Three ways the Pixel 10 beats the Galaxy S25 – and | Tech News

Google has introduced its newest Pixel 10 telephones with up to date Android 16 software program, new colors, new processor and tweaks that improve them in comparison with (*10*)final yr’s Pixel 9 collection.

If you wish to learn up on the particulars, try our information protection of the Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL right here, whereas we additionally coated the launch of the high-end foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold right here. Google additionally unveiled a new Pixel Watch 4.

We’re right here to resolve if the Pixel 10 is the new sub-£1,000 Android flagship telephone for you, or if the Samsung Galaxy S25 is the higher option.

The common Pixel 10 prices £799, the similar as the Galaxy S25. The two telephones seem comparatively related on paper with screens practically the similar sizes, triple cameras on the back, enjoyable color choices and, of course, Android.

But look nearer and there are a number of variations between the two telephones. I’ve discovered three ways I consider the newer Pixel 10 beats the Galaxy S25, which has been on cabinets since February, and they could be causes so that you can take into account shopping for Google’s telephone as an alternative of Samsung’s.

Despite that, there are additionally three ways the Galaxy S25 beats the Pixel 10 – on paper a minimum of – and may imply that Samsung’s telephone is the one for you.

Since the iPhone 12 in 2020, the iPhone has had MagSafe, a easy however efficient magnetic connection system constructed into the units that enables for simple wi-fi charging and the use of equipment similar to circumstances, stands and wallets. It’s baffling that Android producers have taken so long to repeat one thing this good, but it surely’s lastly right here with the Pixel 10, and it’s often known as Pixelsnap (although shout out to the HMD Skyline, which was the first and solely Android telephone with a related system till now).

Google can’t call it MagSafe as that’s Apple’s branding. But the Pixel 10 has the Qi2 charging customary constructed into it, which incorporates the similar round magnetic tech as MagSafe, that means you need to be capable of use current MagSafe equipment on Google’s new telephone.

Google sells Pixelsnap circumstances, stands and a charging stand to begin with, however count on the market of equipment to grow. Samsung’s S25 is Qi2 appropriate, however the magnets aren’t constructed into the telephone – solely the company’s official circumstances. Not the best answer, and a win for Google.

How long a telephone’s battery final is determined by many issues. How a lot you utilize it during the day, how shiny the show is and what you’re doing on it being some of the primary components. But science is science, and bigger batteries imply longer battery life – and the Pixel 10 has a considerably bigger battery than the S25.

The Pixel 10 has a 4,970mAh battery, an impressively massive cell that’s actually practically the similar measurement as the £1,249 Galaxy S25 Ultra. Not unhealthy for a £799 machine.

The common S25 is caught with a considerably pokier 4,000mAh. That means the Pixel 10 has very practically 25 p.c more battery than the Galaxy, which may very nicely end in longer battery life. I’ve examined the S25, and whereas it does make it by a day with my utilization, it tipped in direction of the crimson more usually than I’d prefer it to. These specs counsel the Pixel is the higher choose in order for you a comparatively small flagship telephone with strong longevity.

OK, this one is a little more subjective however I consider the Pixel 10’s AI to be higher built-in and more interesting than what Samsung is offering. Where the S25 affords Galaxy AI instruments similar to dwell translation, e-mail summaries and choices to rewrite your emails in a completely different tone of voice, Google affords less complicated high quality of life AI similar to Call Screen, which makes use of an AI voice to screen calls from unknown numbers.

If you’re put on maintain when calling a business or service, you may faucet Hold For Me, and the Pixel 10 will just do that, letting you get on along with your day till somebody is able to discuss to you.

The Pixel 10 additionally introduces a new function referred to as Magic Cue, which says it’ll anticipate what you need in Google apps and counsel them on the screen. An instance is a pal texting you asking for an Airbnb handle – Google says the Pixel will be capable of search your Gmail and pop the handle up on the screen in the Messages app as a advised reply, saving you diving into your emails to dig out the data.

Sure, that is my opinion fairly than cold exhausting specs, however the Pixel 10’s AI appears more helpful to handle each day tech annoyances in comparison with the S25’s headline AI options.

But that’s to not say the Pixel 10 is the best telephone for you out of the two.

Synthetic benchmarks solely inform half of the story, however the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy S25 is, on paper, more highly effective than the Tensor G5 chip in the Pixel 10. It’s value noting that the majority of people gained’t discover a distinction, but it surely relies upon what you wish to use your telephone for. If you’re contemplating one of the ese telephones to have a smaller however highly effective machine to play high-end cell video games on, the S25 can be the higher choose.

The 8 Elite is a supremely nicely-specced processor, and the model inside the S25 is a ‘For Galaxy’ model that’s overclocked and technically even more highly effective than the model one can find in different telephones with the common 8 Elite.

Tensor G5 is Google’s newest chip, and is geared in direction of the smoother perform of on-machine AI. It relies upon what you need your telephone to do – and you actually might not care which chip your telephone has – however in order for you as a lot energy on paper as potential for the price, the Galaxy wins this spherical.

Both the Galaxy S25 and the Pixel 10 have pin-sharp 6.2-inch and 6.3-inch OLED shows respectively, and each are succesful of 120Hz refresh charges. This helps apps and texts to scroll smoother than on shows with solely 60Hz (similar to the iPhone 16), however working this tech eats up battery life.

To counteract this and to avoid wasting on juice, each telephones can cleverly scale down the refresh price relying on what you’re doing in your telephone. If you’re studying textual content on a web site, you don’t need 120Hz, so the telephone will mechanically crank the refresh price proper down. Where the Galaxy beats the Pixel right here is that the S25 has an LTPO screen succesful of scaling proper down to 1Hz, whereas the Pixel can solely scale down to 60Hz.

It’s a minor factor, but it surely may really be half of the purpose the S25 manages to final a day on a charge regardless of its HD screen and comparatively small battery. If you’re a spec aficionado, it’s notable that the Pixel lacks an LTPO screen, one thing you’ll solely discover on the pricier Pixel 10 Pro fashions.

Over in the US, the Pixel 10 is the first Pixel to not embrace a bodily SIM slot, as Google follows Apple’s lead in ditching it. Thankfully there’s no such nonsense in the UK, the place the Pixel 10 has a regular nano SIM card slot – however just one slot. The Galaxy S25 has a twin SIM card slot so you may simply swap out SIMs, whether or not it’s for personal, business or roaming use.

The Pixel does have eSIM functionality, so you may run your UK SIM card as regular and nonetheless grab a low cost eSIM for roaming overseas with knowledge when on vacation, however you might need two bodily SIMs at present and want to run your telephone that approach. If that’s the case, the Pixel gained’t be just right for you, however the S25 will.

Samsung and Google have each long since bought rid of {hardware} perks similar to headphone jacks or microSD card slots on their flagship telephones, and a cautious look throughout the pond suggests it may not be long till our telephones in the UK have no SIM card slots both. But if you’re loath to present up your SIMs, the Galaxy S25 has room for 2, beating the Pixel 10’s one.