Google just unveiled the Pixel 9 series during its Made by Google event in Mountain View, California. If you are looking for a flagship Android phone, you should look straight to the Pixel 9 Pro.

Also: Everything announced at Made by Google 2024: Pixel 9 Pro, Fold, Gemini, Watch 3 and more

At a starting price of $1,099, the large Pixel model features a 6.8-inch display, the most RAM Google has ever put in a phone, a 5,060 mAh battery, and a triple camera that should hold its own against the competition—especially the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Samsung’s Ultra flagship has been my everyday smartphone since its release in January, and it remains at the top of ZDNET’s best phones list. So if, like me, you’re torn between the industry’s best and Google’s late-summer bloomer, I’ve broken down the top reasons to buy one handset or the other below. And trust me, it’s a close call.

Technical data

You should buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if…

1. They prefer Google’s cleaner approach to software

One of the biggest differences between the Google Pixel and pretty much any other Android model is the software experience. I wouldn’t call the Pixel launcher spartan, but it’s certainly less intrusive and more feature-rich than Samsung’s OneUI or OnePlus’ OxygenOS. There are a handful of customization tools for the home and lock screens, but don’t expect to be able to tweak every little aspect of what’s in front of you.

Also: I demonstrated the “Add Me” feature on the Google Pixel 9 Pro and it worked like magic

Of course, the cleaner aesthetic of the Pixel launcher allows Google to push the latest Android features like Gemini Live and Pixel Screenshots to its Pixel 9 series more quickly and efficiently. And the company promises up to seven years of OS, Pixel feature drops and security patches to keep the phone relevant until at least 2031.

2. You want the most forgiving camera system on the market

While the Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn’t have a 100x zoom feature like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, it does have a reliable triple-camera array that captures photos and videos with great detail, natural colors, and high contrast. The new 42MP front-facing camera with a 103-degree field of view is arguably the best for taking group selfies and landscape portraits.

Not only does the Pixel 9 Pro XL have one of the best point-and-shoot camera systems of any smartphone, but it also has plenty of AI tools to help users capture, edit, and reproduce photos to their liking. There’s a whole “what is an image” debate related to the madness of generative AI, but for customers who prefer idealism to realism and convenience of work, tools like Add Me, Auto Frame in Magic Editor, and Reimagine give the Pixel 9 Pro XL one of the most forgiving camera systems on the market.

The latest Pixel phone also features several video enhancements, including 8K video upscaling and Super Res Zoom.

3. You want a phone that is less stressful

Yes, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is also $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but perhaps more importantly, it actually feels good in the hand. Considering how often you carry your phone around, hold it up, and interact with it on a daily basis, hand feel is one of the most overlooked but crucial aspects.

Compared to the boxy, sharp-edged design of the Samsung, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has flat edges that give you a firm grip and subtle curves that help reduce the overall bulk. If you put a case on both devices, you’ll notice the difference even more.

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if…

1. They prefer Samsung’s “kitchen sink” approach to software

While Samsung’s software experience has become less buggy and chaotic since the old TouchWiz days, OneUI remains one of the most feature-rich versions of Android on the market. In the native launcher alone, you can customize elements like the background sound, widget styles, swipe animations, and more. On a device like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you get additional note-taking features to make the most of the built-in S Pen stylus.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: Still the flagship of Android flagships

Like Google, Samsung promises at least seven years of software updates for its Galaxy S models, meaning you’ll feel like you’re getting your money’s worth when you opt for Samsung’s flagship phone.

2. You want the best smartphone display on the market

I’ve tested almost every major smartphone release over the past year, including the big-screen foldables, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the best display I’ve ever seen. It’s a 6.8-inch AMOLED LTPO panel that refreshes between 1Hz and 120Hz and gets plenty bright during the day. Those specs are essentially identical to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, by the way. That’s what really sets the Samsung apart: an anti-reflective coating that significantly reduces light reflections.

Whether you’re framing a photo in direct sunlight or reading the Internet in a well-lit environment, Samsung’s anti-reflective coating built into the Galaxy S24 Ultra makes the visual output more perceptible than on an ordinary smartphone.

3. You want a powerful smartphone that has been tested in practice

Until I spend more time with the Pixel 9 Pro XL and its in-house Tensor G4 chip, I won’t really know how much better (or worse) it is than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. What is certain is that if you’re looking to buy a smartphone today, the latter has been tested and reviewed by experts and proven to be reliable, battery efficient, and capable of running the latest mobile AI tools without much trouble.

On the other hand, Google doesn’t have the best track record with its Tensor chips, with overheating and other long-term issues in the past, so I’d pay close attention to what benchmarks and real-world testing suggest after launch.

Alternatives to consider

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