It’s not easy choosing a new smartphone. Two of the best Android phones on the market right now, if you want something that isn’t too big, come from Google and Samsung. The question is: Which is better? Find out as we pit Pixel 3 against the Galaxy S9 in various categories to determine an overall winner.
There are plenty of contenders in the Android heavyweight division, but bigger isn’t always better. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a truly great Android phone and you don’t want something that’s too big to manage one-handed, then your choices are a bit limited.
Arguably the two best pocket-friendly Android phones come from Samsung and Google. But which is better? Find out as we pit Google Pixel 3 versus the Samsung Galaxy S9 in a variety of categories to pick a winner.
It’s no surprise to find that both these phones feature this year’s most popular flagship processor — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. They also both have 4GB of RAM. You can expect smooth performance and no issues running the latest games and apps with either phone, however, the Pixel 3 feels considerably smoother, thanks to Google’s software skills. It also performed slightly better in our benchmark tests. While you can pick up either with 64GB or 128GB of storage, the Galaxy S9 also has a 256GB variant and has a Micro SD card slot for expansion.
Sadly, battery life is an Achilles’ heel for both phones. The S9 has a touch more capacity, but whichever one you choose, busy days will see a charge deplete well before bedtime. Both support fast charging, but the Pixel 3 charges more quickly than the S9. Both also support Qi wireless charging at up to 10W.
Winner: Google Pixel 3
Samsung has refined its curved design to near perfection in the Galaxy S9. The screen curves into the metal frame and so does the glass back, and it feels great in hand. The fingerprint sensor is on the back, just below the central camera lens. The front is almost completely screen, with thin slivers of bezel top and bottom.
The Pixel 3 is a lot less alluring at first glance, but the etched glass back makes it comfortable to hold and also allows it to duck the usual fingerprint smudgefest. There’s a central fingerprint sensor on the back, but the camera lens is at the top left. The screen on the front is slightly smaller than the S9’s and there are bigger bezels top and bottom, though this does allow for front-facing speakers.
Comparing the two, the S9 is a tiny bit bigger in every direction and a touch heavier. We find the Pixel 3 more comfortable to handle. It’s also a little too easy to accidentally cover the bottom-firing speaker on the S9 when you hold it in landscape to watch a movie or play a game. Your pick here will likely come down to personal preference and you should try to get your hands on both before choosing.
