Galaxy S9 or Pixel 2 XL: Which phone to buy?
While Samsung has just launched its much-awaited Galaxy S9 at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in Barcelona, Google's Pixel 2 XL was launched in October last year as an all-encompassing Android favorite. Since both the flagship phones pack impressive features, here is a detailed comparison between the two to help users make an informed choice before buying any one of them.
Galaxy S9 is powered by the latest Snapdragon 845
The Samsung Galaxy S9 features the latest Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 2 XL houses the not-as-efficient Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM. While the Galaxy S9 Plus offers 64GB of storage, which is less compared to the 64GB and 128GB options on the Pixel 2 XL, it does have a MicroSD slot to increase external storage to 400GB.
The two phones are quite different in design aesthetics
While the Pixel 2 XL has a more utilitarian design, the Galaxy S9 is sleek in look and feel. The Galaxy S9 features a shatter-resistant Gorilla Glass and a 6.2-inch edge-to-edge display. The Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand, features a 6-inch OLED display and an aluminum frame. Further, the Galaxy S9 has an additional port for the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Samsung has dual aperture, Google has ingenious software for lighting
The Galaxy S9 Plus features two 12MP lenses with a first-of-its-kind dual aperture. This means much better low-light shots. The camera also features support for augmented reality (AR) emojis. The Pixel 2 XL, with its 12MP primary camera, sports an ingenious software that improves images in any lighting condition. Notably, both phones feature an AI camera assistant with Bixby Camera and Google Lens, respectively.
Both phones support fast charging, but through different technologies
The Samsung Galaxy S9 has a 3,500 mAh battery, only minutely smaller than the Pixel 2 XL's 3,520 mAh battery. The Google smartphone can provide up to seven hours of charging in 15 minutes through USB Power Delivery, and the Samsung phone uses the Quick Charge 2 technology for a similar power boost. However, only the Galaxy S9 Plus supports wireless charging.
Software that suits your preference
Both the phones run the Android 8.0 Oreo OS. The Galaxy S9 packs software inclusions like Samsung's AI-based voice-enable assistant Bixby, AR Emoji, and Intelligent Scan that enables users to unlock their phones with a glance. The Pixel 2 XL, on the other hand, has its own AI assistant called Google Lens and theme-based AR stickers in the camera app.
