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The latest compact Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy S25
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, bringing flagship performance in a light and compact form factor with a beautiful display. It has a powerful triple camera setup, a large enough battery, and support for seven years of OS and security updates.
Pros & Cons- Fast performance
- Gorgeous display
- Compact and lightweight
- Slow charging speeds
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The best compact flagship from Google
Google Pixel 9
The Google Pixel 9 is the most affordable flagship from Google, featuring a premium Tensor chipset, a powerful camera setup, and a refined design that feels great. Given the compact size, it comes with the usual Google goodies inside, including Gemini and various AI features, quick updates, and a large display.
Pros & Cons- Refined and more premium design
- Superb camera
- Best Tensor performance yet
- $100 more than last year
- Slow charging speeds
No Thanks, Keep Reading
Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy S25 series on January 22, revealing the latest generation of flagships to join the new Android devices in 2025. The new high-end Galaxy arrives with more refined looks, a large 6.2-inch display, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset at its helm, and a triple camera setup. The new vanilla flagship is Samsung’s most compact powerhouse. It seems fair to put it against the current champ, the Google Pixel 9. These devices have similar compact sizes, features, and a few notable differences that set them apart.
Price, specs, and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is available from Samsung.com, most major carriers, and online and offline retailers. The Galaxy S25 comes with 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB storage configurations, each retailing for $800 and $900, respectively. The device is available in four colors: Silver Shadow, Navy, Icy Blue, and Mint. Samsung.com exclusive colors include Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold.
The Google Pixel 9 is available through various carriers and online and offline stores. Depending on your configuration, it comes with 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The base model retails for $100 more than last year’s flagship, starting at $799, and $899 for the higher-end model. It’s available in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony.
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Google Pixel 9 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy Google Tensor G4 Display type LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz OLED, 120Hz Display dimensions 6.2″ 6.3″ Display resolution 2340 x 1080 1080 x 2424 RAM 12GB 12GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB or 256GB Battery 4,000mAh 4,700mAh Charge speed 25W 27W wired, 15W wireless Charge options USB-C Wired, Qi wireless Wired, wireless, reverse wireless Ports USB-C USB-C Operating System Android 15 and One UI 7 Android 14 Front camera 12MP f/2.2 10.5MP, f/2.2 Rear camera 50MP f/1.8 main, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto 50MP, f/1.7, OIS main; 48MP, f/1.7 ultrawide Cellular connectivity Sub-6 & mmWave 5G 5G, LTE Wi-Fi connectivity Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.4 5.3 Dimensions 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm Weight 162g 198g IP Rating IP68 IP68 Colors Silver Shadow, Navy, Icy Blue, Mint Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony Price $800 From $799
Read our review
The Google Pixel 9 makes me question if I need to go Pro
The Pixel 9 has everything most people want from a phone
Design
Lots of emphasis on more refined looks
It’s fair to say that both Samsung and Google spent considerable time refining the looks of their flagships, even if that meant the devices looked mostly the same year over year. If you’re not tired of the looks, you’ll see that the small changes made a massive difference, making the current generations from both manufacturers their best.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 measures 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2mm, the smallest size for its vanilla flagship. By comparison, the Pixel 9 is slightly taller, wider, and thicker, measuring 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm. The difference is minimal in this size. Nowadays, most phones only come in large.
Both smartphones feature the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on their front and back, complemented by an aluminum frame. The only noticeable difference is the curvature of the frame along the sides. The Galaxy S25 is slightly more rounded this year than the Galaxy S24 from 2024.
The ingress protection remains the same. Both phones are IP68 rated, meaning they can be submerged in clear water for up to 1.5m for 30 minutes and are dust-resistant. The other notable difference is the weight. The Galaxy S25 weighs 162 grams, while the Pixel 9 is heavier at 198 grams.
Display
You can’t go wrong with either
The Galaxy S25 sports a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with support for HDR10+ and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Thanks to the slightly larger design of the Pixel 9, it packs a 0.1-inch larger display, measuring 6.3 inches. It supports HDR10+, and it has a peak brightness of 2,700 nits.
The Pixel takes the crown in color, accuracy, and brightness, although the difference between these levels is minimal. Both panels provide accurate and vivid colors and plenty of brightness for comfortable use in all lighting conditions. Streaming videos and playing games will also be more than enjoyable.
Both panels offer a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth gaming and scrolling experiences regardless of the game, settings, or services used. Regarding the fingerprint sensor, both manufacturers utilize a reliable and fast ultrasonic sensor positioned under the display.
Software and performance
7 years of OS and security updates across the board
Samsung and Google are among the best manufacturers when it comes to supporting their devices. Both companies offer seven years of OS and security updates. Google sprinkles in a few Pixel Feature updates that add more functionality to their devices throughout the year.
The Galaxy S25 sports the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, while the Pixel 9 rocks the Google-made Tensor G4 chip. Both phones have 12GB of RAM, which seems essential nowadays for AI processing and other ML languages done in the background. In terms of performance, both devices handle everything with ease, such as browsing, using multiple apps, and running demanding games.
Both devices handle customizability and features similarly, but Samsung takes the edge as it offers more personalization features under the hood, thanks to themes, and GoodLock. Both devices run Android 15, but both companies have their own takes, skins, and built-in features, with Samsung using its latest new version, One UI 7.
If you’re looking for a device with an easy-to-use interface, you can’t go wrong with either of these smartphones. If you want more functionality, Samsung’s new OneUI 7 update might offer everything you need. Take a look at both and decide based on your preferences.
The two giants also offer similar baked-in AI features. Samsung heavily promotes its Galaxy AI features, allowing you to edit photos faster, summarize and caption notes, translate, and more. Google offers most of the same functionality but in its own Google universe. Some of Google’s AI features are also available on Samsung Galaxy devices, such as Circle to Search, editing tools in Google Photos, and Gemini.
Battery life
The Pixel 9 has a larger battery, but both devices fail in the charging department
Samsung and Google are bad regarding battery technology and charging speeds. Neither of these giant companies has used the newer, more innovative technologies we’ve seen in other devices, such as the new OnePlus 13.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 has a 4,000 mAh battery, the same capacity as its successor. It supports the same 25W fast wired, 15W fast wireless charging speeds, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Google Pixel 9 features a larger 4,700 mAh battery with support for 27W fast wired charging. The device supports 15W wireless charging with the Pixel Stand, 12W wireless charging with a standard Qi wireless charger, and reverse wireless charging.
It’s fair to say that the Pixel has a slight edge, thanks to its larger capacity and slightly faster wired charging solution. Still, neither of these is particularly fast in an age when many manufacturers support 60W and faster charging solutions.
Camera
Class-leading cameras
During our review, we found that the Google Pixel 9 takes beautiful photos in all lighting conditions. We’ve been impressed with the camera quality and recommend it to users wanting a flagship-quality performance at an affordable price and in a portable form factor.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 has yet to undergo our testing procedure. We’ve seen a few samples taken on the device that show a similar excellent performance as last year’s Galaxy S24. The device sports a triple camera setup, featuring a 50MP wide, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
In contrast, the Pixel 9 features two cameras on the back, a 50MP wide and a 48MP ultrawide, missing out on the telephoto action. While this is great to lower the price, the camera isn’t as versatile as Samsung’s flagship. Nevertheless, Google’s software magic takes beautiful 2x photos using AI and other techniques.
Which is right for you?
Samsung Galaxy S25
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is one of the best Android phones in 2025, packing the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a large display, and superb triple camera setup. It’ll continue to receive updates for seven years, making it an excellent option for those only upgrading every few years.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a small, lightweight, and compact flagship with the latest and most powerful chipset, a versatile triple camera setup, a large enough battery, and an excellent display. It’s fully customizable and personalizable, thanks to One UI 7. It’ll receive seven years of OS and security support, making it a great investment option for the years to come.
Google Pixel 9
The Google Pixel 9 is powerful, thanks to the Tensor G4 chip, and large enough to pack a significantly larger battery than the Galaxy S25. It might only have a dual camera setup, but leveraging AI and various algorithms, Google managed to show the world that it’s nearly as good as a dedicated camera.
The Google Pixel 9 is also an excellent choice. Since it’s been available for a few months, shop around and compare prices. The Pixel 9 is often discounted, making it a better option for the budget-conscious and those who prefer a slightly larger compact device with a bigger battery and display.