Google Pixel 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S23+

Google Pixel 9

The Tensor G4 with 12GB RAM handles everyday tasks and multitasking smoothly, but it is the consensus weak link — trailing Snapdragon 8 Elite and Apple silicon, running warm under sustained load, and forcing graphics settings down in demanding games.

• The Tensor G4 with 12GB RAM makes everyday multitasking a breeze and animations stay smooth with no performance issues in normal use.
• Compared to Snapdragon-chip phones the Tensor G4 'just doesn't hold up' — the single biggest long-term complaint about the phone.
• To hit high frame rates in Call of Duty Warzone Mobile the settings have to drop to super low, while a Snapdragon 8 Elite S25 ran the same game at medium-high and 90–120fps.
• The phone gets noticeably warm to the touch under sustained video or use because the Tensor G4 has far less headroom than a Snapdragon 8 Elite.
• Reddit users note the Tensor chip is known to underperform versus Snapdragon, a recurring criticism of Pixel hardware.
• After Android 16 the Pixel 9 got significantly better — enough that one long-term reviewer questioned whether the Pixel 10 brings enough to justify upgrading.

Samsung Galaxy S23+

The bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy and 8GB RAM make it indistinguishable from the Ultra for everyday use — much cooler than the Exynos S22+ and still smooth in 2026.

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy at 3.36GHz with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 base — same chip as the Ultra, runs the global market without Exynos split.
• No overheating even with sustained gaming and 4K video editing — a clear improvement on the Exynos S22+'s thermal issues.
• Three years in (2026), the chip 'still handles everything' — app opening, multitasking and games like Apex still smooth.
• Light Mode performance profile clocks down the X3 core slightly to preserve power without noticeably impacting performance — free extra battery life.

Google Pixel 9

The 4700mAh battery delivers genuinely good, much-improved endurance — 5+ hours of screen-on time is typical. Charging is the catch: 27W wired tops out around 80–100 minutes to full, well behind OnePlus rivals.

• Battery life is much improved over the mediocre Pixel 8 — regularly 5+ hours of screen-on time with 20–30% left at the end of the day.
• Battery-test reviewers confirm Google's longer-battery-life claims hold up in real-world Wi-Fi and 5G scenarios.
• The 4700mAh battery is slightly larger than the Pixel 8's 4575mAh and Google's claimed longer endurance was confirmed by battery testing.
• Charging is slow: roughly 80 minutes wired and over 2 hours wirelessly to full — 27W wired, 12W Qi, 15W on the Pixel Stand.
• Lab charging test: 50% in 28 minutes, 80% in 53 minutes, 100% in 1 hour 44 minutes — peaking around 25W and 36.6°C front temperature, similar to an iPhone.
• Slow charging is a recurring competitive knock — OnePlus rivals charge fully in under 20 minutes versus the Pixel's ~80–100.

Samsung Galaxy S23+

4,700mAh paired with the efficient chip delivers excellent real-world endurance — owners regularly hit 5-8 hours SOT and full days with 40% to spare. Charging is 45W rated (the standard S23 is only 25W) but caps out at ~1h6m to full and needs the correct PPS cable.

• 4,700mAh battery (up 200mAh from S22+) and 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy give a measured 14h Active Use score and a 111h GSMArena endurance rating — beating the S22+'s 97h.
• Real-world: 5-8 hours of SOT typical, with one owner reporting 12 hours of mixed use (YouTube, gaming, Bluetooth, texting) and still 40% left.
• After 2.5 years, moderate use still gets 2 days of battery — long-term efficiency holds up well.
• 45W wired charging: 21% in 10 min, 39% in 20 min, 55% in 30 min, 79% in 45 min, full in ~1h9m.
• ChargerLAB confirmed: peak charging is ~40W (drops to 33W after 6 min); a PPS-capable charger is needed — without it the rate caps at 27W.

Google Pixel 9

At $799 (a $100 hike over the Pixel 8) the Pixel 9 is positioned against the OnePlus 12 and Galaxy S25. Verdicts split between 'best Pixel ever / best in its price range' and 'no longer the best base model' as rivals offer faster silicon and charging for less.

• Called 'perhaps the best Pixel ever made' — a strong all-round hardware-and-software package.
• TechRadar's verdict: 'a fantastic phone (added fees may apply)' — the asterisk being the $100 price increase.
• Android Authority's framing: the Pixel 9 costs more but still matches the Galaxy and iPhone.
• One long-term verdict: 'good, but no longer the best base model' — competitors caught up over the phone's life.
• If you can get it for $700 or less it's an excellent choice for non-power-users; at full $799 the value is harder to defend versus rivals.
• OnePlus owners argue the OnePlus 12 offers significantly faster performance, a bigger battery and far faster charging for less money.
• Reddit owners still call it a hard phone to ignore — top-tier battery, decent fast charging, excellent camera, great screen and gorgeous build, often $1000 cheaper than comparable Apple/Samsung over its life as prices drop.

Samsung Galaxy S23+

Launched at $999, now $400-500 used / refurbished — strong value for the chip + charging combo, but the standard S23 ($799) and the Ultra ($1,199) overshadow it inside Samsung's own lineup.

• Launched at $999 — middle of the S23 lineup; now ~$400-500 used and increasingly seen at refurbished discounts.
• Phone Arena: 'awkward middle child position, failing to stand out in any meaningful way when compared to its siblings while delivering excellent value of its own at these latest discounts'.
• Matthew Moniz: 'Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review - The Best Galaxy S23!' — gets the Ultra's chip and 45W charging at $200 less, without the Ultra's bulk.
• Counter: TechOdyssey would recommend 'zero people' buy the S23+ over a Pixel 7 Pro that's hundreds cheaper with similar cameras.
• vs OnePlus 11 ($699 launch with 80W charging): the S23+ wins on software support and the 3x telephoto; OnePlus wins on charging and price.