Left to right: Samsung Galaxy S24, Google Pixel 8
(Credit: René Ramos, Eric Zeman, Samsung, Google)
Samsung's Galaxy S24 lineup predictably shakes up the Android phone market and brings fresh competition to Google's leading Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. But which phone should you buy?
In reviewing the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, we've learned their strengths and weaknesses. The good? Performance, battery life, and Samsung's new Galaxy AI. How do these pros stack up against the Pixel 8 series? Read on to help you decide if you want to pick up a Pixel or a Galaxy.
Samsung Galaxy S24
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Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Price
Samsung sells three S24 devices, while Google has two Pixel 8s. The Galaxy S24 starts at $799.99, the S24+ retails for $999.99, and the S24 Ultra goes for $1,299.99. The Pixel 8 starts at just $699, while the 8 Pro comes in at $999. These base prices increase if you opt for more storage.
If you're looking at price alone, the Pixel 8 costs $100 less than the S24 while delivering similar specs. And at the top end of both lineups, the Pixel 8 Pro sells for $300 less than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Of course, the higher price of the S24 Ultra might be worth it if you like to draw or handwrite notes, as it is the only phone in the group that includes a stylus.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Design
The Galaxy S24 and S24+ have a rounded rectangular shape, as do the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. Whereas the two Samsung models have flat sides, however, the Pixel phones have curved edges. Meanwhile, the squared-off Galaxy S24 Ultra has flat edges on the top and bottom, but gentler curves on its sides.
All of these phones integrate a front-facing camera and fingerprint sensor into their screens, but their rear designs differ significantly. Samsung places its cameras directly on the back of the device with circular protrusions for the lenses, while Google goes for a raised camera bar that spans the width of the phone and seamlessly blends into the sides.
As for dimensions, the Galaxy S24 measures 5.79 by 2.78 by 0.30 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.93 ounces. Overall, it's smaller and lighter than the Google Pixel 8 (5.93 by 2.75 by 0.35 inches, 6.6 ounces). Moving up in size, the S24+ comes in at 6.24 by 3.0 by 0.30 inches and 6.95 ounces, while the S24 Ultra is 6.40 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches and 8.22 ounces. The Pixel 8 Pro (6.40 by 3.01 by 0.35 inches, 7.51 ounces) falls closer to the latter.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a titanium frame, 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 the S24 and S24+, which have aluminum frames. On the Google side, the Pixel 8 Pro also uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the Pixel 8 has first-generation Victus glass. Both Pixels stick with aluminum frames.
All five phones have an IP68 rating, meaning they are fully dustproof and waterproof. Corning claims that the Gorilla Armor is its toughest, most scratch-resistant glass, so the S24 Ultra is likely the most durable of the bunch. (Or is it?)
None of the phones have a headphone jack or a microSD card for additional storage. They all use a USB-C Type 3.2 connector, meaning you should experience reasonably fast wired data transfer speeds.
As for colors, the Samsung models all have a similar matte finish. You can choose between Amber Yellow, Cobalt Violet, Marble Gray, or Onyx Black for the S24 and S24+. 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, while the Pixel 8 Pro is available in Bay, Mint, Obsidian, or Porcelain.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Display
Screen sizes for the phones range from 6.2 to 6.8 inches. The S24 has a 6.2-inch display with FHD+ (2,340 by 1,080 pixels) resolution, while the 6.7-inch S24+ and 6.8-inch S24 Ultra both have QHD+ displays (3,120 by 1,440 pixels). All of these panels support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz and have a peak brightness of 2,600 nits.
Google's Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 2,400 by 1,080 pixels and a refresh rate that ranges between 60 and 120Hz. The 6.8-inch Pixel 8 Pro has a resolution of 2,992 by 1,344 pixels and a fully variable 120Hz refresh rate (meaning it can go down to 1Hz to save power). Although there are some differences here, the screens look fairly similar in terms of sharpness.
Screen brightness is where Samsung has a slight advantage. The Galaxy S24 devices offer a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, whereas the Pixel 8 (2,000 nits) and Pixel 8 Pro (2,400 nits) fall a little short. Nevertheless, you shouldn't have a problem with screen visibility in any lighting scenario.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 uses the enhanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system on a chip (SoC). It does well in testing and handily beats the Pixels' Tensor G3 processor in most tests. For example, in the Geekbench 6 test, which measures general computing tasks, the S24 Ultra scored 2,273 on the single-core test and 7,056 on the multi-core test while the Pixel 8 Pro scored 1,268 on the single-core test and 3,271 on the multi-core test.
Though the S24 family and its faster process outperformed the Pixel 8 in terms of raw power, Google contends that its Tensor chips aren't tuned for benchmarks and instead focus on providing the best AI experience possible. To that end, Google's AI-based features are robust and work well. But so does Samsung's.
And when it comes to everyday tasks, all the phones feel like they're on the same page. Browsing the web or checking social media is smooth across the board. Samsung's biggest advantage? Gaming. The S24 series is more adept at running games like Genshin Impact.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Connectivity
All the devices in the S24 and Pixel 8 lineup support 5G (C-band, sub-6GHz, and mmWave), NFC, and Bluetooth 5.3. The newer Snapdragon X75 modem gives the S24 phones a slight edge in cellular performance.
Only the S24 Ultra matches the Wi-Fi 7 support of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The S24 and S24+ are stuck on Wi-Fi 6E (and Samsung hasn't explained why). Just remember that your internet service provider and router play just as much of a role in your network speeds as your phone.
Both sets of phones support advanced Bluetooth codecs, which means you'll get high-quality music playback through your favorite pair of wireless headphones.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Camera
Samsung's S24 and S24+ both offer 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 camera with 3x optical zoom. The S24 Ultra has the same 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto cameras as the others but features a 200MP f/1.7 main camera with OIS and an additional 50MP f/3.4 telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom.
The Pixel 8 has a 50MP f/1.7 main imager with OIS and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera. The Pixel 8 Pro uses the same main sensor, but upgrades to a higher-resolution 48MP f/2.0 ultra-wide camera and a 48MP f/2.8 telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.
All of these devices take excellent pictures, though Google generally performs the best in low-light environments. Google also offers a bag of AI tricks like Magic Eraser, Audio Magic Eraser, and Best Take (which helps you ensure that everyone in a group picture looks their best). Samsung's S24 lineup includes AI features like Object Eraser which lets you generate background imagery, and for the most part, they equal the capabilities of the Pixel phones.
As for video, the S24 devices top out at 8K30, whereas the Pixel 8 phones only go up to 4K60. Both roll smooth footage, though the S24 lineup has the advantage in outright resolution and extra features like OIS.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Battery
The S24 has a 4,000mAh battery, the S24+ has a 4,900mAh battery, and the S24 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery. The S24 charges at up to 25W, but the other two support rates of up to 45W (assuming you provide a capable charger). All top out at 15W for wireless charging.
Samsung's phones wreck Google's when it comes to battery life. The S24 lasted more than 13 hours in our battery rundown test, while the S24+ and S24 Ultra each surpassed 14 hours.
The Pixel 8 has a 4,575mAh cell that supports 27W wired charging; it lasted 10 hours and 20 minutes in our tests. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 5,050mAh battery that supports 30W wired charging; it ran for 9 hours and 5 minutes in testing. Both phones charge wirelessly at up to 15W.
If battery life if a priority to you, any of the Galaxy S24 phones is a better bet.
Galaxy S24 vs. Pixel 8: Software
Samsung plans to support the S24 lineup for seven years with OS and security updates through January 2031. Google offers the same seven-year promise for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, though the end of that timeline (October 2030) is slightly sooner since those devices launched earlier. Both lineups are ideal if you tend to keep your phone for an extended time.
All of these handsets run Android 14, but the S24 phones have Samsung's One UI 6.1 overlay. If you prefer a cleaner Android experience, the Pixel phones are a better bet. Also, Google's phones get quarterly Feature Drops that aren't available to Samsung's phones. Google doesn't offer anything to compete with Samsung's DeX productivity mode, however.
One last thing to think about is whether you use other Samsung devices, like the Galaxy Watch, SmartTag, or Buds 2 Pro, all of which work more seamlessly with Samsung phones. Google's Pixel Watch 2 and Buds Pro work great on Google devices but just as well on non-Google devices.
Should You Go With Samsung or Google?
The competition for top Android phone is tight, as we expected. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is just so much phone that we had to award it our Editors' Choice for premiere Android phones. It has the best battery life, performance, and display of the lot, and that S Pen stylus adds another dimension of productivity. Even so, the Pixel 8 retains our Editors' Choice for slightly more compact Android phones thanks to its lower price and better cameras than the S24.
If you aren't sure either phone line is right for you, check out our list of the best phones overall.
The biggest Google Pixel event announcements: The Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2
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