Google Pixel 4 XL vs Samsung Galaxy S23+
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23+ decisively outperforms the Google Pixel 4 XL across nearly every category. While the Pixel 4 XL excels in computational photography and Night Sight, the S23+ offers superior hardware specifications: a brighter 1750-nit display with 120Hz refresh rate versus Pixel's 600-nit 90Hz panel, a significantly larger 4700 mAh battery with 45W charging compared to 3700 mAh with 18W charging, and 5G connectivity absent in the older Pixel. Camera hardware favors Samsung with a 50 MP main sensor, 8K video recording, and an additional ultrawide lens. Performance differences are stark: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy crushes the 855 chipset, while 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage exceed Pixel's 6GB and 128GB maximums. Android 13 with One UI 5.1 provides newer software features than Android 10. At $999 versus $899, the S23+ represents better value for modern flagship functionality, making it the clear recommendation for most users.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if…
- →Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- →90Hz smooth display
- →Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Google Pixel 4 XL
Pros
- Astrophotography mode was groundbreaking
- 90Hz smooth display
- Soli radar for Motion Sense gestures
- Excellent telephoto camera for portraits
- Face unlock with 3D face recognition
Cons
- No ultrawide camera
- Large forehead bezel for Soli radar
- No fingerprint scanner at all
- Motion Sense was gimmicky and limited
- Battery life was mediocre
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
Full Specifications
| Spec | Google Pixel 4 XL | Samsung Galaxy S23+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 10 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 193 g | 195 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 16 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3700 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 11W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | P-OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 600 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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