Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: Which is better

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: The Google Pixel 7 is about $200 cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S23. But does it make it a better smartphone than the Galaxy S23? Well, the answer to the question above is subjective depending on why you need a smartphone but the scale tilts more in favor of the Galaxy S23 phone.

After using both smartphones, I can categorically tell you the Samsung Galaxy S23 is better than the Google Pixel 7 in many ways. However, there were also some areas where I preferred the Pixel 7 to the Galaxy S23. So, in this Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7 article, I’ll be sharing with you areas where each phone excels, and in the end, I’ll explain why you might prefer the Galaxy S23 over the Pixel 7.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7

Specs	Samsung Galaxy S23	Google Pixel 7
Display	6.1-inches, 120Hz	6.3-inches, 90Hz
Display Features	AMOLED, HDR10+	AMOLED, HDR10+
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	up to 256GB	up to 256GB
MicroSD Card	NO	NO
Back Camera	50MP + 10MP + 12MP	50MP + 12MP
Front Camera	12MP	10.8MP
Chipset	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2	Google Tensor G2
Software	Android 13	Android 13
Battery	3,900mAh (25W)	4,355mAh (20W)
Water & DustProof	YES(IP68)	YES(IP68)
eSIM	YES	YES

Samsung Galaxy S23 has a more powerful chipset

While I was using both smartphones, the Galaxy S23 gave me better performance than the Pixel 7. I could render graphics faster and playing graphics-intensive games was smoother on the Galaxy S23. This does not mean that the chipset Pixel 7 was terrible, it was also good but the chipset in the Galaxy S23 was just better.

Another area where the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset of the Galaxy S23 bested the Tensor G2 chipset in the Pixel 7 was efficiency. Samsung really improved the power efficiency of the Galaxy S23 so that it could sustain optimum performance for a longer time compared to the Pixel 7. Although none of the phones got heated up while I was testing them, the Pixel 7 was warmer after using both phones extensively.

Both smartphones have great designs

The designs of both smartphones look really pretty. Holding both phones in my hands, it was difficult to choose one over the other based on the design. However, over time I started liking the Galaxy S23 more just because of its simple design and also because it’s the more compact phone of these two.

But the above is just my preference because when I asked other members of our team, most of them preferred the design of the Pixel 7. When you throw in a protective case on the Pixel 7, it does look more stylish than the Galaxy S23.

Samsung Galaxy S23 has a better camera system

The Galaxy S23 has a better camera system than the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7 has dual rear cameras and a single front camera. While the Galaxy S23 also has a single front camera, it, however, has triple rear cameras.

The Galaxy S23 has a dedicated 10MP telephoto camera that is capable of 3x optical zoom. This camera is not available in the Pixel 7 and every time I had to force use the main camera of the Pixel 7 as a telephoto camera. So, the dedicated telephoto camera in the Galaxy S23 is one reason why I prefer its camera system over the Pixel 7.

Google Pixel 7 has more useful camera features

The Samsung Galaxy S23 might have a better camera system but the Pixel 7 has more useful camera features. Aside from the traditional OIS stabilization, 4K video recording, gyro-EIS, Night mode, Auto-HDR, etc. the Pixel 7 also has extra features that make using its camera more interesting.

While comparing the camera features, I found out that the Pixel 7 records better video quality and its Laser AutoFocus is also spot on. The Pixel 7 camera also has Guided Frame and Enhance Real Tone features. The Guided Frame feature uses voice command to direct people with poor eyesight to take selfies while the Enhance Real Tone feature helps the phone take natural and accurate skin tone photos.

We already wrote an article explaining the unique features of the Google Pixel 7, please read it up to know more. These extra camera features are very useful and are the reason why I prefer the camera of the Pixel 7 for day-to-day use.

Samsung Galaxy S23 has a better & smoother display

The display of both smartphones is AMOLED and supports HDR10+ and thus produces good quality. However, the display of the Galaxy S23 is better because it has a smoother 120Hz and is brighter especially when using both phones outside.

The display of the Pixel 7 supports a 90Hz refresh rate and has a peak brightness of 1400 nits. In comparison, the display of the Galaxy S23 supports a 120Hz refresh rate and has a peak brightness of 1750 bits. When performing day-to-day tasks and in indoor use, you might not notice the difference in the display. However, I noticed a huge difference in the display when I started playing games and using the phones outside.

Google Pixel 7 has a bigger battery

The battery life on both smartphones is decent but the Pixel 7 comes out on top of the battery test. After using both phones for a day, the Pixel 7 still had 30% left while the Galaxy S23 had 18% left. This is not so surprising as the Pixel 7 is powered by a 4,355mAh battery which is about 400mAh bigger than the 3,900mAh of the Galaxy S23.

However, both smartphones have decent battery life as I could get more than 8 hours of screen time on both smartphones. Both phones also support wired and wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: Software

The Samsung Galaxy S23 boots One UI 5.1 based on Android 13 out of the box and will get five years of software updates while the Google Pixel 7 boots Android 13 out of the box and will get three years of software updates. The user experience and navigation on both smartphones are different and both phones give users room for customization.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7: Price

The price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 (8 + 128GB) is $799 while the price of the Google Pixel 7 (8 + 128GB) is $599. The Pixel 7 with the same RAM and storage option is about $200 cheaper than the Galaxy S23. But should you buy the Pixel 7 instead of the Galaxy S23? See the verdict of this Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7 below.

Buy Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7

Samsung Galaxy S23	Price
Buy on Amazon	$799.99
Buy on Amazon(EUR)	€949.00
Buy on Amazon(UK)	£849.99

Google Pixel 7	Price
Buy on Amazon	$599.00
Buy on Amazon (EUR)	€649.00
Buy on Amazon (UK)	£599.00

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7

In my time using the Samsung Galaxy S23 is better than the Google Pixel 7. The Galaxy S23 has a smoother display, a brighter display, a better performance, an extra 10MP telephoto camera, and a longer software update. The Pixel on the other hand has a longer battery life and more useful camera features.

People who need a smartphone for graphics-intensive tasks will be better off buying the Samsung Galaxy S23 while users who like small extra features for daily use and are on a budget should buy the Pixel 7. I don’t think the difference between the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7 is worth $200 but the Galaxy S23 is still better than the Pixel 7.