Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S25, its latest compact flagship phone. The South Korean tech giant’s latest phone may look just like its predecessor with a new coat of paint, but the newly launched phone packs a much more powerful processor and some really impressive AI features, some of which are powered by Google’s AI model – Gemini.
On the other hand, we have the Pixel 9, which is often touted as the go-to phone for camera and AI enthusiasts. While Google’s latest Pixel series phone overcomes several shortcomings that affected its predecessor, it still isn’t as impressive as Samsung’s newest compact flagship. If you are unable to decide whether you should wait for the Galaxy S25 or go with the Pixel 9, here’s a comprehensive comparison between the two that will help you make the decision.
The Galaxy S25 looks just like its predecessor. (Photo Source: Samsung)
Design and display
Both Google and Samsung have hit a roadblock when it comes to designing phones, and new phones only look like an iterative over their previous versions. The Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 9 both have an iPhone-like look and feel, thanks to their aluminium frames and curved corners, which make them comfortable even if you are holding them with one hand for hours.
But if you look at them closely, you will notice that the Pixel 9 has more rounded edges compared to Samsung’s latest Galaxy S series phone. The Galaxy s25 and the Pixel 9 both have a matte-like glass back, are IP68 rated and offer the same level of protection, meaning you can take them on a beach, and even wash them underwater.
The Galaxy S25 sports a 6.2-inch 120Hz screen AMOLED screen, and while the Pixel 9 has a similar resolution and refresh rate, it is just 0.1-inch bigger, measuring 6.3-inch. Both devices are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front.
In terms of size, Samsung’s latest compact Galaxy S series phone is a bit smaller, and you may not notice the difference between the two, but this year, Samsung has made the Galaxy S25 much thinner than the Pixel 9. (7.2mm vs 8.5mm to be precise)
Camera
Samsung’s and Google’s approach to the camera island cannot be more different. The South Korean phone maker’s latest vanilla Galaxy S25 takes a minimalistic approach with three vertically aligned camera cutouts, while Google has opted for its signature pill-shaped camera island, with its main and ultrawide sensor aligned horizontally.
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Both designs have their pros and cons, like when you keep the Galaxy S25 on a flat surface, the camera lens might get scratched, while this may not be the case for the Pixel 9, as it will rest on the outside glass of its pill-shaped island. The Galaxy S25 has a telephoto sensor, which the Pixel 9 misses out on, but depending on your needs, the better camera phone might differ.
On paper, the Galaxy S25 has a 50MP primary lens accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide shooter and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom while the Pixel 9 packs a 50MP primary camera alongside a 48MP ultrawide lens.
If you often find yourself clicking zoomed-in pictures, the Galaxy S25 is the one for you as it features a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. However, if you mostly depend on the primary camera and the ultrawide lens, the Pixel 9 can be a good option as it has a higher-resolution ultrawide sensor
Google and Pixel also take a different approach to their image-processing algorithms. You may consider the Pixel 9 might be the one for you if you prefer natural-looking images when compared to Samsung’s approach of making photos appear slightly saturated. The Pixel 9 also has a higher resolution ultrawide camera (48MP vs 12MP), but the Galaxy S25 arguably has better camera capabilities on paper with its telephoto lens, making it the clear winner amongst the two, at least on paper.
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Performance and software
Featuring Qualcomm’s latest and fastest chipset to date – the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Galaxy S25 offers significantly higher raw performance compared to the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 sensor. Both chipsets offer lag and stutter-free performance when it comes to multitasking, but the Galaxy S25 is the clear winner by a wide margin when it comes to gaming, processing power and power efficiency.
The Galaxy S25 comes with Android 15 out of the box and will get 7 years of OS and security updates, but the Pixel 9 comes with Android 14. However, the software update policy is the same, meaning the Galaxy S25 will get one more OS update than Google’s latest compact phone. The Galaxy S25 runs on One UI 7, Samsung’s most heavily customised and AI-packed Android version to date, while the Pixel 9 also packs numerous AI tricks up its sleeve bundled with stock Android that many find easier to use.
The Pixel 9 is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset manufactured by Samsung. (Express Photo)
AI features
Google Pixel phones are known for their intuitive AI features, and the Pixel 9 is no exception. However, with One UI 7, Samsung seems to be beating Google at its own game. Not only does the Galaxy S25 offer come with Google’s on-device Gemini model, but also brings a new Gemini powered feature that lets users ask the AI to control select built-in Samsung apps using voice.
In addition to standard AI features like live voice call translation, interpreter mode, ability to summarise articles, edit photos and sketch to image functionality, One UI 7 also brings in some new and useful features that can help you do a wide range of things like Now Bar, which gives you an overview of your day using AI and in-depth customisation options using Goodlock.
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On the other hand, the Pixel 9 gives you access to Google’s new Screenshot app and advanced image editing options, AI powered wallpaper generator and more that are not available on most smartphones. One thing to note here is that Google often updates its Pixel phones with Pixel Drops, which often introduce new features.
Another advantage the Galaxy S25 has over the Pixel 9 is that the former has a separate section in the Settings app called “Galaxy AI”, which quickly lets users toggle the AI features. Depending on your usage, you cannot go wrong with either one, but for the majority of users, Samsung’s Galaxy AI features are way more useful in day to day tasks.
Battery
The Samsung Galaxy S25 has a 4,000mAh battery that should easily last a day on light to moderate usage, but heavy users may need to plug in the phone sometime early evening to get through the day.
On the other hand, the Google Pixel 9 has a 4,700mAh battery that can easily last a day. Sometimes, Google is known to push buggy updates which may or may not affect the battery life, but even if you are a power user, the Pixel 0 should easily last a day.
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As for charging speeds, both phones are still stuck in early 2010’s, with Samsung offering 25W wired charging whereas the Pixel supports 27W wired charging. However, these compact flagships do come with 15W wireless charging support.
Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Pixel 9: Which one should you buy?
If you like the stock Android experience and want a phone that can easily last a day and click good pictures, the Pixel 9 is a no-brainer. With the Galaxy S25, Samsung has upped the game by offering a much more powerful chipset that also caters to gamers, useful Galaxy AI features and a telephoto sensor, which is a must for camera enthusiasts. However, the small battery capacity may not be enough for heavy users.
As for which phone to buy, we recommend going with the Galaxy S25 because of Samsung’s timely and less buggy updates. more intuitive AI features and better camera hardware. However, those looking to buy a Google phone and want to experience the latest Android can go with the Pixel 9.
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