Galaxy S24 Vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Galaxy S24
Galaxy S24
Starting at

Refurbished price:£273.00

Versus £817.67 new

See options
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Starting at

Refurbished price:£384.00

Versus £1,093.99 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S24, released in January 2024, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, launched in August 2024, are both high-end Android smartphones. While the Galaxy S24 offers a compact design with a focus on a balanced user experience, the Pixel 9 Pro XL emphasizes advanced computational photography and a larger display. Both devices run on the Android operating system, providing extensive software support and a wide range of applications.

Scores

Durability

The Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 Pro XL both offer substantial software longevity, with both manufacturers committing to seven years of OS and security updates. The Galaxy S24, released in early 2024, is expected to receive updates until 2031, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL, released later in 2024, will receive support until Android 22. Both devices feature robust build quality designed for daily use.

  • Software Longevity: Both phones are designed for extended use, receiving seven years of operating system and security updates, ensuring long-term functionality and protection.
  • Physical Resilience: The Galaxy S24 incorporates Gorilla Glass Victus 2 or Gorilla Armor for display protection, alongside an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also features an IP rating, indicating similar protection against environmental elements.
  • Repairability: While specific repairability scores can vary, both devices are constructed with modern smartphone design principles, which can influence the ease and cost of potential repairs over their lifespan.

Year of Release

2024

2024

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Both the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are equipped with powerful internal components designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking. The Galaxy S24 utilizes a current-generation processor, offering smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming. The Pixel 9 Pro XL features Google's Tensor G4 processor, specifically optimized for AI-driven tasks and efficient operation.

  • Processing Power: The Galaxy S24 provides responsive performance for general use and mobile gaming, ensuring applications load quickly and run without significant delays.
  • Multitasking Capability: The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with 16GB of RAM, allowing for seamless switching between numerous applications and handling intensive background processes efficiently. The Galaxy S24 offers 8GB or 12GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for most user needs.
  • Storage Options: Both devices offer a range of internal storage configurations, with the Galaxy S24 available up to 512GB and the Pixel 9 Pro XL extending up to 1TB, catering to users with extensive data storage requirements.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

16 GB

Screen quality

The display experience on these two smartphones presents distinct characteristics. The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a larger 6.8-inch QHD+ OLED display, providing expansive viewing and exceptional clarity.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy S24's FHD+ AMOLED display delivers sharp visuals and excellent color reproduction, suitable for media consumption and daily browsing. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's QHD+ OLED panel offers a higher resolution, resulting in even finer detail and a more immersive visual experience.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animations. The Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor conditions, while the Galaxy S24 reaches 2600 nits.
  • Screen Size and Immersion: The Galaxy S24 provides a more compact form factor with its 6.2-inch screen. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's 6.8-inch display offers significantly more screen real estate, which can enhance activities like video watching, gaming, and productivity.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1344 x 2992

Screen type

Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X

LTPO OLED

Audiovisual

Both smartphones are equipped with advanced camera systems designed to capture high-quality photos and videos, though they approach imaging with slightly different philosophies. The Galaxy S24 features a versatile triple-camera setup, providing a balanced array of lenses for various shooting scenarios. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also includes a triple-camera system, known for its computational photography capabilities and detailed image processing.

  • Rear Camera Capabilities: The Galaxy S24 includes a 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x optical telephoto lens, capable of 8K video recording. The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide with macro focus, and a 48MP 5x optical telephoto lens, excelling in detail and zoom.
  • Low-Light and Everyday Photography: Both devices deliver strong performance in various lighting conditions. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is particularly noted for its ability to produce clear and well-exposed images in challenging low-light environments, leveraging its advanced image processing.
  • Front Camera and Audio: The Galaxy S24 has a 12MP front camera, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL features a higher-resolution 42MP front camera with autofocus, capable of 4K video recording at 60fps. Both phones provide capable speaker output for media consumption and clear microphone quality for calls.

Main camera

50 megapixels

50 megapixels

Front camera

12 megapixels

42 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond their core features, both the Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 Pro XL offer a range of practical elements that contribute to their overall user experience. These include their physical design, connectivity options, and integrated security features.

  • Connectivity Standards: Both devices support 5G for fast mobile data, along with modern Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6E for S24) and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless accessories, ensuring robust and high-speed connections.
  • Physical Design and Handling: The Galaxy S24 is a more compact device, weighing around 167-168g with dimensions of 70.6 x 147 x 7.6 mm, making it easier for one-handed use. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is larger and heavier at 221g and 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm, offering a more substantial feel and a larger screen.
  • Security and Ports: Both phones feature USB Type-C ports for charging and data transfer. For biometric security, the Galaxy S24 includes an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL also features an under-display fingerprint sensor.

Weight

167 g

221 g

Screen size (in)

6.2

6.8

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

Users often praise the Samsung Galaxy S24 for its refined design, vibrant display, and comprehensive feature set, including its long-term software support. It is frequently noted for its balanced performance across various tasks and its capable camera system that delivers consistent results. Some users might find its battery capacity to be adequate rather than exceptional for heavy usage.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is commonly lauded for its exceptional camera performance, particularly its computational photography and advanced zoom capabilities, making it a strong choice for photography enthusiasts. Its large, bright display and extended software update commitment are also frequently highlighted as significant advantages. Some feedback suggests that while its processor is highly optimized for AI, its raw performance might not always match the absolute peak of some competitors in certain benchmarks, though this rarely impacts real-world usage.

Users prioritizing a more compact device with a well-rounded feature set and strong overall performance may find the Galaxy S24 well-suited to their needs. Those who prioritize a larger, highly immersive display, cutting-edge camera technology, and Google's specific AI integrations will likely lean toward the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Both devices represent excellent choices for a quality-assured refurbished option, offering a sustainable way to access advanced smartphone technology. The decision ultimately depends on whether a user values a more portable form factor and a balanced experience, or a larger screen and a camera-centric, AI-enhanced approach.

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