Samsung simply launched its newest Galaxy telephone, the model new S25 Edge.
In doing so, the model has deviated from its regular technique, whereby we usually see a trio of flagships firstly of the yr and foldables in the summertime. This new mannequin joins Samsung’s flagship bar-phones as a considerably slimmer choice for many who need class-leading specs with out such a cumbersome chassis.
Regardless of its slim design and light-weight physique, it’s nonetheless a big telephone, with a display screen dimension just like the Pixel 9 Professional XL, and it additionally begins on the similar worth. For these causes, you is likely to be attempting to determine which one is best for you, or for those who already personal the Pixel 9 Professional XL, you is likely to be contemplating an improve.
If that’s the case, you’re in the precise place. On this article, we’ll discover how the 2 telephones examine in each division, so you may decide the precise one to your wants. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that whereas we’ve reviewed the Pixel 9 Professional XL, we’ve solely gone hands-on with the Galaxy S25 Edge to date.
Design & Show
As talked about within the introduction, a key promoting level of the Galaxy S25 Edge is its slim and light-weight design. It weighs solely 163g and measures simply 5.9mm thick. The Pixel 9 Professional XL, alternatively, isn’t designed with slimness in thoughts. It’s a lot thicker, measuring 8.9mm, and it’s noticeably heavier at 221g.
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Thickness and weight apart, each telephones look pretty comparable from the entrance. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is bigger, but it surely’s solely about 3mm taller, and fewer than 1mm wider. Each have absolutely flat screens and centrally positioned punch-hole selfie cameras.
The place the Galaxy S25 Edge pulls forward, although, is with its slim bezels. They’re slimmer than the Pixel 9 Professional XL bezels on all sides, and the digicam cutout is smaller, too. This implies, regardless of having smaller dimensions, the distinction in display screen dimension is smaller than you’d count on – the Pixel is simply 0.1 inches larger.
Each telephones boast 120Hz OLED panels with adaptive refresh charges and HDR10+ help, however the Galaxy S25 Edge has the next decision. It has a 1440 x 3120 show, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL is just 1344 x 2992.
That stated, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is barely brighter. It has a peak brightness of 3000 nits, whereas the S25 Edge maxes out at 2600 nits. Realistically, although, each are greater than vivid sufficient for use comfortably outside.
By way of building, each telephones have glass backs and metallic frames, however the S25 Edge makes use of titanium in its body, which ought to make it extra sturdy. It additionally has the newer Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 coating on its display screen, which must be extra scratch-resistant than the Gorilla Glass Victus coating on the Pixel.
Each fashions are IP68 licensed, which implies they’re dust-tight and might stand up to dunks in contemporary water for as much as half-hour.
Efficiency
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, one of many quickest chips available on the market in the present day. In the meantime, the Pixel 9 Professional XL makes use of Google’s personal Tensor G4 SoC.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The Tensor G4 is not any slouch, however when it comes to uncooked energy, it will possibly’t maintain a candle to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Should you prefer to play graphically intensive cellular video games like Genshin Influence, or for those who do demanding duties like video modifying in your telephone, the Galaxy S25 Edge ought to have a transparent benefit.
What could pose extra of a problem is cooling. Till we’ve examined it for ourselves, we’ll want to attend and see how nicely the slim chassis of the S25 Edge can preserve the temperatures in examine.
The S25 Edge is on the market in two varieties. You’ll be able to select between 256GB or 512GB of storage, and each fashions have 12GB of RAM. The Pixel 9 Professional XL has the identical storage choices, but it surely provides two extra as well as. It begins with simply 128GB and goes all the best way as much as 1TB. All variations include 16GB of RAM, which is greater than the S25 Edge can provide.
Cameras
One of many largest variations between these telephones is the digicam setup. The S25 Edge solely has two cameras on the again: a 200Mp primary sensor and a 12Mp ultrawide. The Pixel 9 Professional XL has a 50Mp primary, a 48Mp ultrawide and a 48Mp 5x telephoto.
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So, for those who prefer to zoom in, you’ll probably get the most effective outcomes with the Pixel. The 200Mp sensor ought to assist with digital zoom considerably, however in our expertise, it’s exhausting to beat a devoted telephoto lens.
In fact, one other factor that makes an enormous distinction to your pictures is picture processing. Samsung and Google have very totally different approaches. Current Samsung flagships go for a extra pure fashion, whereas Pixel photos are inclined to look a bit extra vibrant and poppy. They’re each glorious in their very own proper, however you’ll probably desire one over the opposite.
Across the entrance, the S25 Edge has a 12Mp selfie snapper with autofocus capabilities. In the meantime, the Pixel opts for the next decision 42Mp sensor, and it additionally has autofocus. On paper, the Pixel selfie digicam sounds superior, however Samsung is thought for its glorious selfies, and in actuality, it’s exhausting to name a transparent winner.
Different variations
Each of those telephones are full of AI options, and since Samsung works so carefully with Google, there’s loads of overlap. Should you’re in search of selection, although, Samsung is the best way to go. The model has added loads of its personal options on high of these powered by Google, so there’s extra to discover in Samsung’s working system.
That’s true elsewhere in One UI 7, too. It’s one of the feature-packed Android builds accessible, and it consists of distinctive options like Samsung Dex, the place you may flip your telephone right into a full-fledged desktop substitute by connecting it to an exterior display screen.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Comparatively, Pixel UI is way less complicated, however for some customers, that might be a superb factor. It appears nice and it performs nicely, two of an important issues for any working system.
It’s additionally value mentioning that the Pixel 9 Professional XL has a a lot bigger battery, with a 5060 mAh cell, in comparison with simply 3900 mAh on the S25 Edge. In principle, it’ll final quite a bit longer, however we received’t know for certain till we put it to the check.
The Pixel 9 Professional additionally fees faster, at as much as 37W versus 25W on the Galaxy S25 Edge. It’s additionally quicker on the subject of Qi wi-fi charging – 23W as an alternative of 15W.
Pricing
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and Google Pixel 9 Professional each begin at £1,099 within the UK. At that worth, Samsung provides you 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, whereas Google provides you 128GB of storage and 16GB of RAM.
The S25 Edge can be accessible with 512GB of storage for £1,199, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional XL might be configured with as much as 1TB, however that’ll value you a whopping £1549. It’s value noting, although, that the Pixel 9 Professional XL has been available on the market for some time, and as such, you may usually discover it discounted – it’ll be some time earlier than we see any reductions on the S25 Edge.
Verdict
We already know that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a good telephone, and the identical is more likely to be true of the Galaxy S25 Edge. As at all times, the precise one for you’ll rely in your private wants.
The S25 Edge is all in regards to the slim and light-weight design, which is one thing the Pixel 9 Professional XL can’t match. It’s additionally a lot quicker. So for those who’re a gamer and also you need one thing pocketable, it’s probably the best way to go.
Nonetheless, the Pixel 9 Professional XL has loads of benefits of its personal. It has an additional digicam, a a lot larger battery and wi-fi charging help. You may also generally discover it on sale, now that it has been out for some time, so it might provide higher worth.