The Google Pixel is basically the last major smartphone release in 2016. Despite the huge reception of the phone, it is not guaranteed immediate success in a field that is already taken over by Samsung Galaxy S7.
Today, most smartphone manufacturers have leaned towards large screen-sized handsets, with these phablets considered as the flagship offerings, hence coming with the best specs over their smaller counterparts. However, Samsung and Google have a slightly different approach to this game, with the Galaxy S7 coming in with the same specs as the larger Galaxy S7 Edge, but the size and design of the screen are different. This is the same thing that Google Pixel and the larger Pixel XL offer, with the latter packing a larger 5.5-inch screen that has better resolution than its smaller counterpart.
So, how do the two 5-inch handsets – Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S7 – compete against each other?
The Google Pixel is the smaller model of the two, however, you might find it hard to notice this size difference. The phone comes with a 5-inch screen that boasts a Full HD 1080p resolution, but unlike last year’s Nexus 5X that came with an LCD screen, you get an AMOLED panel on the Pixel.
Under the hood, the Google Pixel packs the newest Snapdragon 821 SoC that is paired with a decent 4GB RAM alongside two storage options of 32GB and 128GB. Android 7.1 Nougat powers the Google Pixel right out of the box and there is battery unit of 2770mAh, which is not removable. Even though there is no wireless charging, you get to enjoy fast charging.
The cameras have a 12.3MP lens on the back and 8MP sensor on the front. There is an aperture of f/2.0 on the main camera with PDAF, but there is no OIS. You get an aperture of f/2.4 on the front camera. For those who enjoy using the fingerprint scanner, it is located on the back of the handset given that there is no physical home button.
When you check out Samsung Galaxy S7, you get a slightly larger screen size of 5.1 inches, which is also an AMOLED panel. However, unlike the Google Pixel, you get QHD resolution of 1440p. This should deliver a better display quality than its counterpart, but you might notice this difference with your naked eyes.
Under the hood, the Google Pixel is ahead of the Galaxy S7 thanks to the latter’s Snapdragon 820 SoC, which is slightly weaker than its newer counterpart. However, the RAM is the same at 4GB, but you only get one storage option on the Galaxy S7, which is 32GB, but there is room for microSD card storage, which can accommodate up to 256GB. There is a 3000mAh battery unit to keep the phone alive with support for fast, wireless charging.
There is the older Android Marshmallow on the Galaxy S7, with a Nougat update expected in the coming days. Whether this device will also get the same Android 7.1 Nougat that features on the Google Pixel or not is still a mystery. You get a 12MP lens on the back of the phone while the front has a 5MP sensor. Both sensors have an aperture of f/1.7, but you get OIS and LED flash on the main camera. The fingerprint scanner is on the home button and not the back like the case of the Google Pixel handset.
As far as the pricing is concerned, you get an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 for $670 while an unlocked Google Pixel costs $649.