire width of the phone and blends seamlessly into the side. .

Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, S24 (Credit: Eric Zeman)

In terms of dimensions, the Galaxy S24 measures 5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.93 ounces. Overall, it’s smaller and lighter than the Google Pixel 8 (5.93 x 2.75 x 0.35 inches, 6.6 ounces). Moving up in size, the S24+ measures 6.24 x 3.0 x 0.30 inches and 6.95 ounces, while the S24 Ultra measures 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches and 8.22 ounces. The Pixel 8 Pro (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 inches, 7.51 ounces) is closer to the latter.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Galaxy S24 Ultra has a titanium frame with Corning Armor Glass on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels also cover the front and back of his S24 and S24+ with aluminum frames. On Google’s side, the Pixel 8 Pro also uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the Pixel 8 uses the first generation of Victus glass. Both Pixels stick to aluminum frames.

All five phones have an IP68 rating and are fully dust and water resistant. Corning claims Gorilla Armor is the toughest, most scratch-resistant glass available, so the S24 Ultra is probably the most durable. (or is it?)

None of the phones have a headphone jack or a microSD card for additional storage. They all use USB-C Type 3.2 connectors, so you should experience reasonably fast wired data transfer speeds.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

In terms of color, all Samsung models have a similar matte finish. The S24 and S24+ are available in Amber Yellow, Cobalt Violet, Marble Grey, or Onyx Black. Options for the S24 Ultra include Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, or Titanium Yellow. The Pixel 8 comes in Hazel, Mint, Obsidian, or Rose, and the Pixel 8 Pro comes in Bay, Mint, Obsidian, or Porcelain.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Display

The screen size of the phone ranges from 6.2 to 6.8 inches. The S24 has a 6.2-inch display with FHD+ (2,340 x 1,080 pixels) resolution, while the 6.7-inch S24+ and 6.8-inch S24 Ultra both have QHD+ displays (3,120 x 1,440 pixels). All of these panels support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz and peak brightness of 2,600 nits.

Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

Google’s Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate ranging from 60 to 120Hz. The 6.8-inch Pixel 8 Pro has a resolution of 2,992 x 1,344 pixels and a fully variable 120Hz refresh rate (meaning it can go down to 1Hz to save power). There are some differences here, but in terms of clarity, the screens are pretty similar.

Samsung has a slight advantage in screen brightness. The Galaxy S24 device offers 2,600 nits of peak brightness, while the Pixel 8 (2,000 nits) and Pixel 8 Pro (2,400 nits) fall a little short. Still, you won’t have any problems viewing the screen in any lighting scenario.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Performance

Samsung Galaxy S24 uses the enhanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system-on-chip (SoC). It performed well in our tests, easily beating the Pixels’ Tensor G3 processor in most tests. For example, in the Geekbench 6 test, which measures common computing tasks, the S24 Ultra scored 2,273 points in the single-core test and 7,056 points in the multi-core test, while the Pixel 8 Pro scored 1,268 points in the single-core test and 7,056 points in the multi-core test. I got 3,271 points. Multi-core test.

While the S24 family and its faster processes outperformed the Pixel 8 in terms of raw power, Google says its Tensor chips are not tuned for benchmarks and instead provide the best possible AI experience. He claims to be focusing on that. To that end, Google’s AI-based capabilities are robust and work well. But so is Samsung.

And it feels like all your phones are on the same page when it comes to everyday tasks. Browsing the web and checking social media is generally smooth. What is Samsung’s biggest advantage? game. The S24 series is great at running games like Genshin.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Connectivity

All devices in the S24 and Pixel 8 lineup support 5G (C-band, sub-6GHz, mmWave), NFC, and Bluetooth 5.3. The new Snapdragon X75 modem slightly improves cellular performance on S24 phones.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Only the S24 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 7 support for Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The S24 and S24+ are stuck on Wi-Fi 6E (Samsung hasn’t explained why). Remember that your internet service provider and router affect your network speed just as much as your phone.

Both phones support advanced Bluetooth codecs, so you can play high-quality music through your favorite wireless headphones.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Camera

Samsung’s S24 and S24+ both feature a 50MP f/1.8 main lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto with 3x optical Equipped with a camera. zoom. The S24 Ultra has the same 12MP ultra-wide camera and 10MP telephoto camera as the other cameras, but it has a 200MP f/1.7 main camera with OIS and an additional 50MP f/3.4 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. We are prepared.

Pixel 8 has a 50MP f/1.7 main imager and 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with OIS. Pixel 8 Pro uses the same main sensor but has been upgraded to a higher resolution 48MP f/2.0 ultra-wide camera and a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

All of these devices take great photos, but Google typically performs best in low-light environments. Google also offers AI tricks like Magic Eraser, Audio Magic Eraser, and Best Take (which helps you make sure everyone looks their best in a group photo). Samsung’s S24 lineup includes AI features such as Object Eraser, which can generate background images, and in most cases is on par with the capabilities of Pixel smartphones.

When it comes to video, the S24 device goes up to 8K30, while the Pixel 8 smartphone goes up to 4K60. Both offer smooth video playback, but the S24 lineup stands out for its superior resolution and additional features such as OIS.

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Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Battery

The S24 has a 4,000mAh battery, the S24+ has a 4,900mAh battery, and the S24 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery. The S24 charges at up to 25W, while the other two support speeds up to 45W (assuming you provide a compatible charger). For wireless charging, all up to 15W.

When it comes to battery life, Samsung’s phones give Google’s phones a big hit. In our battery drain tests, the S24 lasted over his 13 hours, while the S24+ and S24 Ultra each lasted over 14 hours.

Left to right: Galaxy S24 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)

The Pixel 8 is equipped with a 4,575mAh cell that supports 27W wired charging. Lasted 10 hours and 20 minutes in our test. The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a 5,050mAh battery that supports 30W wired charging. In testing, it ran for 9 hours and 5 minutes. Both phones charge wirelessly at up to 15W.

If battery life is your priority, we recommend choosing one of the Galaxy S24 smartphones.

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Galaxy S24 vs Pixel 8: Software

Samsung plans to support the S24 lineup for seven years, including OS and security updates, until January 2031. Google has made the same seven-year promise for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, but their expiry date (October 2030) will be slightly earlier than those. Previously released devices. Both lineups are perfect if you use your phone for long periods of time.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

All of these phones run Android 14, but the S24 phones come with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 overlay. If you prefer a cleaner Android experience, a Pixel smartphone is a better option. Google phones also receive feature drops every quarter that aren’t available on Samsung phones. However, Google doesn’t offer anything that competes with Samsung’s DeX productivity mode.

The final thing to consider is whether you will be using other Samsung devices such as the Galaxy Watch, SmartTag, or Buds 2 Pro. All of these work more seamlessly with Samsung phones. Google’s Pixel Watch 2 and Buds Pro work fine on Google devices, but they work just as well on non-Google devices.

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Should I choose Samsung or Google?

As we expected, the competition for the top Android smartphone spot is fierce. Galaxy S24 Ultra is exactly that lots of phone calls It should have won our Editors’ Choice award as the premier Android smartphone. It has the best battery life, performance, and display of any product, and the S Pen stylus adds another dimension of productivity. Still, the Pixel 8 remains our Editors’ Choice for a slightly more compact Android smartphone, thanks to its lower price and better camera than the S24.

If you’re not sure which phone line is right for you, check out our list of the best phones overall.