Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Google Pixel 6: Which one should you buy?

Google’s Pixel 6 has been among our favorite Android devices since its launch in late 2021. However, it now faces fresh new competition in Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series. Both are considered flagship devices, but a lot sets them apart. As such, you might be struggling to decide which one to buy. We’re here to help you out in our Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Google Pixel 6 comparison.

We’ll touch on all of the most important points — design, features, price, and more — in our comparison. That said, we won’t be talking about the Pixel 6 Pro or the Galaxy S22 Ultra in this showdown because we have a dedicated comparison right here.

Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Google Pixel 6

The latest flagships from Samsung and Google offer two completely different approaches to design. While Google presented a brand-new device with its Pixel 6 series, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus feel like more refined versions of the Galaxy S21 series. Samsung brought the Contour Cut camera array back for another year, complete with three updated lenses. On the other hand, Google adopted a massive camera bar with its own lenses that’s impossible to miss.

After a year of “glasstic” flagships, Samsung is back on the glass sandwich train in 2022. The Galaxy S22 series and the Pixel 6 sport glass rear panels, though the color options are entirely different. The Pixel offers two-toned designs, while Samsung opted for matching hues. That said, Google’s design provides a glossier finish that’s more likely to grab fingerprints, while the Galaxy S22 duo has more of a satin touch.

Once you move around to the front of each device, you’ll find that the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S22 series have a lot in common. It’s an AMOLED party, with centrally mounted punch hole cameras on all three devices. The vanilla Galaxy S22 is the baby of the bunch at 6.1 inches, with the Pixel 6 right in the middle at 6.4 inches. Finally, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the largest at 6.6 inches.

All three devices use flat panels of Gorilla Glass, though Samsung chose Victus Plus while the Pixel 6 uses original Victus glass. Samsung’s pair packs sharper 120Hz refresh rates compared to the 90Hz panel on Google’s device.

The Pixel 6 carries Google’s first-ever Tensor chip, which promises next-level machine learning capabilities to make your phone feel even more customized. Samsung chose the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 to keep the lights on in the US and select markets, so you know there’s no shortage of power. As for international markets, the Galaxy S22 series will carry Samsung’s own Exynos 2200 chipset instead.

We mentioned the camera options in the section above, but now it’s time for a deeper dive. Google made a pretty giant leap with its Pixel 6 series, moving up to a 50MP wide lens and a 12MP ultrawide option in the camera bar. That’s right — despite the size of the bar, there are still only two rear cameras. Around the front, the Pixel 6 carries an 8MP selfie shooter. Ironically, the latest Pixel device relies on Samsung’s GN1 camera sensor.

See also: The best camera phones you can get

Not to be outdone, Samsung has given the wide lens on its Galaxy S22 series a significant kick. It’s not quite the 108MP option of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but 50MP is still an improvement. You’ll also find a 10MP telephoto lens and a 12MP ultrawide option rounding out the rear trio. As for the selfie shooter, Samsung has added a 40MP option to both the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus.

Google added one of its largest batteries yet to the Pixel 6 — a solid 4,614mAh cell. It boosted the charging, too, moving from 18W wired speeds to 21W (despite the advertised 30W). The Pixel 6 is also Google’s first device to adopt the USB Power Delivery PPS charging standard to reach its top speeds. As for wireless charging speeds, the Pixel 6 can handle up to 21W, matching its wired prowess.

Although the Pixel 6 falls in the middle in terms of physical size, it offers a larger battery than either of Samsung’s alternatives. The Galaxy S22 actually takes the unusual step of providing a smaller battery than its predecessor, down to 3,700mAh from the 4,000mAh Galaxy S21 cell. It offers unchanged charging speeds — 25W wired and 15W wireless maximums.

On the bright side, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers a solid 4,500mAh battery with up to 45W wired speeds. You’ll need a USB PD PPS-enabled charger, though, which is unfortunate as Samsung no longer includes one in the box. While wired charging gets a good boost, both the wireless and reverse wireless rates stay the same.

See also: The best phone charging accessories to buy

It’s hard to overstate how good of a deal the Pixel 6 is. At just $599, it undercuts the Galaxy S22 series by at least $200. Not only that, but it beats the previous Pixel 5, too. If you want extra storage in your Pixel 6 — 256GB instead of 128GB — it’ll only set you back $699.

Save some money: The best Google Pixel deals | The best Samsung Galaxy deals

Credit to Samsung, though, the Korean giant managed to keep pricing consistent from 2021. The 128GB Galaxy S22 launched at $799, while the same storage in a Galaxy S22 Plus will cost you $999. Samsung’s larger 256GB version of each device comes with a $50 price increase. That means you’ll pay $849 for the Galaxy S22 or $1,049 for the Galaxy S22 Plus.

We flat-out loved Samsung’s Phantom finishes for the Galaxy S21 series last year. The good news is that they’re back again — well, to an extent. As you can see in the image above, Samsung kept the satin finish that shouldn’t collect too many fingerprints. This year, the official color names include Phantom Black, Phantom White, Pink Gold, and Green for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus.

There are also four Samsung-exclusive colors: Cream, Violet, Graphite, and Sky Blue, all two-toned options.

Over on the Pixel side, Google has once again dipped into its well of fun color names. Where the Pixel 5 launched in Sorta Sage and Just Black, the Pixel 6 comes in a trio of two-toned designs. You can check out Kinda Coral, which blends pink and red around the camera bar. Slightly Seafoam is another option, which offers green and yellow panels, or you can stay classy with Stormy Black and its black and gray tones.

We’ve compared and contrasted just about all of the most critical points between two of the hottest Android devices. Now, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. Yet, it’s hard to choose just one correct answer. Perhaps the winner of the Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Google Pixel 6 showdown comes down to what you want in a smartphone.

Google upgraded its hardware in a big way this year, and it remains the king of Android software. You can expect prompt updates, minimal bloatware, and Material You how Google envisioned it. We also can’t forget that the new camera setup is a worthy match for Google’s post-processing power.

Over in Samsung’s corner, you’re also looking at an upgraded camera array. The 50MP primary lens should offer significant improvements over the previous generation. One UI isn’t as clean as the Pixel skin, but it’s come a long way. You get a full suite of customization options, including a few that you won’t find with Google.

Finally, Samsung’s new update policy means that the Galaxy S22 series will get software updates longer than just about any other device. The giant has promised four major Android updates and five years of security patches. That means you should see Android 16, while the Pixel 6 series is only set to see three Android updates and five years of security patches.

Have you decided on your next phone? Let us know which device won our Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Pixel 6 battle below.