Google’s Pixel 7 might just be the best smartphone for buyers on a budget, but users looking for an Android phone now have a new option to choose from – the Samsung Galaxy S23. Now that Google has had time to develop the Pixel lineup, it’s a formidable ecosystem that offers key integration between the company’s hardware and software. Samsung has an ecosystem of its own, though, and its new Galaxy S23 could become the default base-model for those looking for an Android smartphone. But the appeal of a Pixel derives from its low cost of entry, and that might propel the Pixel 7 ahead of the Galaxy S23.
The Pixel 7 was a steal when it debuted back in October 2022 with a starting price of $599. It’s an even better deal now, as Pixel deals on Google’s online store bring the starting price down to just $499. That’s significantly cheaper than the Galaxy S23, which starts at $799. It’s worth noting that the S23 starts with 256GB of storage and the Pixel 7 starts with 128GB, so a comparable configuration of the Pixel 7 would currently cost $599. When (or if) the sale event ends, a 256GB Pixel 7 would cost $699. Even then, the Pixel 7 undercuts the S23’s price by a solid margin.
Related: Galaxy S23 vs. iPhone 14: Which $799 Smartphone Is Best?
Galaxy S23 Vs. Pixel 7: Display, Performance, & Camera
The Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch AMOLED display capable of an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, but the Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch OLED screen can only reach 90Hz. Samsung’s display is brighter, with an outdoor peak brightness rating of 1,750 nits that beats the Pixel 7’s 1,400-nit rating. Google and Samsung are extremely close in pixels per inch (ppi): 416 ppi vs. 425 ppi, respectively. The Pixel 7 has a bigger display despite being the smaller option in the Pixel lineup, which could be a benefit or a drawback, depending on a buyer’s preference.
The Pixel 7 uses a Tensor G2 chip, which is the second iteration of Google’s in-house system-on-a-chip (SoC). Like Samsung’s entire S23 lineup, the base-model Galaxy S23 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform for Galaxy. Both phones ship with 8GB of RAM. In most cases, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform beats out Tensor G2 by a fair margin. However, both processors are capable, and most people shouldn’t choose a smartphone strictly based on processor speeds.
The Galaxy S23 has a triple-camera system featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto lens. That allows the Galaxy S23 to offer 3x optical zoom and 30x Space Zoom, besting the iPhone 14’s 2x optical and 5x digital zoom. In comparison, the Pixel 7 has a dual-camera system with a 50MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. Both cameras take excellent photos, and the Pixel 7’s software image processing could push it ahead of the Galaxy S23 in real-world camera performance.
The Pixel 7 crushes the Galaxy S23 in battery life, with a 24-hour battery life rating and a 4,355mAh battery. In Screen Rant’s testing, the Pixel lineup doesn’t always reach the 24-hour threshold, but it consistently holds charge for a full day. The Galaxy S23’s 3,900mAh battery has a lower capacity than the Pixel 7, but it charges faster than the latter, at 25W compared to 25W. Both phones feature wireless charging support, but neither ship with a charger in the box. At $599 or less, the Pixel 7 is hard to beat. It looks like a better value smartphone than the Galaxy S23, but the flagship features included on Samsung’s base model might be enough for some buyers to pay more.
More: Samsung Galaxy S23: Battery Life & Charging Speeds, Explained
