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In this article, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. These two smartphones are quite different, and they’re even classified differently. The Pixel 8 is one of two flagships that Google announced, the inferior and smaller one. The Galaxy S23 FE is kind of a budget flagship from Samsung, it’s below the regular Galaxy S23 series phones that were announced early this year.
Having said that, these two smartphones do have a somewhat similar price tag. The difference between them is only $100, so comparing them does make sense. Chances are that quite a few consumers will consider getting both, so… let’s hope this comparison can help you decide which one to get. We’ll compare them across a number of categories, but first things first, let’s list their specs.
Specs
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, respectively
– Screen size:
6.2-inch Actua AMOLED display (120Hz LTPS, HDR10+, 2,000 nits max)
6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (120Hz, HDR10+, 1,450 nits max)
– Display resolution:
2400 x 1080
2340 x 1080
– SoC:
Google Tensor G3
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
– RAM:
8GB (LPDDR5X)
8GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1)
128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1.2um pixel size), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 1.25um pixel size, 125.8-degree FoV)
50MP (f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 123-degree FoV), 8MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, PDAF, 3x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
10MP (f/2.4 aperture)
– Battery:
4,575mAh
4,500mAh
– Charging:
27W wired, 18W wireless, 5W reverse wired (charger not included)
25W wired, 15W wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions:
150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9mm
158 x 76.5 x 8.2mm
– Weight:
187 grams
209 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) & facial scanning
In-display fingerprint scanner & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14
Android 13 with One UI 5.1
– Price:
$699+
$599+
– Buy:
Best Buy
Amazon
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Design
Both smartphones are made out of metal and glass. Neither has flat sides, though the backplate on the Pixel 8 is a bit curvier in comparison. It curves towards the frame on the edges, while the Galaxy S23 FE’s is completely flat, as is its display. Both smartphones have flat displays, in fact. What they also have in common are thin bezels, albeit not uniform ones. You’ll also notice a centered display camera hole on both devices.
All the physical buttons sit on the right-hand side of both of these phones, but in different spots. The Pixel 8’s power/lock key sits above the volume up and down buttons, while it’s the opposite on the Galaxy S23 FE. Some major differences are visible on the back sides of these devices. The Pixel 8 includes a camera visor there, which is covered by metal, and which connects to the frame on the sides. The Galaxy S23 FE, on the other hand, has three separate protrusions on the back, for each of its cameras.
The Pixel 8 has two cameras, which sit inside that camera visor. The camera visor does protrude quite a bit on the back, but it serves as a nice anchor for your finger when you’re holding the phone. The Galaxy S23 FE’s cameras are vertically-aligned in the top-left corner of the phone’s back. Both smartphones come with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.
The Google Pixel 8 is shorter, narrower, and slightly thicker. It’s also 22 grams lighter than the Galaxy S23 FE. You will notice the difference in size and weight here, but that’s not surprising considering that the Galaxy S23 FE does have a larger display. Both phones do feel really nice in the hand, they do have some heft to them, and are definitely premium-feeling.
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Display
The Google Pixel 8 includes a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display. That panel is flat, and has a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports HDR10+ content, and goes up to 2,000 nits of brightness at its peak. The display has a 20:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, on the flip side, features a 6.4-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. That display is also flat, and it has a 120Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is supported here too, and the display goes up to 1,450 nits of brightness at its peak. It has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning.
Now, there’s not really that much to complain about here, on either panel. Both of them are really nice. They do offer very vivid colors, good viewing angles, and good touch response. They’re also more than sharp enough, even though they’re “only” fullHD+ in terms of resolution. These two displays are not exactly enormous, so… yeah, you won’t need more sharpness here, that’s for sure.
One notable advantage of the Pixel 8’s panel is… its brightness. It does get noticeably brighter than the Galaxy S23 FE’s display, even though the latter is not exactly dim… not at all. The bottom line is, chances are you’ll be happy with both panels, but in case you want a brighter one, the Pixel 8 is the way to go.
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Performance
Google’s handset is fueled by the Google Tensor G3 processor. The Pixel 8 also includes 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, on the other hand, is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage. So neither phone utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage, but that’s not a big deal in this case. The Pixel 8 does come with a newer and faster RAM module, though.
When it comes to day-to-day performance, both of these phones are very snappy. That goes for basically anything you can throw at them, ranging from browsing, multimedia consumption, image editing, and so on. What we did notice, however, is heating issues with the Galaxy S23 FE. Yes, a game was required in order to cause that, but not even a graphically intensive game was required. The phone would get a bit too hot after 5 to 10 minutes. The same was not the case with the Pixel 8, even though the phone does get warm.
Both smartphones can run graphically-intensive games, and perform well during that (despite the heat from the Galaxy S23 FE). Even Genshin Impact is very much playable on both smartphones. So, what’s the cause of that heat? Well, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 was a huge leap over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in terms of heat emission, so the chip is probably to blame, as the Galaxy S23 FE doesn’t have advanced cooling. All in all, if you’re planning to play games, the Galaxy S23 FE is probably not the best choice.
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Battery
There is a 4,575mAh battery inside the Pixel 8, and a 4,500mAh unit inside the Galaxy S23 FE. Now, despite the fact the Galaxy S23 FE has a larger display, it has a smaller battery. Is that noticeable during usage? Well, no, not at all. In fact, the Galaxy S23 FE turned out to offer great battery life, which was a bit surprising.
We were able to get over 8 hours of battery life on the phone, even during heavier days. We’ve even been able to cruise past the 9-hour mark when games were not a part of the package. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, lingered at around 6.5-7 hours of screen-on-time, and that’s with only light gaming from time to time. We’d say that the Galaxy S23 FE definitely offers better battery life, at least in our experience. Your mileage may vary, of course.
Now, in terms of charging, the Google Pixel 8 offers 27W wired, 18W wireless, and also reverse wireless charging. The phone doesn’t include a charger in the box, however, and the same goes for the Galaxy S23 FE. The Galaxy S23 FE offers 25W wired charging, along with 15W wireless charging. You will need to get a charger separately here, the Pixel 8 supports PD3.0/PPS, while the Galaxy S23 FE offers support for PD2.0 charging.
Google Pixel 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: Cameras
The Google Pixel 8 includes a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (126-degree FoV). The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, on the other hand, has three cameras on the back. It has a 50-megapixel main unit, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (123-degree FoV), and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom).
How do they stack up? Well, the Pixel 8 does a great job across the board. You’ll get that contrasty look that Google became well-known for. The phone does an outstanding job in HDR situations, and generally provides a lot of detail. The Galaxy S23 FE also does great during the day, though its colors can be a bit oversaturated still. It also does a great job in HDR situations, by the way.
In low light, both smartphones do a good job, and manage to light up scenes quite a bit. Both tend to brighten up those scenes quite a bit, as opposed to keeping them closer to real life. The results are great on both, though we prefer the Pixel 8’s due to the fact it provides more detail in low light conditions.
The ultrawide cameras do a good job in general, though we prefer the Pixel 8’s as it is closer to what the main camera offers in terms of color reproduction. They do offer a similar amount of detail. Telephoto shots are better on the Galaxy S23 FE. The Pixel 8 doesn’t even have a telephoto camera, but its Super Res Zoom feature does a good job to compensate.
Audio
Both of these phones include stereo speakers, and both of them actually provide really good sound. They’re more than loud enough, and offer balanced sound across the board. We did not notice any distortion or anything of the sort.
What you will not find on either device is an audio jack. Both phones do have a Type-C port at the bottom, so you can easily hook up your headphones, but you’ll need a dongle. If you prefer wireless audio instead, do note that both the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S23 FE offer Bluetooth 5.3.