Galaxy S24 • Unlocked vs Google Pixel 9 Pro • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S24, released in January 2024, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro, launched in September 2024, represent two prominent Android smartphones. While both devices offer a premium experience running on the Android operating system, they differentiate themselves through their design philosophies, camera approaches, and hardware configurations. The Galaxy S24 operates on Samsung's One UI, while the Pixel 9 Pro features a more streamlined Android experience, often with early access to new software features.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, both the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 9 Pro offer substantial software support, contributing to an extended practical lifespan.

• Software Longevity: Both Samsung and Google have committed to providing seven years of operating system upgrades and security updates for their respective devices. The Galaxy S24 is supported until 2031, while the Pixel 9 Pro also receives updates until at least August 2031. This extended support ensures both phones remain secure and compatible with new applications for many years.
• Repairability: The Samsung Galaxy S24 generally exhibits a higher degree of repairability, with some assessments giving it a score of 8/10 or 9/10. This is partly due to design choices like easily removable batteries with pull tabs and less reliance on strong adhesives. In contrast, the Google Pixel 9 Pro (and its XL variant) has shown more mixed repairability, with some reports indicating difficulties in accessing and replacing components like the display and battery due to strong adhesives and flimsy pull tabs, resulting in scores as low as 3.5/10 for the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
• Expected Practical Lifespan: With identical software support timelines, the practical lifespan for both devices is largely determined by hardware durability and battery degradation. The Galaxy S24's higher repairability score suggests that physical repairs, should they be needed, might be more straightforward, potentially extending its physical usability.

Both smartphones are equipped with advanced internal components designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking, though they approach performance with different hardware foundations.

• Processing Power: The Samsung Galaxy S24 is powered by an octa-core processor, which in some regions is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, and in others, Samsung's Exynos 2400. The Google Pixel 9 Pro features Google's Tensor G4 processor. In real-world usage, both processors deliver smooth performance for everyday tasks, rapid app loading, and efficient multitasking. Users engaging in graphically intensive gaming or complex AI-driven tasks will find both devices responsive.
• Multitasking and Storage: The Galaxy S24 typically comes with 8GB of RAM, with some configurations offering 12GB. The Pixel 9 Pro, on the other hand, is equipped with 16GB of RAM. This difference in RAM capacity can influence the number of applications that can remain active in the background without needing to reload. Both phones offer various storage options, ranging from 128GB up to 512GB for the S24 and up to 1TB for the Pixel 9 Pro, utilizing fast UFS 4.0 storage for quick data access.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S24 houses a 4000mAh battery, while the Pixel 9 Pro features a larger 4700mAh battery. In typical use, the Pixel 9 Pro's larger capacity often translates to longer usage times between charges. The Galaxy S24 supports 25W wired charging, while the Pixel 9 Pro offers faster 30W wired charging. Both support wireless charging, with the Pixel 9 Pro offering up to 23W with a compatible Pixel Stand, compared to the S24's 15W.

The visual experience on both the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 9 Pro is characterized by vibrant displays, though with some distinctions in size, resolution, and brightness capabilities.

• Display Technology and Size: The Samsung Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. The Google Pixel 9 Pro comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display. Both technologies deliver deep blacks and excellent contrast, providing an immersive viewing experience for media consumption and daily use.
• Resolution and Clarity: The Galaxy S24 offers an FHD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The Pixel 9 Pro boasts a higher resolution of 2856 x 1280 pixels, resulting in a slightly higher pixel density (495 ppi for Pixel 9 Pro vs 416 ppi for S24). This can translate to marginally sharper text and finer details on the Pixel 9 Pro, though both screens offer excellent clarity for typical viewing distances.
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both devices feature adaptive refresh rates that can dynamically adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations while conserving battery life. The Galaxy S24 achieves a peak brightness of 2600 nits. The Pixel 9 Pro can reach a higher peak brightness of 3000 nits for HDR content and up to 2700 nits overall, which can be beneficial for outdoor visibility in bright conditions. Both displays are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Both the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 9 Pro offer sophisticated camera systems, each with its own strengths in capturing photos and videos.

• Rear Camera System: The Samsung Galaxy S24 is equipped with a triple-camera setup: a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Google Pixel 9 Pro also features a triple-camera system, comprising a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide sensor, and a 48MP telephoto lens. The Pixel's larger megapixel count on its ultrawide and telephoto lenses can offer more detail, particularly when cropping.
• Photography Performance: The Pixel 9 Pro is often lauded for its computational photography, delivering consistent and natural-looking images, especially in challenging conditions like low light. The Galaxy S24 provides versatile zoom capabilities with its dedicated 3x optical telephoto lens and generally produces vibrant colors. For macro photography, the Pixel 9 Pro can capture more detail.
• Video Recording and Audio: Both phones are capable of high-quality video recording. The Galaxy S24 can record 4K video on both its rear and selfie cameras, and some models offer 8K recording. The Pixel 9 Pro also offers strong video capabilities, with improvements in low-light video. The microphone quality on both devices is suitable for calls and recording, and both offer a good media consumption experience through their speaker outputs.