Google introduced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at present, and whereas they undoubtedly appear to maneuver the telephone line ahead, they do not appear to try this all that a lot. Google’s focus appears to be largely on software program an AI enhancements, and whereas they will certainly assist, the telephones should compete with different flagships, just like the Galaxy S9.
Not like the comparability of Apples to Android we did for the Pixel 3 vs iPhone XS match-up, it is somewhat extra simple evaluating two Android flagships, and that makes this one a good race. As we’ll see, the Galaxy S9 is healthier in nearly each manner, except the Pixel three manages to have the best smartphone camera.
Design and show
The Samsung Galaxy S9 wallops the Pixel three in its design and show, not only for wanting like a extra strikingly premium telephone, but in addition for catering to customers’ wants in additional methods.
The Galaxy S9 is somewhat heftier at 147.7 x 68.7 x Eight.5mm and 163 grams, in comparison with the Pixel three’s 145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm and 148g. Each have Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front, whereas an aluminum body wraps across the telephones’ edges.
However, the place the Pixel three might have gone thinner, the Galaxy S9 makes higher use of its dimension. The Pixel three nonetheless has readily obvious bezels, although they’ve thinned down from the Pixel 2, and the highest and backside bezels home stereo audio system. The Galaxy S9, in the meantime, simply has skinny strips on the prime and backside of the display, which curves at both sides of the telephone. The Pixel three design simply lags behind Samsung’s.
The Pixel three presents an IPX8 score towards water ingress, however the Galaxy S9 holds an IP68 score towards each water and dirt. So, it takes the lead in safety as nicely.
For ports and slots, the Galaxy S9 simply will get additional forward. It contains a USB-C port for charging and Dex desktop help, whereas additionally together with a three.5mm headpone jack and a microSD card slot. The Pixel three simply has a USB-C port.
Each telephones embrace fingerprint scanners, however Samsung goes additional by additionally providing facial recognition and iris scanning.
The shows simply set the 2 telephones even additional aside. The Pixel three matches a 5.5-inch Full HD+ show for a pixel density of 443ppi. It has an 18:9 facet ratio, HDR help, and makes use of an OLED panel.
All the pieces is stepped up on the Galaxy S9. It is 5.Eight-inch Tremendous AMOLED show has a 2,960 x 1,440 decision for a sharper 570ppi. It additionally helps Cellular HDR Premium content material.
OS and energy
There is a good bit of similarity between the 2 telephones right here. Whereas the Pixel three runs Android 9 Pie and the Galaxy S9 runs Android 8 Oreo, the Pixel three would not achieve a lot of a bonus from the distinction. The Galaxy S9 will possible be getting the brand new working system subsequent 12 months. That mentioned, the Google’s personal telephones will at all times get software program updates before third occasion manufactured handsets.
Each telephones are powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset (although some model of the Galaxy S9 have Samsung’s personal Exynos 9810) and include 4GB of RAM. The bottom storage for every can also be 64GB, with upgrades to 128GB accessible on each. Nonetheless, the S9 inside storage could be configured as excessive as 256GB, and microSD card help permits for much more storage past that.
The Galaxy S9 has a three,000mAh battery, which is barely bigger than the Pixel three’s 2,915mAh battery. Nonetheless, neither ought to battle to get all-day efficiency. And, wi-fi charging is an choice on each telephones.
The pretty even match-up right here makes it robust to name, however Samsung’s extra versatile storage and talent to energy a desktop-like expertise although Dex might give it an edge for some prospects.
Digicam
Each Samsung and Google know learn how to make a fantastic smartphone digicam. Samsung has achieved it this time with its dual-aperture rear digicam, which has a 12MP sensor in a position to shoot utilizing both a quick f/1.5 aperture or an f/2.four aperture. The vast aperture mixed with 1.four micron pixels presents improved low-light efficiency. The rear digicam additionally has optical picture stabilization (OIS), and might report video in 4K at as much as 60fps or in 1080p at 240fps.
The Pixel three rear digicam is worse on paper. It has a 12.2MP sensor with 1.four micron pixels and an f/1.Eight aperture. It does provide optical and digital picture stabilization, however its video capabilities are restricted, solely hitting 30fps for 4K and 120fps for 1080p. Nonetheless, Google has proven its may in AI-powered picture processing, so it could nonetheless pull forward in picture high quality. However, we’ll have to attend and see.
The Pixel three does provide an enormous extra with the front-facing cameras, because it has two 8MP sensors. One has a 97-degree FOV for group selfies, and the opposite has a narrower FOV however sooner f/1.Eight aperture for higher low-light efficiency.
The Galaxy S9 front-facing digicam has an 8MP sensor with an 80-degree FOV an vast f/1.7 aperture. It might not be as versatile, nevertheless it does allow AR Emoji for no matter that is price.
Value
For all of the premiums that the Galaxy S9 appears to have over the Pixel three, maybe probably the most stunning factor is that it is also cheaper (usually).
The Galaxy S9 (64GB) launched at $719 (£739 / AU$1,199), and it is not laborious to search out on sale for even lower than that. Including one other 64GB of storage would not even convey the price as excessive because the Pixel three’s worth.
The Pixel three is beginning at $799 (£739, AU$1,199), however a storage improve bumps that up even additional.
Given the novelty of the Pixel three, it appears unlikely we’ll see main worth drops quickly. In the meantime the Galaxy S9 will get offers on a regular basis, and we might anticipate even higher ones when Black Friday and Cyber Monday come alongside.
Takeaway
Google actually wants to supply one thing particular with the Pixel three digicam. The truth that it is lagging behind in so many areas to a less expensive telephone that as launched greater than half a 12 months earlier isn’t good. Whereas some individuals might take consolation within the Android expertise Google presents and the assured OS updates, Samsung is not any slouch in terms of providing a superb expertise.
The Galaxy S9 presents nice efficiency, a stunning display, and a superb digicam all packed into an impressive design. The Pixel three has a design that is not fairly maintaining with the instances in addition to the bigger Pixel three XL, and its display is not topping any specs charts, but Google desires a premium worth. Except the digicam tops each different telephone at the moment in the marketplace, it will be a troublesome promote.