Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S23: The Ultimate Showdown

The Google Pixel 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 are two of the most compelling Android flagships of the year. Both offer premium designs, powerful performance, and impressive camera systems, but they cater to slightly different audiences. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S23 edges out the Pixel 7 Pro thanks to its superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, slightly better battery life, and brighter display. However, the Pixel 7 Pro’s software experience and computational photography remain strong contenders, especially for those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 7 Pro Samsung Galaxy S23
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GE2AE1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, October 062023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 13Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)146.3 x 70.9 x 7.6 mm (5.76 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MP7Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1 - 128GB only UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, HDR10+
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) supportSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 5000 mAhLi-Ion 3900 mAh
Misc
ColorsObsidian, Snow, HazelPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsGP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4JSM-S911B, SM-S911B/DS, SM-S911U, SM-S911U1, SM-S911W, SM-S911N, SM-S9110, SM-S911E, SM-S911E/DS
Price€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999$ 237.95 / C$ 336.75 / £ 255.00 / € 322.41 / ₹ 49,990
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     0.88 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 83h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.8 LUFS (Very good) -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1231075 (v9) GeekBench: 4950 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Exceptional computational photography
  • Clean and intuitive Android experience
  • Seamless Google integration
  • Unique design

  • Tensor G2 chipset not as powerful as Snapdragon
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Battery life could be better

Samsung Galaxy S23

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Versatile camera system with better zoom
  • Excellent battery life

  • One UI can be overwhelming for some
  • Wireless charging is slower than competitors
  • Design is less distinctive

Display Comparison

Both phones boast stunning displays, but the Galaxy S23 takes a slight lead. The S23 measures a peak brightness of 1198 nits, surpassing the Pixel 7 Pro's 1090 nits. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), vibrant colors, and smooth refresh rates. The S23's display is arguably more visible in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but they excel in different areas. The Pixel 7 Pro shines with its computational photography, producing consistently impressive images with accurate colors and excellent dynamic range. The Galaxy S23 boasts a more versatile camera system with better zoom capabilities and improved low-light performance. Video recording is excellent on both, but the S23 has a slight edge in stabilization.

Performance

The Galaxy S23's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the clear winner here. It offers significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency compared to the Pixel 7 Pro's Tensor G2. While the Pixel 7 Pro is still capable, the S23 handles demanding tasks and games with greater ease and less heat.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S23 demonstrates better battery endurance. The S23 achieves an active use score of 11:27h and an endurance rating of 101h, while the Pixel 7 Pro has an endurance rating of 83h. While both phones will generally last a full day, the S23 offers more breathing room.

Buying Guide

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize a clean Android experience, exceptional computational photography, and seamless integration with Google services. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a better choice for those seeking raw performance, a brighter display, and a more versatile camera system with greater zoom capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?
Samsung typically offers longer software update support than Google, though Google has improved in recent years. Expect at least 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches on the Galaxy S23.
❓ Is the Pixel 7 Pro worth it if I love Google services?
Absolutely! The Pixel 7 Pro's deep integration with Google Assistant, Photos, and other services makes it a fantastic choice for Google enthusiasts.