Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Google Pixel 9 | Infinium-tech

We are recently experiencing the Renaissance of compact flagship, so if you are in the market for a small premium smartphone, you are in luck. In markets such as America, although the selection of small flagships is not large, but two smartphones pop up continuously – Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9. In the US, the same cost is about two costs, while in Europe, the Galaxy S25 is slightly more expensive.

So, it is only wonder which is a better deal. On paper, both are top -level equipment from their respective OEMs, both are similar in sizes, and both promise long software support. So, let’s deeply to see what the glasses are beyond the sheet.

Subject:

For the beginning, you can compare full glasses sheets or continue with the evaluation of our editor directly In the following text.

Size comparison

Even though both devices are classified as compact flagships, the Galaxy S25 should be your pick if the size and weight are highly important for you. Samsung’s offer is small, slightly narrow, quite thin and light. In particular, Pixel 9 has a large 0.1-inch screen, but since the S25 has thin bezels, it has a more favorable screen-to-body ratio.

Interestingly, both handsets share almost the same design and materials. In addition to the camera lens design on the back, both share the same flat design on their fronts, sides and back. Both come with premium content equally – aluminum side frames, gorilla glass Victus 2 sheets on both sides. Even in both cases the ingrace protection rating is IP68.

Performance comparison

Rather, keeping aside the difference of negligible size, both offer some similar performances. They both run on 120Hz, provide HDR10+ certification and facilitates the same 1080p+ resolution.

However, the Galaxy S25 has a more energy-skilled Ltpo OLED panel, while Pixel 9 becomes quite bright. In fact, it is one of the most bright performances we have seen in the office. We measured more and more 2,200 Nits On Pixel 9, while the galaxy reached 1,400 Nits,

battery life

Despite the separate display techniques, chipsets and battery capabilities, both devices provide the same battery life. Active use scores are almost identical, even. However, it has a nuance. For example, Pixel 9 provides a slightly better web browsing runtime, while S25 expelled Pixel in video playback and gaming tests. Nevertheless, differences are rather negligible, so it will not matter who you have received as far as battery life is concerned.

Charging speed

For most parts, Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 are equally charged. Or should we say slow? Two tools are neck and neck in the first 15 to 30 minutes of the charging cycle, but the Galaxy S25 defeats the pixel with a finish line 8 minutes Save To be honest, this is a negligible difference.

Speaker test

In the speaker test, two devices trade. While Pixel 9 is slightly loud, Galaxy S25 has far better quality than speakers. Pixel 9 speakers are tinni and flat, while the Galaxy S25 brings more bass and makes the soundtrack full and warm.

Display

Two devices run on a completely separate chipset. The Galaxy S25 has the latest and largest from Qualcomm, Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, while the Pixel 9 Tensor G3 is dependent on the G3S. Historically, Tensers have been constantly failing to impress when talking about raw performance, and the case is no different.

The base configuration of both devices is the same – 12GB/128GB, but S25 provides up to 512GB internal storage, Pixel 9 only goes high as 256GB.

In addition, the S25 has a rapid UFS 4.0 storage (although only if you get 256 or 512GB variants compared to UFS 3.1 on Pixel 9).

Benchmark performance

As we had earlier indicated, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Pixel 9 for Galaxy is far more powerful than the Tensor G3SOC. The results of all three popular benchmark tests suggest that the Galaxy S25 is almost twice as powerful as Pixel 9.

Camera comparison

At first glance, the Galaxy S25 has a more powerful camera hardware, mostly due to the dedicated 3x optical zoom shooter, even if it has a 10MP sensor. In contrast, unlike the 12MP snapper on the Pixel 9 S25, the 48MP offers a large 50MP main sensor and an ultravide came with a 48MP pixel-body sensor. Additionally, ultravide on the pixel has autofocus.

In both cases the selfie hardware is solid – 12MP with the Air Force for Samsung and 10.5MP with AF for Pixel 9.

image quality

For most parts, we find pictures of Pixel 9 better – they are cleaner and less sharp, while all levels are the same. The main camera of the pixel produces stils with a broad dynamic range (notice to the shadow). The same ultravide goes to the camera, but the difference between fast and expansion at night is very noticeable.

Main Camera: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

Main Camera: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

Most of the same observation are also applied to ultravide cameras, but the ultravide of pixel 9 resolves in more detail, also. You should also know that we used the Galaxy S25+ for an ultravide camera comparison, as our S25 has an optical defect on UW CAM, and we wanted a proper comparison.

Ultravide Camera: Galaxy S25+ • Pixel 9

Ultravide Camera: Galaxy S25+ • Pixel 9

As far as zoom photos go, the Galaxy S25 leads during the day. The 2X crop zoom photo taken with S25 is a tad sharper and perhaps also introduce it in more detail.

And no one is surprised, 3x zoom pictures of S25 are also better due to dedicated optical zoom camera, which lacks pixel 9.

2x Zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

3x Zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

However, what we did not expect is that 3x crop zoom photos of Pixel 9 will take the edge after the dark. Perhaps the large main sensor on Pixel 9 defeats the small telephoto snapper on S25, even without an optical lens.

But also on 2x, the pictures of Pixel are again cleaner and sharp at night.

2x Zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

3x Zoom: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

And for selfie, it is the turn of the Galaxy S25 to take the lead. It has a tad sharper and more detailed photos, even if the Pixel 9 is alive with selfie punch colors.

Selfie: Galaxy S25 • Pixel 9

video quality

Below we have some framegrabs from videos taken by two phones at each focal length, so it is easy to compare each other.

Videos of the main cameras of Pixel 9 are clearly better than S25. Pixel videos provide better exposure, dynamic range, sharpness, color reproduction, etc.

However, on all other focal lengths – 0.6, 2x, and 3x, it is the Galaxy S25 that takes the lead because it resolves more fine expansion, while the footage looks less processed and more natural.

4K video screengrabs: Galaxy S25+ 0.6X • Pixel 9 0.6X • Galaxy S25 1x • Pixel 9 1x

4K Video Screengbs: Galaxy S25 2x • Pixel 92x • Galaxy S25 3x • Pixel 9 3x

Decision

The decision here will be difficult. While two phones are sold at the same price in the US, Galaxy S25 is slightly more expensive than Pixel 9 in Europe.

Samsung’s phone will give you a much better performance, better sounding speaker, and it is also a little more compact. It also records better video quality in almost all cases.

Despite remembering a telephoto unit, Pixel 9 seems to be a better option for photography and challenges the 3x zoom camera of S25 in low-light scenarios. Pixel also has a great performance and is cheaper in Europe.

On average, we will say that two phones will give you almost the same level of user experience and their hardware features are equally well applied, so the option between the two will come down to most brands or software preference.