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Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Google Pixel 9: Simplicity vs Versatility

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While a lot of eyes are currently fixated on Samsung’s top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra, we’re willing to bet that there are still a lot of buyers out there who are eyeing the most affordable model within the Galaxy S25 lineup, namely the base-model Galaxy S25. In North America, the phone competes with other standard-configuration such as ones from Apple and Google, to name a couple.

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Speaking of the latter, the Pixel 9 also represents the most basic of Google’s current flagship lineup. While they aren’t too different in terms of pricing, the Pixel 9 has been on the market for a bit longer now, giving Google a bit more time to refine it with software updates. Maybe you’re shopping around for a brand new Android flagship and don’t want to spend a thousand bucks, in which case you might be looking at these two phones. But which one should you go for? Let’s take a look.

Samsung Galaxy S25: Jack of All Trades

First up we have Samsung’s new Galaxy S25. Even as a Pixel fan myself I have to admit that the Galaxy S-series are probably the most iconic Android phones on the market thanks to a combination of hardware and software features, as well as Samsung’s aggressive marketing campaigns. As such, it does outshine the Pixel 9 in several ways.

The biggest difference between the two phones is performance – inside the S25 you’ll find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, which at this point in time is the most powerful Android chipset that you can get. It easily out-performs the Pixel 9 and makes the Galaxy S25 a more ideal choice for performance-heavy tasks such as video editing and gaming, for example. The Tensor G4 is a considerable improvement over past Pixel chipsets, but doesn’t hold a candle to the 8 Elite’s raw power.

While the Pixel 9’s point-and-shoot camera capabilities are impressive, the S25 has an advantage in hardware courtesy of the extra telephoto lens, a feature that’s sadly not available on Google’s base-model flagship. Of course computational photography is a different matter altogether, but this adds a bit of versatility for folks looking to shoot tons of zoomed-in close-up photos on their phone.

While both phones run on Android 15, the Galaxy S25 comes with Samsung’s own One UI 7 interface, which gives users access to more in-depth customization and personalization features on their device. Google’s approach to software is a bit more minimalist (more on this later) and Samsung does for a more feature-packed approach with One UI 7, which is filled to the brim with Samsung-exclusive features such as theme options and Good Lock which adds a whole new horizon of customizability to the S25.

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The Galaxy S25 is also available in a beefy 512GB storage variant – that’s half a terabyte of storage, meaning that you can save a ton of media and files on your phone. By comparison, the Pixel 9 maxes out at 256GB.

Google Pixel 9: Practicality is Key

In the case of the Pixel 9, Google doesn’t seem interested in chasing after gamers and hardcore power users – instead, the Pixel 9 excels in everyday practicality, the kind of stuff most people will use their smartphone for, at least in the “casual” sense.

For one, the Pixel 9’s computational photography is excellent, bringing in a combination of great-looking colors in photos, with just the right amount of dynamic range and low-light performance that other phones can only dream of. Sure, we mentioned the Galaxy S25’s additional telephoto lens, and while it does make for a more versatile mobile photography experience, the Pixel 9 might be more ideal for default “point-and-shoot” scenarios, especially if you seldom have a need for long-distance zoom capabilities.

The Pixel 9 also comes with the benefit of Google’s amazing spam call and text filters, which are pretty darn impressive at shielding you from unwanted scams, phishing texts, and annoying telemarketers. Also present is Call Screening, a feature that’s pretty much exclusive for Pixel devices.

As for hardware, the Pixel 9 shares some similarities with the S25, if not very minute differences – this includes the larger 4,700 mAh battery (versus 4,000 on the S25, although the 8 Elite is more battery efficient), a slightly-brighter peak screen brightness of 2,700 nits versus 2,600, and while both phones come with face unlock, the Pixel 9 comes with “Class 3” certification, meaning it’s as secure as fingerprints for banking apps, for example.

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If the Galaxy S25’s vibrant One UI interface is too much for you, then the Pixel 9 might be the more ideal phone in terms of general software usage. Sure, Google’s own take on Android is a bit more minimalist as we said, but it’s a very clean experience with just the essential Google apps, and no bloatware or third-party apps unless you decide to install them on your own.

The Verdict

Given how varied smartphone usage is nowadays, there’s really no single answer, and this will heavily depend on individual needs and wants. Obviously, Android users who prefer uncompromised power and performance, as well as versatile software capabilities will want to go for the Galaxy S25. On the other hand, folks just looking for a phone that can effortlessly take amazing photos and packs practical smartphone features might want to consider the Pixel 9 instead.

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Mike Viray
A writer and content creator with a love for tech and music, Mike is also an avid gamer as well. He and his wife are big fans of Mario Kart.

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