The Pixel 7 was just unveiled at the October 6 Made by Google event, and we thought it would be a perfect phone to take on its Samsung counterpart: the Galaxy S22. However, Samsung’s starting price of $749 is much higher, while the Pixel 7 is a little gentle on the pockets with a starting price of $599.
As such, you might be wondering, “Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 worth the extra $150? Or should I get it in the pocket and get a Pixel 7?” This, dear reader, is an excellent question, and one we’ll dive into with this vicious showdown between two popular entry-level Android devices.
Pixel 7 vs Galaxy S22: Price
Pixel 7 is the more budget friendly phone of the two Starting at $599 at the Google Store. It comes with 128GB of storage, but if you need more, you’ll have to shell out an extra $100 for the $699 price tag. I always recommend configuring 256 GB or more because it keeps the dreaded “storage full” message.
When the Galaxy S22 launched earlier this year, it had a starting price of $799, but as of this writing, it’s down to $749 on Samsung.com (Opens in a new tab). The cheapest Galaxy S22 model offers you 128GB of storage. If you need to increase the storage capacity to 256GB, you will need to shell out $799.
If paying $600+ for a new Android phone makes you spin, don’t worry. Google and Samsung both have swap programs. For example, if you trade in your iPhone 13 Pro Max for a Pixel 7 (although I’m not convinced that’s a fair deal), you’ll get a $750 credit, which means you’ll get paid to get a Pixel 7. The most reasonable one is the Pixel 6; You can get up to $450 for this trade.
When it comes to a Samsung phone, you can get up to $700 credit. For example, if you have a well maintained Galaxy S21+, you can get a Galaxy S22 for just $50.
winner: Pixel 7
Pixel 7 vs Galaxy S22: Design
The Pixel 7 continues to sport this funky look, which screams, “I’m a Google phone!” That’s where the dual rear cameras live and are wrapped in a matte aluminum bar. Flip it to the front, you’ll see the attractive punch-hole display design that features an upgraded ultra-wide front camera with a larger sensor.
The Pixel 7 features smooth, rounded edges that give the phone a refined, friendly and welcoming look, helping you start your day with friendly aesthetics.
The Galaxy S22 sticks to the previous design language. It was equipped with three cameras inside a rectangle-like unit in the upper left corner.
The Galaxy S22 is wrapped in an aluminum frame that Samsung says is “the strongest ever”. The Korea-based company also boasted that the Galaxy S22 front and back feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. However, it is worth noting that the Galaxy S22 is more fragile than its Apple counterpart. According to third-party drop tests, Galaxy S22 is more likely to break Compared to the iPhone 13, which features an aluminum body and Ceramic Shield display
Does the Galaxy S22 have an S Pen? It is a common question, but unfortunately the answer is no. You should get a file Galaxy S22 Ultra To enjoy the beloved pen.
Pixel 7 and Galaxy S22 are both water resistant; Both can withstand a maximum of about five feet for up to 30 minutes,
The Pixel 7 comes in Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian. The Galaxy S22 appears in Violet, Rose Gold, Phantom Black, Phantom White, and Green. And you can get the Galaxy S22 graphite, cyan, and violet variants exclusively at Samsung.com (Opens in a new tab).
Pixel 7 vs Galaxy S22: Presentation
The Pixel 7 has a sharp 6.3-inch display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels with smaller bezels. Google claims that its peak brightness has increased by 25%, which means better outdoor visibility while on the go.
The Galaxy S22 features a 6.1-inch screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, which is a hair smaller than its predecessor’s 6.2-inch screen. However, if you have a larger screen, consider the Pixel 7. Keep in mind, however, that the Galaxy S22 has a better screen-to-body ratio of 87.4% compared to the Pixel 7’s 84.7%. This is likely because the Galaxy S22 has sleeker bezels and a smaller punch-hole design, allowing for more screen space.
The Pixel 7 has an AMOLED display and HDR10+ while the Galaxy S22 has a 2x Dynamic AMOLED display; It also has HDR10 +. One of the main differences between the Pixel 7 and the Galaxy S22 is that the former can go up to a refresh rate of 90Hz while the latter can go up to 120Hz. In other words, scrolling through the Galaxy S22 should be smoother, but keep in mind that higher refresh rates take a toll on the battery (you can always lower the Galaxy S22’s 120Hz refresh rate to 60Hz).
We don’t have numbers on the Pixel 7’s DCI-P3 color coverage yet (we’ll update this article when we do), but the Galaxy S22 has 79.4% color coverage.
As it stands now, since the Galaxy S22 has a better screen-to-body ratio and a higher refresh rate, it wins this round.
winner: Galaxy S22
Pixel 7 vs Galaxy S22: Performance
We don’t have performance benchmarks on the Pixel 7 yet, but from previous experience pitting the Pixel against a Samsung Galaxy phone, I’d bet your bottom dollar on the S22.
The Pixel 7 has a Tensor G2 chip. Historically, Google’s custom Tensor chip has provided performance benefits to Google apps like Assistant, providing cloud processing for AI-based app use. This is because the Tensor chip focuses on delivering excellent AI-focused performance. There is a chance that the Pixel 7 will offer similar advantages, which makes it very suitable for anyone who often uses the Google ecosystem.
Google also claims that the Tensor G2, thanks to its advanced computer imaging processes, can deliver sharper images, better low-light photos with more clarity, and take advantage of the “Real Tone” feature, which ensures that skin tones are displayed more accurately.
Overall, the Tensor G2 chip offers 60% faster processing speed and offers better power efficiency. Google claims it is the best phone for voice assistant, calling, photography, and more.
We don’t have Geekbench scores for the Pixel 7 yet (we’ll update this page as soon as we get them), but we do have data on the Galaxy S22. Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU, it reached a score of 3341. In terms of performance in terms of using apps and games, a Snapdragon chip usually has an advantage over Google’s custom mobile processor, but who knows? This year, we may tell a different story.
winner: Inconclusive
Pixel 7 vs Galaxy S22: Battery life
Google claims that the Pixel 7 has all-day battery life and can provide up to 72 hours of run time between charges (while using the Extreme Battery Saver). However, it’s important to note that, at Laptop Mag, we run our own battery life tests for mobile devices which are more rigorous than the way Google tests their run times.
On the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which involves browsing the phone at 150 nits on mobile network, the Galaxy S22 lasted 8 hours 14 minutes with the screen down to 60Hz. However, with the adaptive refresh rate turned on (meaning it can go up to 120Hz depending on the task), battery life drops to 7 hours 54 minutes.
We don’t have battery life numbers on the Pixel 7 yet, but for context, the Pixel 6 had a battery runtime of 7 hours 46 minutes. Fortunately, the Pixel 7 has an upgraded Tensor G2 chip, which means we should get an extra boost in battery life with this new generation of Google phone. Let’s cross our fingers!
winner: Inconclusive
Overall winner: Pixel 7
Before diving into this showdown, I was almost certain that the Galaxy S22 would win, but on closer inspection, the Pixel 7 might be the better option, especially if you’re limited by the Google ecosystem and often use Google apps (eg Google Drive, Docs, Meet, Assistant, etc.)
In many categories owned by the Galaxy S22 Do Outperforming the Pixel 7, it’s not by a wide margin. For example, make sure the Galaxy S22 has a better screen-to-body ratio than the Pixel 7 by a hair, but the Google phone has a slightly larger screen. Yes, the Snapdragon chip tends to outperform Google’s custom SoC, but it stands out in other ways, including its tailored processing for Google’s AI-based ecosystem and well-received computational imaging.
Furthermore, the Pixel 7 is only $600 compared to a starting price of $750 for the Galaxy S22. As the Pixel 7’s battery life, display, and performance benchmarks flow, I might change my mind, but as it stands now, Google’s phone seems to be the phone that delivers more bang for the buck for the rest of you.
#Android #phones #market #laptop #mag