Samsung launched its Galaxy S25 series globally, featuring three smartphones: Galaxy S25 Ultra, S25+, and Galaxy S25. Among these, the Galaxy S25 stands out as the best compact smartphone in the lineup. Considering its price range, another strong competitor in the compact Android phone category is the Pixel 9. In this blog, we will compare both to determine which is the best compact Android smartphone.
Specification
| Specification | Google Pixel 9 | Samsung Galaxy S25 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2 inches, 1080 x 2340, 120 Hz LTPO AMOLED, HDR10+, 2600 nits | 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2424, 120 Hz OLED, HDR, 2700 nits peak |
| Screen Type | LTPO AMOLED (1B Colors) | OLED (16M Colors) |
| Aspect Ratio | 20.5:9 | 20:9 |
| PPI (Pixels Per Inch) | ~416 PPI | ~422 PPI |
| Glass Type | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Notch | Punch Hole | Punch Hole |
| Camera (Main) | 50 MP ƒ/1.68 (Wide), 48 MP ƒ/1.7 (Ultra Wide) | 50 MP ƒ/1.8 (Wide), 10 MP ƒ/2.4 (Telephoto), 12 MP ƒ/2.2 (Ultra Wide) |
| Camera Features | Super Res Zoom, Night Sight, Astrophotography, HDR, Portrait Mode | Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, Super Steady video, Portrait Mode |
| Video Recording | 4K @ 60 fps, 1080p @ 60 fps FHD | 4K @ 60 fps, 1080p @ 60 fps FHD |
| Front Camera | 10.5 MP ƒ/2.2 (Ultra Wide) | 12 MP ƒ/2.2 (Wide Angle) |
| Front Video Recording | 4K @ 24 fps, 1080p @ 30 fps FHD | 4K @ 60 fps, 1080p @ 60 fps FHD |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| CPU | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.1GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 @ 2.6 GHz, 4x Cortex-A520 @ 1.92 GHz | 2x 4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L, 6x 3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 830 |
| Battery | 4700 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | 27W Fast Charging | 25W Fast Charging |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | 15W |
| Reverse Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse Wireless Charging | 4.5W | Yes |
| OS | Android v15 (upgradable) | Android v14 (upgradable to v15) |
| Custom UI | Android One | One UI 7 |
Attractive Design
Both phones come with a metal body and glass back and are rated IP68 and IP69, ensuring no compromises in durability. However, the interesting and unique aspect is the camera module. From the back, the design game changes significantly. The Galaxy S25 retains the same design as its predecessor, while the Pixel 9 takes a step ahead with its camera strip design, which looks stunning. Additionally, both phones feature a squared design, enhancing their premium look and feel, in design pixel 9 is the best.
Best Display
The display is one of the most important parts of any smartphone because it’s what you stare at the most whether you’re watching movies, taking pictures, or performing any task, everything happens on the display. The truth is, you can’t beat Samsung when it comes to displays. This doesn’t mean the Pixel 9’s display is bad, but compared to the Galaxy S25, it falls short. Both smartphones offer all the essential display features, but Samsung’s display feels much smoother, and its color output is on another level. When it comes to display quality, the Galaxy S25 is simply the best.
Leap Performance
The S25 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the Pixel 9 is powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor. Both phones feature UFS 4.0 storage and DDR5X RAM, which ensures good performance overall. However, heating is a common issue in both devices. The Snapdragon 8 Elite experiences minor heating, while the Tensor G4 has a more significant heating issue. Since both phones have a metal body, they tend to heat up faster. Samsung, however, has done a better job managing the heating issue in the Galaxy S25, making it a better choice for heavy tasks and gaming. On the other hand, the Pixel 9 is more suitable for normal day-to-day tasks.
The major difference between the S25 and Pixel 9 is their operating system. In this aspect, Samsung leads the way with One UI, based on Android 15, offering more customization options. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 runs on Android One, providing a clean UI, but with limited customization. However, both phones come with seven years of major software and security updates, so there’s no concern regarding long-term software support.
Camera-centric phone
The S25 comes with three rear lenses, while the Pixel 9 features two rear lenses. On the front side, both phones have a punch-hole selfie camera. When it comes to camera performance, both phones have their strengths and weaknesses.
The S25 delivers an average overall camera performance, with night mode and portrait shots being below average. However, video recording is a strong point due to AI-powered stabilization and background noise removal features.
On the other hand, the Pixel 9 has no competition in terms of camera quality. Its color reproduction, edge detection, and overall photo quality are significantly better than the S25. However, Pixel 9 falls short in the video department, making the S25 a better choice for video recording.
Battery Problem
The major downside of both phones is their battery life. The S25 comes with a 4,400mAh battery, but the good part is that it supports 45W fast charging. On the other hand, the Pixel 9 features a 4,700mAh battery with 30W fast charging. However, both phones struggle to last an entire day on a single charge.
Final Thought
If camera and design are your top priorities, then the Pixel 9 is the better choice with its superior camera quality and unique camera strip design. However, if you’re looking for better performance and a smoother display, the S25 stands out with its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and vibrant, high-refresh-rate AMOLED display. Both phones have their strengths, so the choice ultimately depends on what matters most to you.
