I Use Both a Google Pixel and a Samsung Galaxy Phone Every Day, and Here’s How They Differ.
If you’re considering an Android smartphone over an iPhone, the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy are two of the most well-known options. There are other Android smartphones worth considering, such as those from OnePlus and Nothing , but Google and Samsung are the most well-known.
While the underlying operating system on Pixel and Galaxy phones is the same, there are many differences between the two versions of Android. However, not all of these differences are immediately obvious unless you use these phones every day, which can make it difficult to decide whether to choose Google or Samsung.
It just so happens that I use Pixel and Galaxy phones almost every day—not because tech journalists are particularly rich, but because we have to write a lot of reviews , news articles , and how-to guides . Here’s what I’ve learned along the way, and how you can choose between Pixel and Galaxy phones.
Personalization and clutter
We used to talk about “pure” Android on Google Nexus or Pixel phones, but that’s no longer the case: even Google is making its own changes and improvements to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which every Android device manufacturer has access to. Samsung is adding even more features on top of the AOSP foundation and marketing its version of Android as One UI .
There’s no doubt that One UI on Galaxy phones is more cluttered and complex than Android on Pixel phones—which can be both a plus and a minus, depending on your preferences for mobile software. Samsung offers more customization, personalization, and configuration options than Google, so One UI will appeal to experienced users.
For example, Galaxy phones offer more customization options for themes, which completely change the look of the software—though Pixel phones have caught up in some respects, adding features like icon themes in recent updates. Samsung phones also let you do more on the lock screen, customizing frames, widgets, and effects as needed.
Google takes a simpler approach to the user interface, which can be praised for its simplicity or criticized for its primitiveness, depending on your perspective and taste. The Pixel version of Android has improved slightly over time and borrowed a few tricks from Samsung, but overall, it’s still not as customizable.
Applications and ecosystem
On Pixel phones, Google apps are front and center. Galaxy phones come with all the core Google apps by default, along with all the equivalent Samsung apps, so again, Galaxy phones are more cluttered. There’s nothing wrong with Samsung’s apps for photos, calendars, contacts, web browsing, and so on, but you’ll likely prefer Google’s in most situations.
This may change depending on what else you own: if you have a Galaxy Watch on your wrist, Samsung Health will be much more useful and interesting. If you’ve chosen a Pixel Watch, you’ll prefer Fitbit, which is owned by Google. As with most tech purchases these days, from TVs and smart speakers to laptops, you’ll need to consider what other Google or Samsung devices you own.
Google keeps some features exclusive to Pixel phones, though they often become available to the broader Android ecosystem over time. Currently, these include Call Screen (to protect against spam calls), real-time fraud detection, Pixel Screenshots for analyzing your screenshots, a Now Playing widget for the home screen, and photo features like Night Mode.
In some cases, Samsung has similar features to those found on Pixel phones, as well as several of its own exclusives not found on Pixel phones. Additionally, there’s a suite of Good Lock modules that take phone customization and personalization to a new level: you can set different volume levels for different apps, create custom themes, and, for example, gain greater control over the home screen.
Hardware differences and updates
I don’t want to talk too much about the hardware differences, because they change regularly every year (or even every six months), but there’s no doubt that the case design plays a role when choosing a smartphone – and overall, I think most people would agree that Samsung phones are sleeker and more stylish.
Aesthetics are subjective, but Samsung’s Galaxy series feels more like the polished and refined iPhones, while Google takes a more stripped-down, industrial approach with its Pixels: look at that massive rear camera module, for example (which, to be fair, helps when the phone is laid flat).
Performance is difficult to assess, but it’s fair to say that the Snapdragon (and even Exynos) chipsets used by Samsung have a better reputation than the Tensor processors Google uses in its Pixel phones. However, it’s arguable that Google wins in camera lens quality, something the Galaxy series hasn’t improved much in recent years.
One thing is certain: Android updates for Google phones come out months earlier than for Samsung phones: Samsung needs time to adapt the AOSP code for its own One UI release, so if you want the latest Android features before anyone else, the Pixel series is your best choice.
My personal preferences
If I’m buying a new Android smartphone, I usually still choose a Google Pixel. The software interface is a bit simpler, but that doesn’t bother me, and I use so many Google apps—Gmail, Google Chat, Google Maps, Google Keep—that I need the most convenient and seamless access possible. I don’t need a bunch of Samsung apps on top of that.
That’s not to say Galaxy phones aren’t appealing, and I enjoy experimenting with some of the extra features and tricks that Pixel phones don’t have—like the secret Wi-Fi menu or the built-in simplified mode . Ultimately, however, I find Pixel phones more intuitive and easier to use, and I definitely want to be first in line for Android updates.
Admittedly, this is partly due to the learning curve. I’ve used Google phones far more often and for longer than Samsung phones, and I’m comfortable with them and how they work—if you’re a seasoned Galaxy phone owner, the advantages of the Pixel probably won’t seem so appealing, given the different options and menus you’ll have to get used to.