We’ve recently compared Samsung’s Galaxy S25 handset with Google’s Pixel 9 Pro, two of the most powerful compact phones the two companies have to offer. The Pixel 9 Pro is notably more expensive than the Galaxy S25, so today’s comparison kind of makes more sense. We’ll be comparing the Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9. These two phones have the same price tag, at least in the US. Both of them are also compelling compact devices.
As per usual, we will first list their specifications, and will then jump to a number of other categories. We will be comparing their designs, displays, performance, battery, cameras, and audio output. These two phones do have some similarities between them, but for the most part, they’re quite different. So, let’s get down to it.
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9, respectively
– Screen size:
6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (flat, 120Hz, 2,600 nits max brightness)
6.3-inch fullHD+ OLED (flat, 120Hz, HDR, 2,700 nits)
– Display resolution:
2340 x 1080
2424 x 1080
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite for Galaxy
Google Tensor G4
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0)
128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF), 12MP (ultrawide, 120-degree FoV, f/2.2 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor, 1.4um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, PDAF, 1/3.94-inch sensor, 3x optical zoom)
50MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 1.2um pixel size, OIS, EIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.7 aperture, 123-degree FoV)
– Front cameras:
12MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 1/3.2-inch sensor size, 22mm lens)
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
– Battery:
4,000mAh
4,700mAh
– Charging:
25W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready), 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
27W wired, 15W wireless (Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, 5W reverse wireless (no charger)
– Dimensions:
146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm
152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm
– Weight:
162 grams
198 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.4/5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic), facial scanning
Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner
– OS:
Android 15 with One UI 7
Android 14
– Price:
$799.99+
$799+
– Buy:
Samsung Galaxy S25 (Samsung.com)
Google Pixel 9 (Best Buy, Google Store)
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Design
Both phones are made out of aluminum and glass. They both also have flat frames, as well as flat front and back sides. The general shape of the two phones is also very similar, though the corner curvatures is a bit more pronounced on the Pixel 9. You’ll notice a centered display camera hole on the front, at the very top. The one on the Galaxy S25 is smaller, and it sits higher up.
The bezels on the Galaxy S25 are noticeably thinner. They are uniform on both smartphones, though. The power/lock and volume up and down buttons sit on the right-hand side of both phones. The thing is, the power/lock button sits above the volume rocker buttons on the Pixel 9. It’s the other way around on the Galaxy S25. The frame on both phones is slightly rounded towards the edges, just so it doesn’t cut into your hand.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice different camera islands are in use. The Galaxy S25 has three vertically-aligned cameras in the top-left corner. Each of those cameras is its own camera island. The Pixel 9, on the flip side, has a vertically-aligned camera setup, with a pill-shaped camera module. Both cameras are included on the inside. It’s a completely different implementation compared to what the Galaxy S25 offers.
Both of these phones offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. Both of them are also quite slippery. The Galaxy S25 has a slightly smaller display, and it’s notably shorter than the Pixel 9. It’s also narrower and thinner than Google’s phone, not to mention over 30 grams lighter. Samsung’s handset is more compact, without a doubt, and better for one-hand use. The Pixel 9 is also quite compact, though.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Display
The Samsung Galaxy S25 features a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That panel is flat, and it supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here, while the display goes up to 2,600 nits when it comes to brightness. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 91%, while the display aspect ratio is 19.5:9. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this display.
The Pixel 9, on the flip side, has a 6.3-inch fullHD+ (2424 x 1080) OLED display. That panel is also flat, and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate. An LTPO display is not in use here. The peak brightness is 2,700 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 86%. The display aspect ratio on the Pixel 9 is 20:9. Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is used to protect this phone’s display.
Both of these displays are actually quite good. They’re both vivid and have good viewing angles. The blacks are deep on both, while both panels also get bright enough. The touch response is also quite good. The Galaxy S25 does have the advantage with the LTPO display, though that doesn’t need to mean much. We’ll talk more about that in the battery section. Neither display offers high-frequency PWM dimming, which is a shame.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. That is an overclocked variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm’s best chip thus far. It’s a 3nm processor, by the way. Samsung also used 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside of this phone, and UFS 4.0 flash storage too.
The Google Pixel 9, on the other hand, is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is the best chip Google has to offer, a 4nm processor. It’s not as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Elite, not even close, but it’s made for Pixel phones, and it works great with Google’s devices. Google is also using 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, but it uses slower UFS 3.1 flash storage. Neither phone supports storage expansion, by the way.
You’ll be glad to know that both phones do offer great performance, though. If you compare them directly, yes, the Galaxy S25 is a bit more snappy, but that’s all. Both phones are very fast, and show no signs of lag or anything like that. They served us really well during the review period, and we never felt like we wanted more speed from either one. They’re also doing a good job with gaming, though if you’re aiming to play more demanding games, the Galaxy S25 is the better choice.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Battery
Samsung’s handset has a 4,000mAh battery on the inside, while the Pixel 9 sports a 4,700mAh battery. Both phones utilize Li-Ion batteries, neither use silicon-carbon units. That 4,000mAh battery may seem a bit small, even for the phone’s 6.2-inch panel. However, the battery life on the phone was quite good during our testing, it exceeded expectations. In fact, it was comparable with what the Google Pixel 9 offers.
Considering how compact these two phones are, their battery life is really, really good. The vast majority of people will be able to get through the day with a single charge on both of these phones. Getting over 7 hours of screen-on-time was not a problem for us, with either phone. Let’s be honest, not many people will push their phones more than that. They both still had juice left in the tank at that point, though, on most days. Your mileage may vary, though, that’s for sure. There are a lot of reasons why.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 supports 25W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Google Pixel 9, on the flip side, supports 27W wired, 15W wireless (with the Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, and reverse wireless charging. Neither phone charges particularly fast. Do note that neither of the two comes with a charger, you’ll need to buy one separately.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Cameras
Samsung’s compact flagship features a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor) on the back. A 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor) is also included, as is a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, 1/3.94-inch sensor). The Pixel 9, on the other hand, has a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor), and a 48-megapixel ultrawide snapper (123-degree FoV, 1/2.55-inch sensor).
So, Samsung’s phone has three rear cameras, while the Pixel 9 has two, as it ditched the telephoto shooter. The images coming from both phones are good, but for the most part, we preferred the Pixel 9’s shots. They usually offered more detail, and those cameras were able to pull more info from the shadows too. HDR performance was also a bit better, while the camera was usually more reliable too.
The Galaxy S25 does a good job, but it didn’t quite hit the balance right at times. Overexposure happened a couple of times, while in some images the shadows were a bit too dark. It still tends to oversaturate at times, but that’s not such a notable problem anymore. For the most part, the Galaxy S25 does a great job, but it needs more optimization. Let’s hope Samsung will also use new camera hardware next year, this is quite dated at this point. The Galaxy S25 does have the edge with telephoto shots, even though the Pixel 9’s digital zoom is quite good. Samsung’s phone prefers warmer color tones in images, while the Pixel 9 pulls to the opposite side.
Audio
Yes, you’ll find stereo speakers on both of these phones. And yes, both sets are quite good. The ones on the Pixel 9 are a bit louder, but the difference is not all that notable. The sound quality is good from both phones.
There is no headphone jack on either smartphone. They do offer Type-C ports which you can use to connect your wired headphones, however. If not, the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9 support Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth 5.3, respectively, so you have a wireless option too.