Google and Samsung have long been dominating the Android smartphone market. The year 2024 brings two of their most exciting releases yet: the Pixel Pro XL and the Galaxy S24. Google has taken a bold step by offering a second variant of their Pro model for the first time in the Pixel series, expanding their flagship lineup with the Pixel Pro XL.
On the other hand, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 introduces artificial intelligence features to rival it. It marks a new chapter for smart technology in the Galaxy lineup. But how do these two phones perform against each other? Let’s find out.
Specs overview: Galaxy S24 Vs Pixel 9 Pro XL
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| Component | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) |
| RAM | 12 GB / 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB, no card slot | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB, no card slot |
| Display | 6.8 inches, 1440 x 3120 pixels, Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.8 inches, 1344 x 2992 pixels, LTPO OLED, 120Hz |
| Main Cameras | 200 MP (wide), 10 MP (telephoto), 50 MP (periscope), 12 MP (ultrawide) | 50 MP (wide), 48 MP (telephoto), 48 MP (ultrawide) |
| Selfie Camera | 12 MP (wide) | 42 MP (ultrawide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless | 5060 mAh, 37W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 3.2, UWB | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 3.2, UWB |
| Price | $1,300 | $1,099 |
Design
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is on the lighter and thinner side. It has a 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm dimension and weighs roughly 221 grams, about 12 grams below the S24 Ultra. It uses Corning Gorilla Victus 2 glass on both the front and back, plus a titanium frame. Added to its protection is an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.
The phone can survive 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes. The Pixel also has stylus support. Yet unlike the S24 Ultra, the stylus doesn’t come with the phone and there’s no visible slot anywhere to keep it. You’ll buy it separately.
On the other side, the S24 Ultra is shorter at 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm, but it’s heavier, weighing 233 grams. It uses Gorilla Glass Armor on the front and back, but a slightly higher grade of titanium with more resistance to tension.
If you’re wondering which phone is stronger, it’s not a straight answer. The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which is designed to be tougher than Gorilla Glass Armor and survive a one meter drop onto concrete. In contrast, Gorilla Glass Armor, although very strong and reducing reflection by 75%, doesn’t specifically claim improved drop resistance beyond what Victus 2 offers.
Yet again, the S24 Ultra has the advantage in structural strength because of its Titanium Grade 2 frame. Just like the Pixel, the S24 Ultra has IP68 resistance, so you’re good to go if it takes a quick dip in water.
So if you care more about the durability of the glass on your phone, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is stronger because its Gorilla Glass Victus 2 can handle drops better. But if you want a phone with a tougher frame, the S24 Ultra is the winner because it has a stronger Titanium Grade 2 frame. Both phones are top-tier options either way, although I prefer the Pixel in appearance because of its rounded edges.
Display
Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL has a brighter and stronger display that reaches up to 3000 nits and uses the Victus 2 glass. Meanwhile, the S24 Ultra has a slightly higher resolution screen, making details look sharper with its 1440 x 3120 pixels. Its peak brightness is lower at 2600 nits, and it uses Gorilla Glass Armor. As aforementioned, it isn’t as durable as the Pixel’s glass.
Both phones have the same screen size of 6.8 inches. But the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a slightly larger screen-to-body ratio at approximately 88.5% compared to the S24 Ultra’s 88%. So, it has a larger portion of its front dedicated to the screen. This extra percentage translates to more visible screen area on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The difference is pretty small. In everyday use, you won’t even notice it when you’re watching videos or playing games. But if you feel like having more screen space is important to you, go for it.
Performance
The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses Google’s Tensor G4 chip with the Mali-G715 MC7 GPU. The chip has an octa-core setup with one high-performance core, three mid-range cores, and four efficiency cores. It’s tailored for artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks. Meanwhile, the S24 Ultra has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which also has an octa-core setup, with the Adreno 750 GPU.
Ideally, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the better choice if you’re looking for strong overall performance and gaming capabilities. It has higher benchmark scores and has a more powerful GPU, which means smoother gameplay and better graphics. The Tensor G4 is more optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, making it ideal if you’re into advanced photo editing or apps that use AI features.
That said, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL offers more memory options. It has three: 128 GB, 512 GB, and 1TB of storage, all with 16GB RAM. The S24 Ultra has only two options: 512 GB and 1TB of storage, both with 12GB RAM.
Battery
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060 mAh battery that’s larger than the S24 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery. Also, it supports 37W wired charging that takes it up to 70% within 30 minutes. For wireless charging, it supports 23W with the Pixel Stand and 12W with other Qi-compatible chargers. It also has reverse wireless charging.
On the other hand, the S24 Ultra charges faster with its 45W wired charging, reaching 65% in 30 minutes. It also supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro XL might last slightly longer between charges, but the S24 Ultra’s faster wired and wireless charging mean less waiting around to top up.
Cameras
The S24 Ultra has four cameras on its rear side: a 200MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom. It also includes a 12 MP ultrawide lens and supports 8K video.
The Pro XL phone has a 50MP main camera, a 48MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens. It also supports 8K video and Ultra-HDR, among other video enhancement features.
Normally, Samsung’s phone should win because of its 200MP main camera. But that’s not how it works. Yes, more pixels can provide more detail, but they don’t guarantee a better photo. A great photo is a result of the combination of sensor quality, image processing, and other factors.
In this case, the Pixel is the victor because its upgraded 48MP ultrawide camera has a wider 123-degree field of view that captures more of any scene. Plus, its f/1.7 aperture lens allows more light and brightens up shadows to give you more details. So, a wider lens and a larger aperture equals better image quality. Even in selfies, the Pixel still leads with a 42MP ultra wide camera over the S24’s 12MP wide camera.
Software and features
Both phones offer impressive software longevity, which is a thing to consider if you plan to use your phone for years. They run Android 14 and are supported with seven major Android updates.
The difference is that Samsung adds its One UI 6.1.1 on top of Android, providing additional customization and features, while Pixel devices offer a more pure Android experience with timely updates directly from Google.
Google gives you one year of Gemini Advanced for free when you buy the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Afterward, you’ll pay from your pocket. Samsung’s Galaxy AI is still new, so it’s free at the time of this publication. Since Galaxy AI is basically powered by Google’s Gemini cloud service, it stays free until 2025.
Are you team Pixel or Galaxy?
You now have everything you need to make a choice between the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If you plan to buy them at once, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will save you more money while giving you value. Samsung’s phones are unsurprisingly expensive, but worth it for the build, faster charging, and extra customization with One UI. But if you can’t afford to pay upfront, check out installment plans or discounts for either phone.
You can save on the Pixel 9 Pro XL with a 36-month plan at $27.75 per month. Plus, there’s 0% APR, so you won’t be charged any extra interest on the payments. Lucky for you, Google’s 26th birthday comes up on September 27th. So from now till then, you’ll receive up to $760 in credit when you trade in an old device and apply it to your purchase of any Pixel 9 series phone.
It may not be Samsung’s birthday, but they offer exclusive savings on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with up to $750 in trade-in credit or $300 off without trade-in. Financing options start at $59.17 per month. Also, you can throw in Samsung Care+ for $15/month to cover repairs, theft, and loss.
