Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: A turning point for Google

The Google Pixel 10 is here, and it's arriving with the same premium feel and thorough feature set as its predecessor. Google really hit its stride with the Pixel 9 series in 2024 — while the new design might not be for everyone, we think it looks fantastic. The Pixel 10 builds on that success, bringing some big changes that we've all been waiting for.

It could very well be the best compact flagship of 2025. Speaking of which, this makes the Galaxy S25 its biggest rival. Meanwhile, Samsung's entry-level flagship model is often neglected, as compromises to battery size and charging speeds deter most buyers. It hasn't had a proper camera upgrade in years, which means newer models have easily raced past it.

Deciding between the Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 won't be easy, especially since they cost roughly the same at launch. Here's how the features of both phones compare.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Design and display

The Google Pixel 10 looks pretty much identical to the Pixel 9, and that's alright in our books. We just got a massive design overhaul last year, so no one's surprised about this. The dimensions of the Pixel 10 (and, by extension, the Pixel 10 Pro) are 152.8 x 72.0 x 8.6mm. Other than being 0.1mm thicker, the rest of the dimensions are the same as those of the 9. The Pixel 10 has a slightly larger camera bar and a thicker build overall, which means Pixel 9 cases won't fit the 10.

This makes the Pixel 10 slightly thicker and larger than the Galaxy S25. Google also made it heavier, as the Pixel 10 weighs 204 grams, which is way heavier than the 162-gram Galaxy S25. On the bright side, we got some new colors for the 10, including Lemongrass, Indigo, and Frost. Those arrive with IP68 dust- and water-resistance, just like the Galaxy S25.

Build quality is top-notch thanks to an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the front and back.

Displays on Pixels have long been a weak link. While the Pixel 9 increased the panel's peak brightness to 2,700 nits, it still uses a 240Hz PWM dimming frequency, which can be problematic if your eyes are sensitive to flicker. Now, the Pixel 10 has increased the brightness further to 3,000 nits, but the base model isn't getting any PWM upgrades.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 won't wow you with its look, much like an iPhone, but it's something that's been refined over the past several generations. It, too, comes in multiple pastel shades, including some exclusive colors, if you buy it directly via Samsung's online store. It boasts similar levels of build quality, featuring an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass on both the front and back. It's IP68 rated for weather resistance, and it's more compact and lighter than the Pixel 10.

The display on the Galaxy S25 measures 6.2 inches with a Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz LTPO AMOLED panel, and a high brightness of up to 2,600 nits. The display is crisp and easily legible outdoors on a sunny day, and it has a much higher PWM dimming rate of 480Hz compared to the Pixel.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Hardware and specs

The Google Pixel 10 costs the same as its predecessor, retailing for $799 for 128GB of storage and $899 for 256GB. It's priced the same as the Galaxy S25. The big change we're all excited about is Google's Tensor G5 chip, its first smartphone SoC manufactured by TSMC. Google says that this processor's CPU is 34% faster on average than the Tensor G4, and it's also equipped with a 60% more powerful TPU for AI tasks.

In our tests, though, the Tensor G5 doesn't quite match up to the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in the Galaxy S25, at least in benchmarks. It still can't handle heavy gaming very well either, which is where the Galaxy S25 really shines.

The Pixel 10 gets a larger battery with quicker charging. It ships with a 4,970 mAh battery and full Qi2 wireless charging support at 15W.

The second major change is the inclusion of a custom image-signal processor (ISP) in the Tensor G5 chip. This should improve camera quality across the board for the Pixel 10's three rear camera sensors. It includes a telephoto camera on the base Pixel 10 for the first time. This has usually been reserved for just the Pro models in the past, but with this addition, the Pixel 10 is more Pro than ever. The new lens offers 5x optical zoom, which actually beats the Galaxy S25's 3x option.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 typically sells for a lower price today, even without any major sales, making it a better value. Even the top-end 256GB variant now costs around $779.99 on Samsung's website, which is slightly lower than the Pixel 10's launch price.

One of the best features of the Galaxy S25 is its solid, dependable performance, given its compact, lightweight design. Gaming performance is very good; it doesn't heat up as much, and the display is easy on the eyes in low light. All the cameras are great, too, but it's nothing spectacular since the sensors have been recycled from older models once again.

The same applies to the battery life, which is acceptable for the phone's size, but it could have been improved. You should still get a full day's worth of use on one charge, but don't expect much more. Charging is still stuck at 25W, which is somewhat disappointing for a phone at this price.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Software

Unlike the Pixel 9, which didn't launch with the latest version of Android at the time, the Pixel 10 ships with Android 16. This isn't surprising, since the stable version is already available for the Pixel 9 series. You also get a 7-year OS and security update commitment with the Pixel 10.

As it is customary to include exclusive software and AI features with every new Pixel generation, the highlight of the Pixel 10's software suite is called Magic Cue. It's a software trick that uses AI to surface exactly what you'll need to complete a given task. If you're calling your airline, you'll see a flight confirmation code appear automatically from your email. If someone asks how to get somewhere, Magic Cue can find an address for you. It's all about saving time and being one step ahead.

Samsung is no slouch when it comes to software updates, as the stable release of One UI 8 (based on Android 16) began rolling out for the Galaxy S25 series in September 2025. This brings new privacy features like Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection and upgraded network security against online threats.

During the time spent trying out the beta, we found significant improvements in speed when performing AI tasks, multitasking is more effortless, some intuitive tweaks have been added to Quick Share, and reminders and routines are more powerful. Like the Pixel 10, the Galaxy S25 will also receive seven years of OS upgrades.

Google Pixel 10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Which one should you buy?

Google upgraded the Pixel 10 with a telephoto camera, a larger battery, and a faster Tensor G5 chip, and you may want to consider it over the Galaxy S25. We feel Google's AI features are more useful, the Pixel 10's design is bolder, and you'll always be ahead of Samsung when it comes to getting the latest Android flavor and features. Both storage variants are now $200 off, making it cheaper than the Galaxy S25.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a solid phone, no doubt, and it's a great value buy if you can find it at a discount during major sales. Our initial concern with buying a Samsung flagship around this time is that there is an expiry date on the free use of Galaxy AI, which is expected at the end of 2025. As it turns out, Samsung's own AI implementations will be free throughout the product lifecycle, but the terms for third-party AI features like Gemini could change.