Compare of Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: Is it about design or functionality that matters most?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, two flagship smartphones, offer a range of unique features and specifications that set them apart. This article aims to provide an in-depth comparison of these devices, focusing on design, display, hardware, battery life, charging, and overall value.
Design
The Galaxy S25 Edge is notably lighter and slimmer compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The S25 Edge weighs approximately 163g at a thickness of 5.8mm and a smaller footprint (152.8 x 72 mm), whereas the Pixel 9 Pro XL is heavier and larger (around 198g, thickness 8.5mm, dimensions 158.2 x 75.6 mm). Both phones boast IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. Samsung's design leans towards a leaner One UI 7 interface, closer to Google’s stock Android experience, while Google’s Pixel Launcher prioritizes a pure Android vision without Samsung’s custom bloat.
Display
The S25 Edge features a larger and sharper 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 3120 pixels and a very high 240Hz refresh rate and up to 1800 nits brightness. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a smaller 6.3-inch OLED display with 1080 x 2424 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 422 ppi pixel density. Samsung’s display has an effective anti-reflective coating absent on the Pixel, enhancing outdoor visibility.
Hardware
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, the most powerful Android chipset available, paired with 12GB RAM. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL uses the Google Tensor G4 chip, optimized for efficiency but falling behind Samsung’s in raw AI and performance benchmarks. Both offer 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage variants.
Battery Life and Charging
The Pixel 9 Pro XL reportedly has a larger battery capacity (~4,070mAh, implied by comparison with Pixel 10 Pro XL and 20.51% more battery power noted over Galaxy S25 Edge) versus Samsung’s smaller ~3,900mAh cell. Samsung supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless, while Google supports 45W wired and better 25W Qi2 wireless charging. Battery efficiency favors Google due to Tensor’s software optimization despite the smaller cell.
Overall Value
Samsung offers cutting-edge display tech, a more powerful chipset, and a lighter design. Google provides more battery capacity, better wireless charging, a cleaner Android experience, and strong camera performance. Both promise seven years of OS updates, ensuring longevity. Pricing specifics are not directly compared for these exact models, but Samsung traditionally commands a premium for display and hardware advances, whereas Google may price more competitively with emphasis on software experience and camera.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge excels in display quality, raw performance, and design compactness, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL shines in battery life, charging speed, and software optimization. Your choice depends on preference for performance and premium display (Samsung) versus battery efficiency and software-centric experience (Google).
Additional Features
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 200MP main camera sensor.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is slightly larger in size with dimensions of 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge's dimensions of 158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a display size of 6.7 inches.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has a larger screen resolution of 2992 x 1344 compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge's QHD+ resolution.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL started off with Android 14 and has a little over six years of full OS upgrades left, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge shipped with Android 15 and will get seven years of OS support.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge measures 5.8mm in thickness.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL supports faster wired charging at 37W compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge's 25W.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL weighs 221 grams, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge weighs 163 grams.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has 12GB of RAM, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has 16GB.
- The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is available in Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, and Obsidian colors, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is available in Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack colors.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, both boasting a range of unique features, differ significantly in gadget design, with the S25 Edge being lighter and slimmer than the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
- In terms of technology, the displays of these smartphones, while both offering high resolutions and water resistance, vary notably—the S25 Edge has a larger and sharper AMOLED display, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a smaller OLED display with a slightly higher pixel density.
