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All-in-one device
Google Pixel 9
The Pixel 9 is Google’s latest and most affordable flagship in the series, featuring a compact form factor, an upgraded 48MP ultrawide camera, and a more than capable 50MP primary. It has a great battery life, an extremely bright display, and all the new Gemini AI features you need.
Pros- Premium look and feel
- Great camera improvements
- Excellent performance
Cons- Costs $100 more than its predecessor
- Slow charging
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More customization
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 is a great upgrade over its predecessor. It offers a beautiful display, a great rear shooter, a full day’s worth of battery life, and top-notch performance that lets you easily multitask and play any demanding game. The S24 also packs new Galaxy AI features, and it’s one of the most customizable OS experiences.
Pros- Gorgeous display
- Superb performance
- Long battery life
Cons- Less impressive cameras
- Slow charging
The Google Pixel 9 is one of the best Android smartphones available to date. And Samsung’s Galaxy S24, announced at the beginning of the year, is still a contender six months after its launch.
Both phones offer flagship-level performance, beautiful displays, new and exclusive AI features, and a long battery life. They’re also notorious for their slow charging speeds, but at least they have new features that make them stand out. And let’s not forget, they’ll both continue to receive software and security updates for seven years. But which one fares out better?
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Pixel 9 is available at most retailers and carriers, as well as directly through Google. The base model comes with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and it retails for $799, a $100 increase over the previous generation. The new Pixel comes in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is available at all the usual places, including Best Buy, Amazon, and most carriers, like previous Galaxy flagships. It retails for $800, which gets you 128GB of storage. The 256GB model costs $60 more, retailing for $860. Nowadays, you can get it much cheaper during sales events, often as cheap as $500 to $600, and let’s not forget that trade-ins can further reduce the price.
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Google Pixel 9 Samsung Galaxy S24 SoC Google Tensor G4 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Display type OLED, 120Hz AMOLED, 120Hz Display dimensions 6.3″ 6.2″ Display resolution 1080 x 2424 2340 × 1080 RAM 12GB 8GB Storage 128GB or 256GB 128GB, 256GB Battery 4,700mAh 4,000mAh Charge speed 27W wired, 15W wireless 25W Charge options Wired, wireless, reverse wireless USB-C wired, Qi wireless Ports USB-C USB-C SIM support Nano-SIM and eSIM Dual SIM (Nano SIM and eSIM) Operating System Android 14 Android 14 and One UI 6.1 Front camera 10.5MP, f/2.2 12MP, f/2.2 Rear camera 50MP, f/1.7, OIS main; 48MP, f/1.7 ultrawide 50MP, f/1.8, OIS main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10MP, f/2.4 zoom (3x) Cellular connectivity 5G, LTE 4G, 5G (incl. mmWave) Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity NFC Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Dimensions 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm 147.1 x 70.6 x 7.6mm Weight 198g 168g IP Rating IP68 IP68 Colors Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange Price From $799 From $800
Design
Slightly refined to feel more premium
The Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24 have a lot of similarities. They’re compact and easily some of the easiest phones to use with one hand. The devices are built from premium materials, including an aluminum frame and a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back. They even have the same buttons and cutouts. The main difference is the color and the layout of the cameras and other sensors on the rear.
These phones feel and look premium, and thanks to the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panel, they’re more rugged and should survive a fall or two without any cracks – depending on the height and other factors. As always, we recommend you pick up a case, to avoid accidental damage.
The Pixel 9 measures 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm, while the Galaxy S24 is 147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm. In terms of numbers, the Galaxy S24 is slightly shorter, narrower, and slimmer. It also weighs considerably less at 167 grams than the Pixel 9’s 198 grams. It’s easier to use with one hand, although the Pixel 9 is still comfortable.
Even the front-facing selfie camera is placed at the same location on both phones: the top center in a punch-hole cutout. Of course, the sensor is different, but we’ll get to that in the camera section. In terms of design, the two phones have a lot in common and are very close in dimensions, although the Galaxy S24 has a slight edge in weight and size. At least both phones have an IP68 water and dust-resistant certificate, meaning they can survive water exposure and dusty environments.
Display
Bright and colorful displays
The Pixel 9 has a slightly larger display than the Galaxy, but not by much. It has a 6.3-inch OLED panel with 2,700 nits of peak brightness, whereas the Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel. Both screens support 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+.
In terms of brightness, the Pixel 9 wins this round as it has 100 nits more than Samsung, although it’s worth mentioning that this can only be seen when playing back supported HDR content. Both devices handle sunlight well and are more than bright enough to be used in direct sunlight.
Colors are equally good on both devices. They’re enjoyable for watching movies and TV shows, and social media and gaming are flawless without any jitter or ghosting effects. The high refresh rate makes the two phones stand out with their excellent calibrations and high response levels.
Software and performance
Lot of OS and security support across the board
Google was always known for its unique stock Android experience, but the Pixel lineup required a few changes. The Pixel user interface looks nothing like stock Android, and it comes with Google’s own take and design language.
Samsung is in a similar boat, using its own One UI interface to set itself apart from other smartphone makers. One UI is far more customizable than Google’s interface, giving users more control and personalization options to make their devices truly unique. Downloading Good Lock can result in even more features, enabling customization of the phone’s appearance and how it handles various tasks.
However, at the root, both manufacturers provide excellent support for their latest devices. Samsung and Google offer seven years of software and security updates for their new flagship series, making them some of the best companies to provide more than adequate support for premium smartphones.
And finally, let’s not forget that both phones come with a plethora of new Galaxy AI, and Gemini AI features under the hood. While most Galaxy AI features are exclusive to the latest Samsung Galaxy Smartphones, some Gemini AI features are actually present on some Samsung Galaxy devices, thanks to the close partnerships between the two companies. Still, many Gemini AI features are limited to the latest Pixel phones, including the option to take a photo without being present in the original capture – called Add me.
Battery life
Slow charging and long battery life
The Pixel 9 boasts a 4,700 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S24 packs a more conservative 4,000 mAh battery cell. We found that both phones can last a full day on a single charge — depending on your usage. Still, the larger battery in the Pixel 9 means it can outlast the S24. The extra 700 mAh is great to see, even if the phone is slightly thicker.
But the charging department is just as disappointing as ever. The Pixel 9 supports 27W wired charging that can go from 0% to 55% in 30 minutes, while a full charge takes over an hour. Luckily, it supports 15W wireless charging with the Pixel Stand or 12W wireless with a Qi charger.
Samsung is behind, too, only providing the aging 25W wired charging technology that reaches 0% to 50% in 30 minutes; a full charge requires over an hour. There’s support for 15W wireless charging, and the phones support reverse wireless charging.
Camera
Competitive cameras access the board
During our review, we found that the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24 take excellent photos in all lighting conditions. The Pixel has a dual camera setup, consisting of a 50MP f/1.7 primary, a 48MP f/1.7 ultrawide camera, and a 10.5MP f/2.2 front-facing shooter. The Galaxy S24 is slightly more versatile, equipped with a 50MP f/1.8 primary, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
In terms of features and options, the Galaxy S24 has a slight edge over the Pixel, as the telephoto could come in handy when taking photos from a bit further away. But the Pixel has its own magic that can zoom in and take close-up photos from about the same distance away – which is then scaled up using AI. Both are competitive, but the Galaxy will win extra marks for that.
When it comes to photos using primary and ultrawide, the devices capture enough detail in most lighting conditions. They’re not as powerful as their more premium counterparts, but still, they’ll get the job done and provide excellent overall results to capture your important moments.
Which is right for you?
Google’s latest Pixel 9 is one of the best smartphones to date, and it excels in nearly every department. While it costs $100 more than its predecessor, there are some notable improvements, aside from AI, that make it a great buy. The Samsung Galaxy S24 might be a bit older, but it’s aging well, and it’s a more versatile, compact smartphone. It has a great battery life, a true flagship performance, a great triple camera setup, and long support.
While both phones will serve you well, we’d recommend the Pixel 9 for those who are looking for a great out-of-package experience that requires little to no tweaking. It’ll continue receiving software and security updates for 7 years, and it’ll be first in line to get these patches. The device will also benefit from future feature upgrades that constantly improve the Pixel experience. Google will likely continue to roll out new Google-exclusive features to the platform, which makes it even more appealing.
Editor’s pick
Google Pixel 9
The latest and greatest
Buy the Pixel 9 if you’re seeking a true open-and-use experience that requires little to no tweaking, with all the Google apps and services ready to use. The Pixel 9 has a bright and gorgeous display, a great battery life, and one of the best camera experiences. It’s ideal for gaming and multitasking and will receive seven years of OS and security updates.
Samsung is still an excellent choice for many of the same reasons as the Pixel 9. However, Samsung bundles even more features and options in OneUI, making it far more customizable for those who want to take advantage of a more personalized smartphone. It has most of the same features as the Pixel, and some more thanks to Galaxy AI. The camera is comparable and even more versatile thanks to the added telephoto, and it can last a full day on a single charge.
Runner-up
Samsung Galaxy S24
A customizer’s dream
The Samsung Galaxy S24 will also receive the same level of support as the Pixel 9. Still, it’s more versatile and customizable, making it great for tinkerers and those who want a more approachable experience with a beautiful display, great camera setup, and long-lasting battery.
