{"id":346,"date":"2024-11-04T07:13:42","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T07:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/?p=346"},"modified":"2024-11-04T07:13:42","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T07:13:42","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-vs-google-pixel-9-pro-xl-battle-of-the-android-flagships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/2024\/11\/04\/samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-vs-google-pixel-9-pro-xl-battle-of-the-android-flagships\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battle of the Android flagships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(The camera units of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in picking up one of the best smartphones for photographers, then two of the big name choices are the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a> and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, both of which have excellent specifications for photographers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our standalone reviews of both these phones, we found that they are capable of producing excellent results. But now it\u2019s time to put them squarely head to head and see which one comes out best. As such, I\u2019ve used the phone to photograph a range of different scenarios to better see the differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>>EB-BS928ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra next to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Google Pixel 9 Pro series, there\u2019s two screen sizes \u2013 6.3-inch, or 6.8-inch. Therefore, this can also be considered a comparison with the Pixel 9 Pro, if you prefer the smaller screen size. Sadly, there\u2019s only one size variant for the Samsung S24 Ultra<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>>EB-BS926ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Samsung S24 Ultra: Specs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the table below I\u2019ve compared the two phones, taking into account specifications that will likely primarily appeal to photographers. Where something is better, I\u2019ve bolded it \u2013 there\u2019s bold to be seen on both sides of the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(The screens of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL showing the native camera apps.)
With regards to the cameras, there\u2019s four available on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but only three for the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The main sensor on the Samsung has 200MP, while the Pixel\u2019s is \u201conly\u201d 50MP. It\u2019s worth pointing out that either way, the standard output is 12MP though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both have an ultrawide lens, and both have a 5x zoom lens. But the Samsung has an additional 3x zoom as well to add to the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/strong><\/td>Google Pixel 9 Pro XL<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
200MP f\/1.7 main camera,<\/strong>OIS,<\/strong>12MP output, 24mm<\/strong><\/td>50MP f\/1.68 main camera,<\/strong>OIS,<\/strong>12MP output,<\/strong>25mm<\/td><\/tr>
12MPf\/2.2<\/strong>ultrawide camera, 13mm<\/td>48MP<\/strong>f\/2.8 ultrawide camera, 12MP output,12mm<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
50MP<\/strong>f\/3.4, 5x telephoto camera,<\/strong>111mm<\/td>48MPf\/2.8<\/strong>5x telephoto camera, 113mm<\/td><\/tr>
10MP f\/2.4 3x telephoto camera, 67mm<\/strong><\/td>No fourth camera<\/td><\/tr>
12MP f\/2.2 selfie camera, AF<\/td>42MP<\/strong>f\/2.2 selfie camera, AF<\/td><\/tr>
8K 30fps<\/strong><\/td>4K 60fps \/ 8K \u201cupscaling\u201d via the cloud<\/td><\/tr>
6.8-inch3120 x 1440 pixels<\/strong>, 2600 nits brightness<\/td>6.8-inch Super Actua OLED 2992 x 1344 pixels,3000 nits<\/strong>brightness<\/td><\/tr>
Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3<\/td>Google Tensor G4<\/td><\/tr>
30 hour battery life<\/strong>, wireless and Fast (45W) charging available<\/td>24 hour+ battery life, wireless and Fast (45W) charging available<\/td><\/tr>
256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage<\/td>256GB, 512GB, 1TB storage<\/td><\/tr>
162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm, 233g<\/td>162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm, 221g<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In terms of other specs to think about \u2013 take a look at the screen. Both of these models have a very large 6.8-inch screen, which can be quite cumbersome to use. However, with the Pixel 9 Pro, you can get a smaller 6.3-inch device but keep the exact same camera set up. Otherwise, the Pixel is brighter, but the Samsung has higher resolution. The Samsung also has impressive anti-reflective technology for its screen, too. It\u2019s also worth noting that the Samsung comes with an S Pen Stylus, which you can use to trigger the camera\u2019s shutter remotely \u2013 useful for group portraits and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(The screens of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL showing the native camera apps)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The native camera apps for both of these phones is quite extensive. Both have \u201cpro\u201d options, and both can shoot in raw. There\u2019s a slew of additional AI-type features for the Pixel phone however, such as the fun \u201cAdd Me\u201d feature \u2013 where you can take group shots without needing an additional person to take the photo. Both offer a good degree of editing within the native apps, too, again including plenty of AI editing options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image Quality<\/strong>
I took photographs with both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra<\/a> and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL across a variety of situations to directly compare image quality, and here are the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note, the S24 Ultra is on the left every time, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is on the right every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(S24 Ultra )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Pixel 9 Pro XL \uff09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the whole, both phones produce excellent images. Here, we\u2019ve got the same scene shot with the 1x lens in both instances. Both are great but the Samsung has gone a little overboard with the colours, giving us unrealistic colours in both the sky and the sea. By contrast, the Pixel has boosted reality a little bit, so as to be pleasing, but without going too far. Both have plenty of detail, with perhaps just a touch more detail from the Samsung if you zoom in quite closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here again we can see the differences in colour, with the sky on the Samsung shot very saturated. Arguably of course you might prefer this look, and it certainly gives landscapes shot a \u201czing\u201d that arguably the Pixel doesn\u2019t achieve in quite the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we\u2019ve got the Samsung\u2019s 3x lens, but the Pixel doesn\u2019t have one of those. Instead, I\u2019ve compared it against the 2x digital zoom option, as that is an option that is directly displayed within the native camera app. This 2x option very closely matches the Samsung\u2019s 3x lens in terms of detail and quality \u2013 showing that you don\u2019t necessarily need that extra lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both of the phones have a 5x zoom lens. Looking at them side by side, they\u2019re very closely matched in quality, with both showing roughly the same level of detail and similar colour output. Both are not as good as the images produced by the 1x lens, but that\u2019s what we\u2019d expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(S24 Ultra )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Pixel 9 Pro XL \uff09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Samsung S24 Ultra<\/a>, you\u2019re promised up to 100x digital zoom, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL gives you a more staid 30x. However, the 100x is very definitely a marketing gimmick, generally producing unusable images. Even 20-30x from both phones produces fairly unimpressive results. However, the 10x option from both is quite solid. Remember that Samsung decided to ditch its 10x lens in favour of a high-resolution 5x lens for the S24 Ultra, suggesting that the digital 10x version was just as good as the previous 10x optical one. Both of the images seen here are pretty usable for social media sites and the like, but if you zoom in you can see a loss of detail quite clearly. The two pictures are fairly evenly matched, with perhaps a slightly better result from the Pixel 9 Pro XL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both the Samsung and the Pixel use the ultrawide lens by default for macro work. The result is pretty good from either option, but the Samsung is a little bit brighter and a little bit cleaner if you look closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(S24 Ultra )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Pixel 9 Pro XL \uff09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both models produce great images when shooting in low light, thanks to Night modes. These modes should automatically activate when low light levels are detected, but with both you can also manually switch them on. I prefer the colours from the Samsung, but, there\u2019s marginally more detail in the shadow areas from the Pixel. Note that I carry out this assessment looking at the pictures on a large screen \u2013 the differences are much harder to spot on a phone screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again with the ultrawide lenses, we have similarly pleasing results from both phones. There\u2019s better colours again in the Samsung, but again marginally more detail in the shadow areas with the Pixel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(S24 Ultra )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Pixel 9 Pro XL \uff09<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like with the good light shot, I\u2019ve compared the 2x digital from the Pixel phone with the 3x optical lens from the Samsung here. The Pixel\u2019s looks OK on a phone screen, but on a larger computer screen you can easily see that it\u2019s quite smudgy, while the Samsung\u2019s looks quite a bit better. Both should be fine for social sharing, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here there\u2019s more of a marked difference. The 5x lens from the Samsung, despite having a narrower aperture of f\/3.4, seems to have produced a much better image than the 5x f\/2.8 lens from the Pixel. The Pixel\u2019s image is very smudgy and misses out a fair amount of detail. With either I\u2019d probably be inclined to avoid using the 5x zoom lens when shooting in similar situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With both models you can shoot in a dedicated Portrait mode to create shallow depth of field effects. With the Samsung, you can shoot at 1x, 3x or 5x. The Pixel is restricted to either 1.5x or 2x, which is a bit of a shame. Both produce fairly good results, with good detail and a nice fall off in focus to the background. The Pixel has produced nicer colours however, especially regarding skin tones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering its price point, the Samsung S24 Ultra<\/a> has a somewhat disappointing selfie camera, only being 12MP. Meanwhile, the Pixel has a 42MP selfie camera, which sounds like it should be better in theory \u2013 though it should be noted that the output from it is 10.5MP. The Pixel selfie has more pleasing colours, being darker and richer, while the blur is nicer, too. Note that you can edit the level of blur with either phones \u2013 this is the standard \/ default option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price and Value for Money<\/strong>
There\u2019s no way anyone would consider either of these models to be for the budget conscious. However, it\u2019s also true that opting for a high-end like this phone should see you able to keep hold of it for quite a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a shame that Google\u2019s Pixel prices have risen quite a bit in recent years \u2013 they used to be quite a good budget option, but now have prices roughly in line with other flagships. That said, you can save money here by opting for the smaller Pixel 9 Pro, if you\u2019re happy enough to have a smaller screen but still want the best camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\uff08The camera units of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra next to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. \uff09
Pixel 9 Pro prices are: $999 (128GB), $1099(256GB), $1299(512GB) and $1499 for 1TB. If you want the bigger version, prices are $1099 (128GB), $1199 (256GB), $1399(512GB) or $1599 for 1TB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, you\u2019ll be looking at $1299 (256GB), $1419 (512GB) or $1659 (1TB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth remembering the second-hand market, the Samsung is older so you\u2019re more likely to find some available at cheaper prices that way. You should also take note of how well the brand is likely to hold its price when it comes to resale or trade-in \u2013 a Samsung is likely to be worth more in the future than a Pixel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both of these Android phones would make an excellent choice for photographers looking for the best camera possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s another one of those times when it\u2019s hard to pick an overall winner as both produce good shots across a range of conditions. On the whole though, I\u2019d probably say I prefer the Pixel, with its slightly more muted (but more realistic) colours. Others may feel differently here though, so it\u2019s a pretty subjective opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra next to the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. )<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of apps and handling, the Pixel has a few more fun options going for it, so I\u2019d also put it ahead there, just about. As for price, as we have seen, it depends on where you are on which is the cheapest \u2013 but the Samsung is arguably better value for money as it\u2019s likely to keep its value a bit better than the Samsung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, these two Android flagships are very closely matched. Which you might choose to buy may come down to a number of factors, not necessarily limited to the quality of the onboard camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(The camera units of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL.) If you\u2019re interested in picking up one of the best smartphones for photographers, then two of the big name choices are the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, both of which have excellent specifications … Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battle of the Android flagships<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-samsung"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":351,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions\/351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.batterymap.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}