Google's Pixel flagships were perhaps one of the most-loved smartphones to be released in 2016. The Google Pixel and Pixel XL handsets sold out at most retailers and the company had trouble keeping up with the massive demand.
However, after the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in March, fans have a new Android phablet vying for their attention.
Here is a comparison of the specs and features of the Galaxy S8+ with the Pixel XL, to help one decide which of the two smartphone's is worth buying.
Design
The Galaxy S8+ touts a glass body and a curved display. Moreover, Samsung ditched the physical home button to reduce bezel space considerably. Unlike previous iterations, the Galaxy S8+ houses the fingerprint sensor on the rear of the device, just beside the primary camera.
Design wise, the Google Pixel XL sports a glass-aluminum body "with smooth surfaces and easy-to-grip curved edges." Like, the Galaxy S8+, the fingerprint scanner on the Pixel XL is also located on the rear of the device.
People's preference vary when it comes to the look and feel of a smartphone. However, the minimal bezels could work in the Samsung smartphone's favor
Display
The Google Pixel XL boasts a 5.5-inch AMOLED Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) display. The smartphone has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 534ppi pixel density.
By comparison, the Galaxy S8+ boasts a bigger 6.2-inch Super AMOLED Quad HD+ (2,960 x 1,440 pixels) display. The Samsung smartphone's Infinity display has a 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The Galaxy S8+, however, pales in front of the Pixel XL with a slightly lower pixel density of 529ppi.
If a bigger and better display is what one is after, then the Galaxy S8+ is hands down the better option among the two.
Processor And RAM
The U.S. variant of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ houses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. This chipset works on the 10nm FinFET technology, which makes it much faster than previous-gen ones.
The Pixel XL, on the other hand, is powered by the older-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor. Both the smartphones are on even keel when it comes to memory and house 4 GB of RAM.
The GalaxyS8+ clearly has the edge when it comes to CPU capabilities, thanks to the latest processor being on board the device.
Storage
The Google Pixel XL is available in two storage options: 32 GB and 128 GB. The Pixel XL does not support expandable memory. However, all the photos are backed up to the cloud automatically at full size, which results in plenty of free space.
The Galaxy S8+ is offered in the 64 GB storage option. However, one can expand the memory to an additional 256 GB.
In the context of storage capabilities, the Galaxy S8+ betters the Pixel XL as by using a microSD card, one can double the space offered by the latter.
Camera And Battery
The Google Pixel XL houses a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash, HDR video recording, and 4K support. The smartphone also houses an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
The Galaxy S8+ is equipped with a 12-megapixel primary shooter with innovative features like object tracker and voice activation. It too supports HDR video recording. The smartphone sports an 8-megapixel front camera as well.
The Pixel XL houses a 3,450mAh battery, while the Galaxy S8+ boasts a slightly bigger 3,500mAh one. The Google smartphone supports fast charging and one can get 7 hours' worth of charge in just 15 minutes.
The Galaxy S8+ also supports fast charging, but the capabilities are yet to be known. The Samsung smartphone also has wireless charging capabilities.
On paper, the camera and battery capabilities of the two Android smartphone seem to be at par.
Operating System
The Pixel XL comes pre-loaded with the Android 7.1 Nougat, whereas the Galaxy S8+ will come with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.
Other Features
The Galaxy S8+ houses its very own smart assistant dubbed Bixby. The voice assistant is similar to the Google Assistant, which is present in the Pixel XL. However, the Google voice-activated assistant is now available for all Android phones, which means that Galaxy S8+ users will be able to use both Bixby and Assistant.
The Galaxy S8+ also has an Iris scanner, which gives it an edge over the Pixel XL. Moreover, the Samsung smartphone is IP68 certified, which makes it water and dust resistant. The Pixel XL, on the other hand, is IP43 certified and is splash resistant.
Price
The Google Pixel XL retails for $769 and $869 for the 32 GB and 128 GB variants, respectively. For Galaxy S8+ the price differs from one carrier to the other. Verizon's Galaxy S8+ has been priced at around $840. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile has priced the Galaxy S8+ roughly at $850.
Both smartphones pack in top-notch features and consumers would have a tough time picking between the two. However, owing to its bigger display, faster processor, and additional security features, consumers may gravitate toward the Galaxy S8+.
Those keen on snagging the GalaxyS8+ can preorder the smartphone, which will hit shelves on April 21. Users interested in picking up a Pixel XL can visit Google's Store and buy the handset.
