The competition between 2023's flagship smartphones is heating up, and Samsung's latest Galaxy S23 series is ready to go head-to-head with its top rivals. The Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7 are the entry-level models for Samsung and Google's respective flagship lines and are therefore natural contenders for comparison.
While the Galaxy S23 has undergone significant design changes, it also boasts noteworthy improvements in performance and features. On the other hand, the Pixel 7 is a more recent release, offering impressive value.
Although we haven't yet had the chance to test the Galaxy S23 thoroughly, we can take an early look at the numbers to compare these two phones and help you make an informed decision.
Here Are The Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Google Pixel 7
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7 have different design approaches. Samsung has opted for a more understated design, removing the camera island and featuring a flat back with three camera modules protruding from the rear. The phone's aluminum frame is also flat, and the front display is entirely flat, with a center-mounted hole-punch selfie camera.
In contrast, the Pixel 7 has a more conventional design, featuring top and bottom bezels, a centered hole-punch selfie camera, and a dual camera setup on the back. The phone's rear has a curved glass panel, and a large aluminum camera visor near the top interrupts the slick glass panel. The visor, usually in a contrasting color to the phone, has a pill-shaped glass housing for the cameras and blends seamlessly into the frame.
When it comes to colors, the Pixel 7 has only three colorways - white, black, and lemongrass. In contrast, the Galaxy S23 offers four standard colors, including Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender. Samsung also offers exclusive colors on its website, such as Graphite and Lime.
If you want your phone to stand out, the Pixel 7 is your best bet due to its unique camera visor, which is a defining feature of the phone. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 is more subdued and blends in easily with a crowd of smartphones, making it a good choice for those who prefer a subtle design.
Phone Specification
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7 both boast impressive specifications, although neither is the absolute best in class. Both phones come with 8GB of RAM and are powered by the latest chipsets from their respective manufacturers. The Pixel 7 features the Tensor G2 chip, which offers smooth performance thanks to the integration of Google's hardware and software. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 is equipped with the exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which has a higher clock speed, providing a speedy experience.
When it comes to display, the Galaxy S23 is superior to the Pixel 7. The former has a higher 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the latter's 90Hz display. The Galaxy S23 also features an additional telephoto camera on the back, providing additional focal options, unlike the Pixel 7.
While the Galaxy S22 struggled with battery life, the S23 has a larger battery that could offer better performance. However, the Pixel 7 comes with a larger 4,355mAh battery, which may give it an advantage in battery life. The charging speeds are also comparable for both devices, with both featuring wired and wireless charging capabilities.
While the specs of both devices are impressive, real-world performance and battery life will need to be tested to determine which phone performs better.
Cameras
The Pixel series is renowned for its exceptional camera performance, thanks to Google's expertise in computational photography. The Pixel 7 continues this tradition by producing images with exceptional clarity, contrast, and high dynamic range, and lifelike skin tones thanks to Rich Tone.
Samsung is also a major player in the camera game, and the Galaxy S23 is no exception. The phone comes equipped with a 50MP primary camera sensor and a 12MP ultrawide camera, much like the Pixel 7. However, it goes one step further by adding a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, allowing users to get much closer to their subjects, up to 30x compared to the Pixel's 8x SuperRes Zoom. Both devices are expected to excel in low-light photography and nighttime images.
Samsung has also touted the Galaxy S23's Nightography capabilities, which should allow users to take clear and bright images and videos in low light or at night. The Pixel also has an impressive Night Sight feature, which means these two phones will be evenly matched in this regard.
The selfie camera on the Galaxy S23 has been upgraded to a new 12MP unit, surpassing the Pixel's 10.8MP camera. It remains to be seen how much of an improvement this will bring to the already impressive selfie capabilities of both phones.
Software
The Pixel 7 and Galaxy S23 both run on the latest version of Android 13, but each has its own user interface. Google's Pixel UI is more minimalistic, while Samsung's One UI 5 has a more robust set of features. The quick settings menu on the Galaxy is more compact, and the app drawer orientation is horizontal. The Pixel has exclusive features like Hold for Me and Automatic Call Screen, while Samsung has Good Lock and Smart Stack widgets.
Both companies provide regular security updates, but Google also offers quarterly feature drops for the Pixel. Samsung is introducing the Galaxy S23 with the One UI 5.1 update, which adds new features such as faster setup and Bixby calling. Both phones have great software support, with the Pixel 7 receiving OS upgrades until Android 16 and two additional years of software updates, while Samsung has four years of OS upgrades, meaning it will receive Android 17 in the future.
Which should you buy: Samsung Galaxy S23 vs. Google Pixel 7?
Choosing between the Pixel 7 and the Galaxy S23 is a tough decision. Both phones are excellent and offer different features, so it really comes down to personal preference. If you're into photography, it's a good idea to wait for camera comparisons to see which one you like better. As far as software, both phones run Android 13 but have different UIs, so sticking with what you're used to might be the way to go. However, since they function similarly, switching between the two is not a big deal.
One area where the Galaxy S23 is still untested is battery life, so we'll have to wait and see how it performs in that regard. However, in terms of regular performance, the Galaxy S23 is sure to hold up well. We plan to do a full comparison between the two phones, so keep an eye out for that if you're still undecided.
It's worth noting that the Pixel 7 is less expensive than the Galaxy S23, which accounts for some of the differences in specs, such as the display and the lack of a telephoto camera. If you're on a budget, the Pixel may be the way to go, but you're also likely to find some great deals on the Galaxy S23 as it's still new.