Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones are finally a reality. But they face serious competition from Samsung’s Galaxy S22 range. In the world of Android, the Pixel and Galaxy phones generally lead the US market, so we can’t wait to put them side by side. For now, that means deepening the spec differences, though we plan to review Google’s all-new phones in the coming days.
Google Pixel 7 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22
Looking at the two lower-priced phones first, we have the Pixel 7 and the Galaxy S22. The price difference is big: the Pixel 7 starts at $599, while the Galaxy S22 costs $799. That $200 savings could easily make Google’s device a more viable option for your budget. Both devices come with 128GB of storage, but no microSD card slot. If you need more storage, the 256GB versions of the Pixel and Galaxy devices cost $699 and $849, respectively.
For power, the Pixel 7 uses the Tensor G2 chip, and the Galaxy S22 runs on the top-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform. We still need to benchmark the new Tensor hardware before we can definitively declare a winner, but based on the performance of the first-gen Tensor, we expect similar overall output from the newer processor. Both phones have 8GB of RAM.
The Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch 2400-by-1080-pixel screen is slightly larger than the Galaxy S22’s 6.1-inch 2340-by-1080-pixel panel, but the pixel density is nearly identical at 417 and 423 pixels per inch (ppi), respectively. However, the S22 offers a higher refresh rate (up to 120Hz), while the Pixel 7 maxes out at 90Hz.
Galaxy S22 (Credit: Molly Flores)
Cameras are a huge factor for many in the decision to buy a smartphone. The Pixel 7 comes with a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide lens, which matches exactly the Galaxy S22’s 50MP main sensor and 12MP ultra-wide module. But Samsung’s phone also includes a 10MP 3x telephoto lens, something the Pixel 7 doesn’t have. However, Google’s exclusive software features like True Tone, Magic Eraser and Face Unblur may be more important to you.
Connectivity isn’t much of a difference. Both phones support Wi-Fi 6E and the latest 5G technologies.
Both Google and Samsung promise five years of security updates for their phones, meaning you should be safe until 2027. However, Samsung promises four years of software updates, while Google only offers three. Something else to consider is whether you prefer Google’s clean version of Android or Samsung’s stylized OneUI.
Google Pixel 7 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S22+
The Google Pixel 7 Pro competes most closely with the Galaxy S22+. It starts at $899, while the S22+ retails for $999. Due to the similar price, the differences in specifications are more important here than in the previous comparison.
Both phones come with 128GB of internal storage and do not offer any memory expansion. If you want more space, Google offers 256GB and 512GB versions for $999 and $1,099, respectively. Samsung charges $1,049 for a 256GB version of its phone, but there’s no 512GB option.
The processor specs (listed above) are the same: the Pixel 7 Pro uses the new Tensor G2 chip and the S22+ runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform. Interestingly, the Pixel comes with 12GB of RAM, while the Galaxy sticks with 8GB of storage.
Pixel 7 Pro (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The Pixel 7 comes with a 6.7-inch QHD+ screen measuring 3120 by 1440 pixels, while the Galaxy S22+ has a 6.6-inch panel measuring 2340 by 1080 pixels. Google easily wins in resolution (513ppi compared to 390ppi), but both phones have a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.
Both phones offer a 50MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, but the Pixel 7 Pro adds a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and up to 30x Super Res Zoom. The Galaxy S22+ features the same 10MP 3x telephoto lens as the base S22.
Connectivity shouldn’t be a problem with either: each supports the latest 5G and WiFi 6E standards.
On paper, the 7 Pro offers better specs in all areas and costs less. But we still want to wait for a chance to complete a full review before making any final conclusions. Again, choosing between stock Android and Samsung’s One UI may sway your decision. And note that you get that extra year of software feature updates with Samsung.
How about the Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Every year we hope Google announces an “ultra” version of its Pixel phone to take on $1,000+ smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (and even the iPhone 14 Pro Max), but Google seems to like the three model lineup (with the affordable Pixel 6a). As it stands, the comparison between the S22 Ultra and the Pixel 7 isn’t really fair; The S22 Ultra is better in almost every category. But that’s not unexpected given its more expensive starting price.
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