Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: which one to choose?
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(Pocket-lint) - Google's latest pure Android smartphones are finally here in the form of the
pixel
and the
Pixel XL
. Both bring a nice premium design, flagship specs, and serious competition to the rest of the smartphone market, including Samsung and Apple.
The Pixel is the smaller of the two new devices, going head to head with
Samsung Galaxy S7
. How do they compare, what are the differences and which one to choose? Read on to find out.
Google Pixel review
Samsung Galaxy S7 review
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Design
Pixel is thinner and lighter
The Galaxy S7 is more water resistant
Both have fingerprint sensors and premium designs
The Google Pixel and the Samsung Galaxy S7 both offer nice designs. The Pixel opts for a mostly aluminum build with a glass panel at the top rear, while the S7 has an aluminum frame with an all-glass rear.
The Pixel houses its circular fingerprint sensor and flush camera on the rear, providing a clean, hassle-free front with no physical buttons. He is
IP53 water and dust resistant
, meaning it can handle a splash but not a dunk.
The Galaxy S7 has its fingerprint sensor built into the home button on the front, with the raised rear camera taking pride of place on the back. It does, however, have higher water and dust resistance
IP68
, which means soaking would not be a problem.
The two devices are very similar in terms of physical size with the Pixel measuring 143.8 x 69.5 x 7.3mm, while the Galaxy S7 measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm. The Pixel is lighter though, coming in at 143g versus 152g.
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Screen
The Galaxy S7 has a bigger screen
Galaxy S7 has a higher resolution screen
Both have Gorilla Glass 4 protection and AMOLED technology
Although very similar in terms of size, the Google Pixel has a slightly smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S7. The Pixel offers a 5-inch screen compared to the 5.1-inch screen found on the S7.
The Galaxy S7 also has a higher resolution with 2560 x 1440 pixels for a pixel density of 577 ppi. Meanwhile, the Pixel's 1920 x 1080 resolution results in a pixel density of 441 ppi. Theoretically, therefore, the Galaxy S7 will offer sharper images on the Pixel, but in reality both have excellent screens.
Both the Pixel and the Galaxy S7 are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and they both use AMOLED technology, which means bright, vibrant colors and rich blacks.
Samsung Galaxy S7 tips and tricks: Master your new Galaxy
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Camera
Galaxy S7 has OIS and a wider aperture
The Pixel has a higher resolution front camera and bigger pixels on both
Both deliver great results
The Google Pixel has a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, with 1.55m pixels and an aperture of f/2.0. There is phase detection autofocus and laser detection autofocus, but no optical image stabilization.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 features a 12-megapixel rear sensor with 1.4μm pixels and an f/1.7 aperture. Phase detection autofocus is once again on board and although laser detection autofocus is not, the S7 has optical image stabilization.
The Pixel has an 8-megapixel front camera with 1.4μm pixels and an f/2.4 aperture, while the Galaxy S7 has a 5-megapixel front camera with 1.34μm pixels and an aperture of f/1.7.
Both devices deliver great results in the camera department, with good and consistent images. The Pixel is very quick to focus and settings are kept simple, while the Galaxy S7 offers more control options providing more flexibility.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Camera: Expert Guide to Raw Shooting
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Hardware
The Pixel has a newer processor and a bigger storage option
The Galaxy S7 has a bigger battery and microSD expansion
Pixel has USB Type-C, Galaxy S7 has wireless charging
The Google Pixel has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor under its hood, supported by 4GB of RAM and options of 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, none of which have microSD functionality.
There's a 2770mAh battery, charged via USB Type-C with fast charging supported for up to 7 hours of use in 15 minutes. The Pixel does not offer wireless charging.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 offers either the Qualcomm 820 processor or the Exynos 8890, depending on the region. Both models feature 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB storage options with microSD support for further expansion.
A 3000mAh battery keeps the Galaxy S7 going, charged via Micro-USB and Quick Charge is also supported here, along with wireless charging.
Both of these handsets are very powerful and excellent. They will also accompany you both throughout the day. The Pixel has unlimited online storage for photos and videos via Google Photos while the S7 has microSD expansion, as we mentioned.
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Software
The Pixel has pure Android
Pixel offers Google Assistant built into its core
Galaxy S7 offers more settings and choices thanks to bloatware
Google's Pixel and Samsung's Galaxy S7 both run on Android but the Pixel is coming with Android 7.1 Nougat, with a few
some exclusive features
which will not appear elsewhere.
It also offers a pure, bloatware-free Android experience and the addition of a new launcher and built-in Google Assistant, all of which provide a smooth, fast, and powerful experience.
The Galaxy S7 currently runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Samsung's TouchWiz interface on top, which offers a unique Samsung experience. It offers more options than Pixel, as well as more settings and choices, and while that means a bit of software duplication, it's well executed.
We prefer the cleaner experience that comes with the Pixel and its vanilla Android approach, but that's our personal preference. Both the Pixel and the S7 offer excellent experiences.
Google Assistant tips and tricks: Master your Android assistant
Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Price
Pixel is more expensive
The Galaxy S7 is available in more colors
The Google Pixel starts at £599 and comes in two colours: quite black and very silver.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 starts at £539 and it comes in five colours: black, gold, silver, white and rose gold.
Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S7: Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S7 may be in the shadow of the S7 edge, but it's a formidable smartphone in its own right. It's compact, yet powerful, offering Samsung's adaptation of Android that's highly sophisticated and packed with features. The hardware is good, but the battery life is a bit short. The camera is great, though.
The Pixel hits hard in the performance department, delivering a smooth and fast Android experience, enhanced with extras like Google Assistant. It also offers an excellent camera, which, although not as full-featured as the SGS7, delivers excellent results.
The Pixel will last a bit longer when you take it into battle, with better battery life and it's newer, offering the latest hardware, compared to Samsung's slightly older device. With just £60 difference in price, the Pixel is likely to tempt you to open your wallet.
Google Pixel review: Pure, wonderful, and improved Android
Samsung Galaxy S7 review: Samsung's unsung hero
Written by Britta O'Boyle. Originally published on
October 19, 2016
.