Choosing between two good smartphones is always a task, especially if the contenders are Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S23. Both phones have very robust features but are slightly catered to different markets or audiences. In this article, we shall compare these two flagship devices in many aspects to help you decide which is the best for you.
Google Pixel 8: It follows the tradition of elegant and minimalist design for Pixel – a glass front and back with an aluminum frame. It is a little larger and heavier than the predecessor, weighing in at 187 grams, 150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm. The Pixel 8 series is available in Obsidian, Hazel, and Snow colors. It is also dust and water-resistant, with an IP68 rating.
Galaxy S23: Boasts a premium look along with a glass front and rear coated with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, but the sides and edges are made of aluminum. It is smaller and lighter than the Pixel 8 at 168 grams and weighs 146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm. The S23 comes in Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender color options and is also IP68 rated for dust and water resistance.
Verdict: These are both well-built and feature good design. The choice here comes down to personal preference in terms of size and color options.
Google Pixel 8: The display is 6.2 inches, OLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, up to 120 Hz. The screen holds support for HDR10+, peak brightness of 2000 nits, and looks vivid and easy to read, even outside on a sunny day.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The Samsung Galaxy S23 has an AMOLED 2X screen of 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It supports HDR10+, but its peak brightness is lower than that of the Pixel 8.
Verdict: Both the screens are of the very best quality and bring bright colors onto the screen along with seamless performance. So, Pixel 8 is marginally brighter but the difference is far from huge.
Google Pixel 8: It runs on the custom Tensor G3 chipset, and this consists of a nona-core CPU along with the Immortalis-G715s MC10 GPU. This processor allows any activity on the phone to run quickly, from general usage to high-power gaming and AI-conscious features. The hardware itself boots with 8GB of RAM with either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The chipset used in the Galaxy S23 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is an octa-core CPU and uses the Adreno 740 GPU. On top of that, there is 8GB of RAM, and it will also be available in storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is known for its superb performance and efficiency.
Verdict: The performance of both devices is outstanding, but the Galaxy S23 features a slightly more potent Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset over the Pixel 8's Tensor G3. At this stage, it's unlikely that such a difference will make much difference to the average user.
Google Pixel 8: The Pixel 8 is a dual-camera phone, with a 50MP primary sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. A strong enriching stroke has been made on the camera package with AI-driven features by Google, and the list includes Magic Eraser, Real Tone, and Night Sight. There is also a 10.5MP front camera that can shoot video up to 4K.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The Galaxy S23 sports a triple-camera system with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto sensor which now has 3x optical zoom. The selfie camera is a 12MP sensor, capable of recording 4K video as well. Samsung's in-camera software has Single Take, Super Steady, and Director's View.
Verdict: For example, the Galaxy S23 is far more flexible with its triple camera.
Google Pixel 8: The Google Pixel 8 has an in-built 4575 mAh battery supporting fast charging, wireless, and reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 8 battery generally lasts a full day, a testament to the software optimization done by Google.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The Galaxy S23 has an even slightly smaller 3900mAh battery but also supports fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The Samsung One UI software comes with several power-saving modes to help stretch out the battery life.
Verdict: The Pixel 8 has a larger battery, so you might get a slightly better day out of that. But both phones should easily make it through a full day of usage.
Google Pixel 8: The Pixel 8 runs on Android 14 with at least three years of timely software updates and security patches straight from Google. Clean and clutter-free Android experience as usual by the Pixel flagship from Google.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The Galaxy S23 boots Android 13 with a top layer of Samsung's One UI 6.1. Samsung has promised to provide four years of major updates and five years of security updates, which is great for the future.
Verdict: From a software update point of view, both phones are very well supported. Google Pixel 8 receives its updates from Google itself, so you are likely to get your updates before others.
Google Pixel 8: The Google Pixel 8 is so price-aggressive, with starting prices from about $699 for the base model.
Samsung Galaxy S23: The Samsung Galaxy S23 begins a little higher, at around $799 for the base model.
Google Pixel 8 and Samsung Galaxy S23 are both excellent smartphones with their strengths. The Pixel 8 has AI-driven features and camera performance along with timely updates on its side, but the Galaxy S23 has a better combination of hardware, coupled with the option of having a highly versatile camera setup and a slightly more powerful chipset.
It all comes down to your needs and preferences, and how well you'll adjust to the different features offered by the devices. If a clean Android experience and timely updates hold more significance for you, then the Pixel 8 is perfect. But if you're looking for a much more flexible camera system and just slightly better performance, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is the better choice.