Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Which should you buy?

The Galaxy S23 is one of the best compact Android phones on the market. That said, there aren’t a ton of other competitors here. Thankfully, the Google Pixel 8 shrinks down just enough to make it a viable alternative. So, which phone is the best choice for your needs? Let’s take a closer look in this Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 comparison.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Specs

At the heart of the Pixel 8’s experience is the Tensor G3 chipset, which is a pretty solid upgrade from last year’s Tensor G2. There’s a next-gen ARM CPU, a more powerful GPU, a next-gen TPU, and new image sensor capabilities. As always, the Tensor’s primary focus is machine learning and AI over raw performance. It’s these special abilities that enable some of the Pixel’s coolest features like Magic Eraser, speech-to-text-translation, and its advanced photo and video processing.

If raw performance is more important to you, the Galaxy S23 takes a small lead here with its overclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Not only is this the fastest Qualcomm chip currently available, but it also has impressive thermals — something that is historically a struggle for the Tensor chip. It’s too early to say whether the Tensor G3 has resolved its predecessor’s overheating issues, but it’s very likely that the latest Snapdragon 8 still holds an advantage in this aspect.

When it comes to games and high-performance apps, the Galaxy S23 will be the stronger performer. That said, it’s unlikely you’ll notice this in day-to-day use.

While we’ll talk more about the camera later, it’s important to note that the new front camera features Class 3 biometric capabilities, ensuring a highly secure face unlock experience comparable to the Pixel’s fingerprint scanner.

The displays aren’t too different on paper. The Pixel 8 packs a 6.2-inch OLED with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 and a 60-120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 has a more compact 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.

Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED displays are known for extremely accurate colors and contrast, but it’s worth noting Google also utilizes screens made from Samsung Display. The Pixel 8 has a slight advantage thanks to its 2,000 nits peak brightness, versus 1750 nits for the Galaxy S23. Both should perform well even in harsher outdoor lighting conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 wins a few points for improved durability, thanks to its use of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. Samsung includes the latest glass on all its flagships, including the S23 Ultra. Conversely, Google reserves the latest glass for the Pixel 8 Pro, sticking to the original Gorilla Glass Victus for the Pixel 8. All of Samsung and Google’s flagships have the same IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, however.

Let’s talk software. Google is known for its minimalist approach to Android. It sticks to a more stock-like skin on top of Android 14 while still adding its own special features to the mix. Samsung has a slightly heavier hand with its One UI software, though it’s still one of the best Android skins out there.

Software support is one area where Samsung has led the pack for a while now, offering four years of OS upgrades and five years of security patches. I always found this a bit ironic, given that Google is the developer behind Android. The good news is Google is finally taking a stronger stance here, committing to an impressive seven years of OS updates, seven years of security patches, and seven years of Feature Drops for its OS.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Design and size comparison

The Pixel 8 measures 150.5 x 70.8mm and has a thickness of 8.9mm. It’s quite a bit smaller than its predecessor, though it’s still slightly larger than the Galaxy S23, which comes in at 146.3 x 70.8 and has a thickness of 7.6mm. In terms of weight, the Galaxy S23 is also lighter at 168g compared to the Pixel 8’s 187g

Neither phone is massive, and both are going to feel pretty similar. Both phones should also be equally comfortable to use with one hand. If you don’t care about the size and weight differences, design could be a bigger factor.

Samsung and Google have distinct design languages, with the Pixel 8 arguably standing out more thanks to its unique camera bar that divides its glass rear in two. The Galaxy S23 has a cleaner and more minimalist approach to its rear design. It’s all one solid piece of glass with three camera bumps aligned on the upper left side.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Camera

The Pixel 8 has a brand new primary sensor, the 50MP Isocell GN2. This new sensor has a slightly wider aperture than its predecessor at ƒ/1.68, which should result in better, shaper images in good lighting. There’s also an improved 12MP ultrawide lens with a wider field of view at 125.8 degrees versus 114 degrees on the Pixel 7. 

Even the selfie camera is getting an upgrade this year, with a new 10.5MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture, 95-degree FoV, and a 1.22μm pixel width. Probably the biggest change is the support for Class 3 biometrics, as mentioned above. This basically means Face Unlock finally has the same level of security as fingerprint scans.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Galaxy S23’s camera.

The primary camera is a 50MP ISOCELL GN3 sensor with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and f/1.8 aperture. There’s also an ultrawide 12MP Sony IMX564 sensor with a f/2.2 aperture and 120-degree FoV. The Pixel 8 might not offer a telephoto lens, but the S23 sure does. The 10MP shooter can support 3x optical zoom and has an f/2.4 aperture. Lastly, the front camera is a 12MP shooter, more than capable of handling your selfie needs.

On paper, the Galaxy S23 has a few advantages over the Pixel 8, but remember that Google’s true camera mastery comes from its AI-based optimizations, not purely from its solid hardware. While it’s too early to form any concrete impressions of the Pixel 8’s camera, it appears poised to offer one of the best Android camera experiences to date.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Battery life and charging

The Pixel 8 might be a bit smaller than its predecessor, but it went the opposite direction for its battery size. The 4,575mAh battery is about 5% larger. We don’t have any details on the actual battery life just yet, though judging by the Pixel 7, we’d expect it to make it through a full day’s use without much trouble.

The battery isn’t the only upgrade; there is also faster 27W wired charging with a compatible USB Power Delivery PPS wall charger. While it’s not as fast as many other Android phones, it represents a slight improvement over the Galaxy S23.

The Galaxy S23 boasts a relatively small 3,900mAh battery, but thanks to the power management capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it manages to last longer than you might anticipate. Still, even with modest use, you’ll never make it more than just a single day. The 21W wired charging is also not exactly great, taking well over an hour and 30 minutes for a full charge.

In the realm of wireless charging, Google holds a slight advantage, offering 12W charging compatibility with any Qi-compatible charger and 18W charging when used with the second-gen Pixel Stand. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 caps 3rd party chargers to just 10W, though Samsung-branded chargers will fare better at 15W.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Price and availability

For years, Google has positioned itself as the cheaper alternative to more expensive flagships, but this year, the Pixel 8 is increasing its starting price by $100. While this might be disappointing to some, it’s not entirely surprising given the current state of the economy. At $699, it’s also still $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S23.

For those who want more color choices, the Galaxy S23 has an advantage with colorways of Cream, Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, Graphite, and Lime. However, it’s worth noting that some of these color options are limited to specific markets. The Pixel 8 is slightly more modest here, coming in Obsidian, Hazel, and Rose.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: Which should you buy?

The Pixel 8 has a minimalist approach to software, a slightly more eye-catching design, and an extremely impressive commitment to software updates. It is also expected to have a great camera, making it an excellent overall phone. While it may not be as powerful, its $699 price tag still makes it the better value.

Then again, some folks want a more heavy-handed software approach and enjoy Samsung’s kitchen sink level of high-end features. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is also likely to be a bit more future-proof. If you aren’t into Google’s software and hardware design philosophy and don’t mind spending more, you’ll find the Galaxy S23 is likely the more powerful choice.

If you’re more of a Samsung fan but looking to save some cash on a cheaper Samsung Galaxy phone, you might also want to consider the Galaxy S23 FE ($599.99 at Amazon). Likewise, if you want the Galaxy S23 or Pixel 8 feature set in a slightly larger package — plus some extra perks on both phones — the Galaxy S23 Plus ($999.99 at Samsung) and Pixel 8 Pro ($999 at Amazon) are both worth a look.

Ultimately, there’s no obvious winner here. Both of these smaller phones pack plenty of punch, so it will come down to which one is more to your taste.

Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23: FAQ