Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) or Pixel 9 – Which Phone This Festive Season

Samsung is finally bringing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 version of the Galaxy S24 to India as part of the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale, and the deal looks pretty solid. Last year, the S24 only launched here with Samsung’s in-house Exynos chip. Finally, you will be getting a better Snapdragon Variant of S24. But the Google Pixel 9 is a strong contender in the under ₹40K price segment. So the real question is: which one should you buy right now? Let’s break it down.

S24 (Snapdragon) vs Pixel 9

Performance

The Galaxy S24 Snapdragon version is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, which is a slightly overclocked chip compared to the regular version. This means you get faster CPU and GPU performance, which is great for gaming, multitasking, or just handling. Samsung also paired it with faster storage (UFS 3.1)and RAM (LPDDR5X) speeds. Overall, the phone feels super snappy.

On the other hand, the Pixel 9 comes with Google’s Tensor G4 chip. This chip is not that great in terms of power, but it’s good in AI and machine learning tasks, like better speech recognition, photo processing, and Google’s exclusive features. While it’s good for daily use, it won’t match the Snapdragon in raw performance, especially for gaming or heavy usage.

Winner: Samsung S24 (Snapdragon)

Battery and Charging

Battery life has always been a weak spot for Samsung’s Exynos phones, but not with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Because of the better efficiency, you get a more reliable full-day battery backup even with heavy use. The S24 (Snapdragon) also supports 25W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, which isn’t the fastest but still gets the job done.

The Pixel 9 has a slightly bigger 4700mAh battery than the S24’s 4000mAh, which is decent for normal day use, but under heavy workloads or gaming, it drains quicker than the Snapdragon-powered S24. Google also gives you a slightly faster 27W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging, which is slightly faster but results in the same charging speed because of the bigger battery.

Winner: Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon)

Software And Updates

When it comes to software, both Samsung and Google come with their own strengths. The Galaxy S24 runs on One UI 6.1.1 based on Android 15 (out of the box). Samsung has promised 7 years of major OS and security updates. One UI is feature-packed, highly customizable, and also includes Galaxy AI features. Overall, the UI is great, but it will not provide you a stock experience.

The Pixel 9, on the other hand, is the first to get Android updates directly from Google. It also comes with 7 years of updates, just like Samsung, but the big difference is that you get them on day one without waiting. The main plus point is that you get the full stock Android experience with a snappy interface. Alongside, you also get Pixel-exclusive AI features like Pixel Call Assist, Magic Editor, and on-device AI smarts.

Winner: Pixel 9

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S24 Snapdragon edition packs a triple-camera setup, a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Samsung’s cameras are known for their vibrant colors, strong HDR, and versatility with zoom shots. Low-light performance has also improved compared to previous generations, and the telephoto lens also brings out detailed shots.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 is known for Google’s computational photography magic. It features a 50MP main and a 48MP ultra-wide camera. It lacks a telephoto sensor, but it makes up for it with AI-driven image processing. Photos come out more natural, with better skin tones and detail. Features like Best Take, Magic Eraser, and Night Sight still make the Pixel unbeatable for casual and low-light photography.

Winner: Pixel 9

Design & Display

The Galaxy S24 feels premium with its flat aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. It has a compact 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of around 2600 nits, which is one of the brightest displays in its class. The flat panel is great for gaming and watching content outdoors, even under direct sunlight.

The Pixel 9 also has a premium aluminum build with rounded edges, making it slightly more comfortable to hold. Its 6.3-inch OLED 120Hz display comes with a peak brightness of 2700 nits, which is slightly brighter than the S24. Overall, the Pixel 9 leans toward more natural tones compared to Samsung’s punchy colors, so it comes down to personal preference.

Winner: Both

Storage And RAM

The Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) comes with faster RAM (LPDDR5X) and UFS 3.1 (128GB) storage. This helps in smoother multitasking and also gives faster app loading times and better sustained performance. You also get multiple storage options going up to 512GB, which is ideal if you shoot a lot of 4K videos or play heavy games.

The Pixel 9 also comes with the same LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. While it still feels smooth for everyday use (thanks to Google’s optimizations), the difference becomes visible when you push it harder with gaming or large file transfers because of the Tensor G4 chipset. Plus, storage options are a bit limited compared to Samsung.

Winner: Galaxy S24

Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) will be priced at ₹39,999 during the Flipkart Big Billion Day Sale. With bank card offers, you can grab it for ₹37,999 effectively. On the other hand, the Google Pixel 9 will also be at ₹37,999, but card offers will bring it down to ₹34,999. This makes the Pixel 9 a more affordable option if you have the right card.

Winner: Pixel 9 (slightly cheaper with offers)

Verdict

Both the Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) and Pixel 9 are excellent flagships in their own way. The S24 stands out with its powerful Snapdragon chip, better display brightness, and stronger gaming performance. It’s the phone for those who want impressive performance, multitasking, and longer gaming sessions without worrying much about heating.

The Pixel 9, however, is impressive in areas that matter to a different kind of user. It has the cleanest Android experience, timely updates directly from Google, and the best-in-class camera performance for still photography. So, it’s up to you as per your requirements.

That’s it, peeps! Stay tuned for more comparisons like this.