A brand new Galaxy arrives
The Galaxy S23 may not be as flashy as its bigger siblings, however which may simply make it the extra intriguing possibility of the trio. It sports activities a triple digital camera array, a beautiful show, and probably the most highly effective Qualcomm chipset to-date.
ForBetter show with variable refresh rateMore highly effective processorWireless chargingExpected to obtain main OS updates till Android 17Extra strong digital camera systemAgainstMore expensiveSmaller batteryNot a lot of an improve over the Galaxy S22
An absolute discount
What the Pixel 6a lacks in flash, it makes up for by offering the most effective values available on the market. Google’s “low-end” system continues to impress, even with out the most recent and biggest specs.
ForLess expensiveBigger batteryIncredible worthFive years of safety updatesPixel digital camera processing remains to be impressiveAgainstNo wi-fi chargingSomewhat-unreliable fingerprint scanner
Google has been laborious at work because it makes an attempt to affect the smartphone market extra with its Pixel lineup of telephones. The Pixel 7 sequence is the corporate’s present flagship, and we have already lined how Google’s newest gadgets stack up towards the Galaxy S23 sequence. But what concerning the Pixel 6a powered by the identical Tensor chip because the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro?Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a: The elephant within the roomWhy you’ll be able to belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you’ll be able to select one of the best for you. Find out extra about how we take a look at.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)We could be remiss if we went by way of evaluating the Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a with out mentioning the value first. Ignoring any potential trade-in offers or different ongoing gross sales, there’s nonetheless fairly a discrepancy between these two gadgets.Samsung’s Galaxy S23 with 128GB of storage is priced at $800, in the meantime, the Pixel 6a is available in at an unimaginable $449. Of course, there are offers available, as you may doubtless be capable of avoid wasting money on the Galaxy S23 by buying and selling in your previous telephone or upgrading a line by way of your service.$799 vs $449 should not be this shut.Just to get an thought of the place the Pixel 6a sits available on the market, on the time of this writing, Google’s budget-friendly possibility could be had for simply $249, unlocked. Chances are, you’ll have a reasonably tough time getting an unlocked S23 for a similar worth.Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Breaking down the specs(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)On the floor, it might sound as if there are a variety of similarities when evaluating the Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a. That’s comprehensible should you’re in search of one of the best Android telephones that do not use large shows. However, as quickly as you have a look at the remainder of the specs, it turns into instantly clear that one in all these telephones stands aside from the opposite in just about each different regard.Both Samsung and Google have applied a 6.1-inch AMOLED show, with the Galaxy S23 gaining an edge with its variable refresh fee that may be set to mechanically alter between 48Hz and 120Hz. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Pixel 6a, because it’s “stuck” with a 60Hz refresh fee. It’s not stunning contemplating Google’s technique, however it might’ve been good to have a 90Hz panel not less than.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy S23Google Pixel 6aDisplay6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (1080×2340), 120Hz refresh fee (48-120Hz), Up to 1,750 nits6.1-inch AMOLED, 2400×1080 decision (429 ppi), 60Hz, HDR10+ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 2Google Tensor (1st era)Storage128GB, 256GB128GBMemory8GB6GBRear Camera 150MP Wide-angle, f1.8, 85°12MP, ƒ/1.7, 1.4μm pixel sizeRear Camera 212MP Ultrawide, f2.2, 120°12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.25μm pixel measurement, 114-degree FoVRear Camera 310MP Telephoto (3x), f2.4, 36°N/ASelfie Camera12MP, f2.2, 80°8MP, ƒ/2.0, 1.12μm pixel measurement, 85-degree FoVBattery & Charging3,900mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless4,410mAh, 18W wired chargingConnectivity5G (sub-6, mmWave), Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E5G (sub-6, mmWave), Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6EProtectionIP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2IP67, Gorilla Glass 3Dimensions70.86 x 146.3 x 7.62mm, 168.1g71.8 x 152.2 x 8.9mm, 178gColorsPhantom Black, Cream, Green, LavenderChalk, Charcoal, SageMoving onto processing energy, the Galaxy S23 is powered by the all-new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is a modified model of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This has been paired with 8GB of RAM and both 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage or 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The motive we level this out is because of the truth that the Pixel 6a is simply obtainable with 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage.In an apples-to-apples comparability, these two match up with the learn/write speeds, although Samsung does acquire an edge. Since no person appears to imagine in expandable storage with microSD playing cards any longer, it’d play an element in your determination in case you have the flexibility to pay extra for extra storage.If you need even higher efficiency, get the Galaxy S23 with 256GB of storage. By this level, it positively seems as if the Galaxy S23 is profitable simply over the Pixel 6a, however battery life is one space the place Samsung falls quick. The Galaxy S23 is provided with a 3,900mAh battery, whereas the Pixel 6a makes use of a 4,410mAh cell. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 guarantees higher optimization and effectivity, the Pixel 6a with its Google Tensor chip and the larger battery is unquestionably the best way to go should you want as a lot juice as potential.Keeping on the battery kick, one space the place you may be disenchanted with the Pixel 6a is the charging. Charging speeds are restricted to 18W, in comparison with the 25W most speeds of the Galaxy S23. Additionally, you will not be capable of use one of the best wi-fi chargers with Google’s finances telephone, whereas the S23 helps as much as 15W wi-fi charging together with Wireless PowerShare.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Lastly, we wished to say the state of software program updates for each Samsung and Google. Because it was launched in 2022, the Pixel 6a shipped with Android 12 out of the field and can proceed receiving main OS updates till 2025. On high of that, Google has promised common safety updates for the Pixel 6a till July 2027.On the opposite hand, the Galaxy S23 ships with Android 13, full with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 software program interface. Samsung has dedicated to releasing 4 years of main Android updates, with the final main launch to come back with Android 17 in 2026. And as for safety updates, the Galaxy S23 will obtain its final replace in 2027, that means that the end-of-life for each telephones will come across the similar time.Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Design(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)If you are a fan of small telephones, then your finest bets are the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 6a, as each of those gadgets characteristic a 6.1-inch show. This makes it way more snug and pocketable in comparison with the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 6.8-inch show or the Pixel 7 Pro’s 6.7-inch display.Both Samsung and Google are utilizing a mix of aluminum and glass, however Google managed to chop again on prices by counting on plastic for the again plate. Meanwhile, you will not discover any plastic on the Galaxy S23, choosing glass on the back and front to associate with the aluminum body.One of the largest complaints about Samsung telephones lately has been the severity of the curve discovered on the show, and the Galaxy S23 helps to quelch these issues a bit. Along with flattening out the show by 30% on the S23 Ultra, all three S23 fashions sport barely extra rounded edges.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Pixel 6a is basically the identical design because the Pixel 7, full with the digital camera bar throughout the again. However, Google learn the room earlier than introducing its drastic redesign with the Pixel 6, providing a telephone that has refined curves on the perimeters. This can also be paired with a flat show, making for fairly an gratifying expertise.While Google’s digital camera bar might sound a bit odd, it is positively a putting design selection and one which we’re huge followers of. Samsung, then again, has opted for a extra reserved (learn: boring) design, eradicating the distinctive digital camera housing from the Galaxy S22. Instead, we’re left with only a reasonably fundamental structure for the triple digital camera setup on the Galaxy S23. On the brilliant facet, this does assist tie the design of the whole Galaxy S23 sequence collectively throughout all three fashions.Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a: What concerning the cameras?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)No matter what worth you pay, you may doubtless desire a smartphone that may seize nice photos, and each the Galaxy S23 vs. Pixel 6a ship. The Galaxy S23 sports activities a triple digital camera setup, headlined by a 50MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture. This is mixed with a 12.2-inch ultra-wide lens together with a 10MP telephoto digital camera.While sharing a lot of the DNA of the Pixel 6, there’s one space that is not the case with the Pixel 6a and that is the digital camera {hardware}. The Pixel 6a opts for a dual-camera system with the identical ole’ 12.2MP principal wide-angle lens paired with a 12MP ultrawide digital camera.(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)There’s little doubt that the Galaxy S23 can outperform the Pixel 6a normally. However, Google’s software program prowess nonetheless pays huge dividends regardless of the vastly-outdated {hardware}. And whereas the brand new Camera Assistant options hope to play a giant position within the flexibility of the Galaxy S23, the Pixel 6a remains to be arguably higher should you simply desire a “point and shoot” digital camera.Shutter lag remains to be prevalent throughout all of Samsung’s flagship gadgets, with the corporate stating this has to do extra with the processing than faults within the software program. Camera Assistant even consists of toggles to try to velocity issues up a bit for you, nevertheless it nonetheless falls fairly in need of the competitors. So so long as the situations are excellent, and your topic is not shifting, the Galaxy S23 is the best way to go, however even with older {hardware} and one much less digital camera, the Pixel 6a is arguably going to be the extra dependable selection.Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Which must you purchase?(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)On the one hand, you may assume that it is comical to match the Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 6a, as one system is clearly extra highly effective and extra “feature complete” than the opposite. However, whereas the Galaxy S23 has the most recent and biggest chipset from Qualcomm, a triple digital camera setup, and can obtain one extra main Android replace, it is not that reduce and dry.Even ignoring the continued gross sales and offers, the Pixel 6a at simply $449 is an unimaginable worth. We do want it supplied a show with a quicker refresh fee, and the fingerprint scanner is in determined want of an improve. However, Google’s software program prowess remains to be top-notch, offering options equivalent to Magic Eraser, along with digital camera processing regardless of the inferior digital camera {hardware}.If you are on a hard and fast finances, then the Pixel 6a is the best way to go, coming in at barely greater than half the value of the Galaxy S23. This leaves you loads of room to seize the most effective Pixel 6a instances, an inexpensive Android pill, and nonetheless have room to spare.But if you’d like one of the best that Samsung has to supply in a “compact flagship,” you will not be disenchanted with the Galaxy S23. The solely advice that we might make is to choose up the model with 256GB of storage. Not solely is that this model quicker than the 128GB mannequin, however since you’ll be able to’t use a microSD card, you may need to guarantee you have got as a lot storage as potential.
Compact flagship
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 checks the entire containers for many who do not desire a large smartphone. It’s snug to carry, offers greater than sufficient efficiency, and can obtain updates till Android 17.
Budget champ
Google’s Pixel 6a seems virtually similar to the Pixel 6, however is available in at only a fraction of the value. There are some sacrifices that have to be made, however at this worth, you doubtless will not even care.