We’re experiencing a renaissance of compact flagships of types these days, so if you’re out there for a small premium smartphone, you might be in luck. In markets such because the US, nevertheless, the choice of small flagships is not large, however two smartphones persistently pop up – the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Google Pixel 9. The 2 price about the identical within the US, whereas in Europe, the Galaxy S25 is a little more costly.
So, it is solely pure to surprise which one is the higher deal. On paper, each are top-tier units from their respective OEMs, each are related in dimension, and each promise lengthy software program help. So, let’s dive deeper to see what’s past the specs sheet.
Desk of Contents:
For starters, you’ll be able to evaluate the entire specs sheets or straight proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Measurement comparability
Regardless that each units are categorised as compact flagships, the Galaxy S25 needs to be your decide if dimension and weight are of utmost significance to you. Samsung’s providing is shorter, barely narrower, significantly thinner and lighter. Notably, the Pixel 9 has a 0.1-inch bigger display, however because the S25 has thinner bezels, it has a extra favorable screen-to-body ratio.
Apparently sufficient, the 2 handsets share roughly the identical design and supplies. Apart from the digital camera lens design on the again, the 2 share the identical flat design on their fronts, sides and backs. Each include equally premium supplies all-around – aluminum facet frames, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sheets on either side. Even the ingress safety ranking is IP68 in each circumstances.
Show comparability
Placing the slightly negligible dimension distinction apart, the 2 provide considerably related shows. They each run at 120Hz, provide HDR10+ certification and have the identical 1080p+ decision.
Nonetheless, the Galaxy S25 has a extra energy-efficient LTPO OLED panel, whereas the Pixel 9’s will get significantly brighter. In truth, this is among the brightest shows we have seen within the workplace. We measured greater than 2,200 nits on the Pixel 9, whereas the Galaxy reached about 1,400 nits.
Battery life
Regardless of the totally different show applied sciences, chipsets and battery capacities, the 2 units provide related battery life. The Lively Use Scores are virtually similar, even. Nonetheless, there is a nuance to it. For example, the Pixel 9 gives barely higher net looking runtimes, whereas the S25 edges out the Pixel within the video playback and gaming checks. Nonetheless, the variations are slightly negligible, so it will not matter a lot which one you get so far as battery life is anxious.
Charging velocity
For essentially the most half, the Pixel 9 and the Galaxy S25 cost equally quick. Or ought to we are saying gradual? The 2 units are neck and neck within the first 15 to half-hour of the charging cycle, however the Galaxy S25 beats the Pixel to the end line with 8 minutes to spare. To be sincere, that is a negligible distinction.
Speaker take a look at
Within the speaker take a look at, the 2 units commerce blows. Whereas the Pixel 9 is barely louder, the Galaxy S25’s audio system are far superior quality-wise. The Pixel 9’s audio system sound tinny and flat, whereas the Galaxy S25 brings out significantly extra bass and makes the soundtracks fuller and hotter.
Efficiency
The 2 units run on fully totally different chipsets. The Galaxy S25 has the most recent and biggest from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, whereas the Pixel 9 depends on the Tensor G3 SoC. Traditionally, Tensors have persistently didn’t impress in the case of uncooked efficiency, and this case isn’t any totally different.
The bottom configuration of each units is identical – 12GB/128GB, however the S25 gives as much as 512GB inside storage, the Pixel 9 solely goes as excessive as 256GB.
Additionally, the S25 has sooner UFS 4.0 storage (provided that you get the 256 or 512GB variants, although) in comparison with the UFS 3.1 on the Pixel 9.
Benchmark efficiency
As we hinted earlier, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is much extra highly effective than the Tensor G3 SoC contained in the Pixel 9. The outcomes from all three common benchmark checks present that the Galaxy S25 is about two instances as highly effective because the Pixel 9.
Digicam comparability
At first look, the Galaxy S25 has the stronger digital camera {hardware}, largely due to the devoted 3x optical zoom shooter, despite the fact that it has a tiny 10MP sensor. Conversely, the Pixel 9 gives an even bigger 50MP essential sensor and an ultrawide cam with a 48MP pixel-binned sensor, versus the 12MP snapper on the S25. Moreover, the ultrawide on the Pixel has autofocus.
The selfie {hardware} in each circumstances is stable – 12MP with AF for the Samsung and 10.5MP with AF for the Pixel 9.
Picture high quality
For essentially the most half, we appreciated Pixel 9’s pictures higher – they’re cleaner and fewer sharpened, all of the whereas the extent of particulars is comparable. The Pixel’s essential digital camera additionally produces stills with a wider dynamic vary (discover the shadows). The identical goes for the ultrawide digital camera, however the distinction in sharpness and element is way more noticeable at night time.
Predominant digital camera: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
Predominant digital camera: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
A lot of the identical observations apply to the ultrawide cameras as nicely, however the Pixel 9’s ultrawide resolves extra element, too. You must also know that we used the Galaxy S25+ for the ultrawide digital camera comparability, as our S25 has an optical defect on its UW cam, and we needed a good comparability.
Ultrawide digital camera: Galaxy S25+ • Pixel 9
Ultrawide digital camera: Galaxy S25+ • Pixel 9
So far as zoom pictures go, the Galaxy S25 takes the lead throughout the day. The 2x crop zoom pictures taken with the S25 are a tad sharper and perhaps even provide extra element.
And to nobody’s shock, the 3x zoom footage out of the S25 are higher too as a result of devoted optical zoom digital camera, which the Pixel 9 lacks.
2x zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
3x zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
Nonetheless, what we did not count on is that the Pixel 9’s 3x crop zoom pictures will take the lead after darkish. Maybe the larger essential sensor on the Pixel 9 beats the tiny telephoto snapper on the S25, even with out an optical lens.
However even at 2x, the Pixel’s pictures are once more cleaner and sharper at night time.
2x zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
3x zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
And as for the selfies, it is the Galaxy S25’s flip to take the lead. It has a tad sharper and extra detailed pictures, despite the fact that the Pixel 9 selfies are livelier with punchy colours.
Selfies: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9
Video high quality
Beneath now we have just a few framegrabs from the movies taken by the 2 telephones at every focal size so it is simpler to match to at least one one other.
The movies out of the Pixel 9’s essential digital camera are clearly superior than the S25’s. Pixel movies provide higher publicity, dynamic vary, sharpness, colour copy, and many others.
Nonetheless, in any respect different focal lengths – 0.6, 2x, and 3x, it is the Galaxy S25 that takes the lead because it resolves extra high-quality element, whereas the footage appears much less processed and extra pure.
4K video screengrabs: Galaxy S25+ 0.6x • Pixel 9 0.6x • Galaxy S25 1x • Pixel 9 1x
4K video screengrabs: Galaxy S25 2x • Pixel 9 2x • Galaxy S25 3x • Pixel 9 3x
Verdict
The decision right here can be tough. Whereas the 2 telephones are offered at across the similar worth within the US, the Galaxy S25 is barely dearer than the Pixel 9 in Europe.
Samsung’s cellphone gives you significantly higher efficiency, higher sounding audio system, and it is barely extra compact too. It additionally information higher video high quality in virtually all circumstances.
Regardless of lacking a telephoto unit, the Pixel 9 appears to be the higher alternative for pictures and challenges the S25’s 3x zoom digital camera in low-light eventualities. The Pixel additionally has a brighter show and is cheaper in Europe.
On common, we might say that the 2 telephones gives you roughly the identical degree of person expertise and their {hardware} options are equally nicely carried out so the selection between the 2 will largely come all the way down to model or software program desire.
- The extra compact design.
- The higher sounding audio system.
- Twice the efficiency.
- The upper storage choices (sooner too).
- The higher video high quality total.
- Samsung’s tackle Android.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S25 for:
- The brighter show.
- The higher photograph high quality total.
- Google’s tackle Android.
- The cheaper price tag (in Europe).
Get the Google Pixel 9 for:
