Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which Android Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android development, but cater to different priorities. The S24 aims for broad appeal with a powerful chipset and refined design, while the Pixel 8 Pro doubles down on Google’s AI-driven software and computational photography. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone delivers the best experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S24 emerges as the stronger all-rounder. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in US/Canada/China) provides a noticeable performance edge, and the slightly more efficient chipset contributes to a longer 12:06h active use battery life compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s superior display and unique software features make it a compelling alternative.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S24 Google Pixel 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, January 172023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, January 24Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CNNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight167 g or 168 g (5.89 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPU8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)10-core (1x3.2GHz Cortex-X4 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.6GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.95GHz Cortex-A520)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) - USA/Canada/ChinaExynos 2400 (4 nm) - InternationalGoogle Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750 (1 GHz) - USA/Canada/ChinaXclipse 940 - InternationalImmortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (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 video50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, HDR10+HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsOnyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire BlueObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsSM-S921B, SM-S921B/DS, SM-S921U, SM-S921U1, SM-S921W, SM-S921N, SM-S9210, SM-S921E, SM-S921E/DSGC3VE, G1MNW
Price€ 454.76 / $ 299.99 / £ 340.99 / ₹ 39,999€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999
SAR1.23 W/kg (head)     1.10 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.87 W/kg (head)     1.35 W/kg (body)-

Samsung Galaxy S24

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in key markets)
  • Slightly longer battery life in active use
  • More widely available and established software ecosystem

  • Exynos variant may exhibit thermal throttling
  • Less emphasis on AI-driven camera features

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • Exceptional computational photography and AI features
  • Faster wireless charging and 'Bypass Charging' for battery health

  • Tensor G3 chipset lags behind Snapdragon in raw performance
  • Shorter active use battery life

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching 1600 nits compared to the S24’s 1401 nits, making it more visible outdoors in direct sunlight. Both utilize advanced panel technology, but Google doesn’t specify LTPO, while Samsung’s adaptive refresh rate (likely LTPO) contributes to battery efficiency. While both displays are excellent, the Pixel 8 Pro’s higher peak brightness provides a tangible advantage for outdoor usability. The Pixel 8 Pro also benefits from 'Actua' display technology, aiming for more accurate color representation.

Camera Comparison

Both phones excel in photography, but approach it differently. While both offer excellent photo and video capabilities, the Pixel 8 Pro leans heavily into computational photography, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms for features like 'Magic Eraser' and 'Best Take'. Sensor sizes aren’t specified, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance. The S24’s camera system, while capable, relies more on hardware and less on post-processing. The absence of detailed sensor information makes a direct hardware comparison difficult, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s software advantages are significant.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy S24, in the US, Canada, and China, utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), while international models receive the Exynos 2400 (also 4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.39GHz, coupled with its Adreno GPU, delivers superior graphics performance and efficiency. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Google Tensor G3 (4nm) prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, but its nona-core CPU configuration with a lower-clocked Cortex-X3 (3.0 GHz) lags behind in sustained CPU-intensive workloads. The S24’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances its performance capabilities.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S24 achieves 12:06h of active use, slightly outperforming the Pixel 8 Pro’s 11:14h. While the Pixel 8 Pro boasts an 'Endurance Rating' of 90 hours (a less standardized metric), real-world active use is more indicative of performance. Both phones offer 50% charge in 30 minutes with their respective 25W (S24) and 30W (Pixel 8 Pro) wired charging. The Pixel 8 Pro’s 23W wireless charging is faster than the S24’s 15W, and the Pixel 8 Pro also supports 'Bypass Charging' to reduce battery degradation.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 if you prioritize raw performance for gaming and demanding applications, value a more universally available and powerful chipset (Snapdragon in key markets), and prefer a more traditional Android experience. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you are deeply invested in the Google ecosystem, prioritize computational photography and AI features, and appreciate a brighter display with unique software enhancements like 'Magic Editor' and 'Best Take'.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2400 chip in the international Galaxy S24 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
Early reports suggest the Exynos 2400 can experience more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, particularly during extended gaming. While Samsung has implemented improved cooling solutions, users in regions receiving the Exynos variant may notice performance dips over time. Benchmarks and real-world testing confirm the Snapdragon version maintains higher sustained performance.
❓ How useful is the 2MP macro camera on either the Galaxy S24 or Pixel 8 Pro?
Both phones include a 2MP macro camera, but its utility is limited. The low resolution and fixed focus often result in images lacking detail and sharpness. While usable in ideal lighting conditions, the main camera’s Super Res Zoom or digital zoom generally produce better results for close-up shots.
❓ Does the Galaxy S24 support 90fps gaming, and how does it compare to the Pixel 8 Pro?
The Galaxy S24, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, is capable of running some games at 90fps, depending on the title and graphics settings. The Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 may struggle to maintain consistent 90fps in demanding games. However, the Pixel 8 Pro’s variable refresh rate display can still provide a smooth gaming experience at lower frame rates.
❓ What is 'Bypass Charging' on the Pixel 8 Pro, and how does it benefit battery health?
'Bypass Charging' on the Pixel 8 Pro intelligently manages charging speed overnight. Instead of continuously topping off the battery, it charges to 80% and then pauses, resuming charging shortly before your usual wake-up time. This reduces the amount of time the battery spends at 100%, minimizing heat and degradation, ultimately extending its lifespan.