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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSamsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a premium option with its impressive 108MP camera and integrated S Pen, while the Google Pixel 9 offers a compact design and an industry-leading 7 years of updates. If you're looking for top-notch photography, the Galaxy S22 Ultra's camera system is a game changer, but the Pixel 9's bright 2,700 nits display is a standout feature worth considering. The trade-offs are clear: you get more features and power with the S22 Ultra, but the Pixel 9 is lighter and easier to handle daily.
📱 Display: 6.8" vs 6.3"🔋 Battery: 5000 mAh vs 4700 mAh⚖️ Weight: 8.08 oz vs 6.98 oz
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
★4.7
(1,325)•Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 730
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Google Pixel 9
★4.5
(1,044)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Google Pixel 9
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Google Pixel 9
6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Refresh Rate
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
1–120Hz (Adaptive)
Google Pixel 9
60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Google Pixel 9
Google Tensor G4
RAMKey
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
8GB / 12GB LPDDR5
Google Pixel 9
12GB LPDDR5X
Storage
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)
Google Pixel 9
128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
108MP Wide (f/1.8, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OISWinner
Google Pixel 9
50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Google Pixel 9
48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
5,000 mAh (Typical)Winner
Google Pixel 9
4,700 mAh (Typical)
Wireless Charging
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare
Google Pixel 9
Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
Design2 specs
Weight
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
8.08 oz (229 g)
Google Pixel 9
7.0 oz (198 g)Winner
Dimensions
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm)
Google Pixel 9
6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.2; NFC; UWB
Google Pixel 9
5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
★4.7(1,325)Best Buy
Google Pixel 9
★4.5(1,044)Amazon
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.7(1,325)Best Buy | ★4.5(1,044)Amazon |
Operating System | Android | Android |
Software Support | 4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates | 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform | Google Tensor G4 |
Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno 730 | Arm Mali-G715 MC7 |
RAM | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 | 12GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1) | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) | 6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display | Actua OLED Display |
Resolution | 3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi | 1080 x 2424 pixels (FHD+), 422 ppi |
Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz (Adaptive) | 60–120Hz (Smooth Display) |
Peak Brightness | 1,750 nits (Peak) | 1,800 nits (HDR) / 2,700 nits (Peak) |
Main Camera | 108MP Wide (f/1.8, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS | 50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV) | 48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus |
Telephoto Camera | 10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS | N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens) |
Optical Zoom | 3x, 10x Optical Zoom | 2x Optical Quality (via sensor crop) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 100x Space Zoom | Up to 8x Super Res Zoom |
Video Recording | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60fps; 10-bit HDR |
Front Camera | 40MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), PDAF | 10.5MP Front (f/2.2, 95° FOV), Dual PD AF |
Battery | 5,000 mAh (Typical) | 4,700 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (Adapter sold separately) | Up to 27W (charges up to 55% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger) |
Wireless Charging | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare | Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share |
Connectivity | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.2; NFC; UWB | 5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
Durability | IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus+ | IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back); Fingerprint-resistant coating |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm) | 6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm) |
Weight | 8.08 oz (229 g) | 7.0 oz (198 g) |
Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock |
Extras | Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox | Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; VPN by Google One; Car Crash Detection |
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Rating:★4.7(1,325)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Graphics:Qualcomm Adreno 730
RAM:8GB / 12GB LPDDR5
Storage:128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display
Resolution:3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi
Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Adaptive)
Peak Brightness:1,750 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:108MP Wide (f/1.8, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS
Optical Zoom:3x, 10x Optical Zoom
Digital Zoom:Up to 100x Space Zoom
Video Recording:8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps
Front Camera:40MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), PDAF
Battery:5,000 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (Adapter sold separately)
Wireless Charging:Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.2; NFC; UWB
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus+
Dimensions:6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm)
Weight:8.08 oz (229 g)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition
Extras:Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox
✓ Pros:
- • Integrated S Pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms)
- • Versatile camera system with dual telephoto lenses (3x and 10x optical)
- • Bright, sharp QHD+ display with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
- • Excellent build quality with Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus+
- • Long software support commitment (4 OS upgrades)
✗ Cons:
- • Large, heavy, and boxy design can be unwieldy
- • Battery life is average despite 5,000mAh capacity
- • 45W charging speed does not significantly outperform 25W in real-world tests
- • No microSD card slot or headphone jack
- • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can throttle performance under heavy sustained load
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Google Pixel 9
Rating:★4.5(1,044)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G4
Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7
RAM:12GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.3" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Actua OLED Display
Resolution:1080 x 2424 pixels (FHD+), 422 ppi
Refresh Rate:60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness:1,800 nits (HDR) / 2,700 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus
Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom:2x Optical Quality (via sensor crop)
Digital Zoom:Up to 8x Super Res Zoom
Video Recording:4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60fps; 10-bit HDR
Front Camera:10.5MP Front (f/2.2, 95° FOV), Dual PD AF
Battery:4,700 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 27W (charges up to 55% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger)
Wireless Charging:Up to 15W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; Dual Band GNSS
USB:USB Type-C 3.2
Durability:IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back); Fingerprint-resistant coating
Dimensions:6.0" x 2.8" x 0.3" (152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm)
Weight:7.0 oz (198 g)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock
Extras:Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; VPN by Google One; Car Crash Detection
✓ Pros:
- • Compact and premium design with satin metal frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- • Bright Actua display reaches 2,700 nits peak brightness
- • Industry-leading 7-year software update commitment
- • Excellent dual-camera system with Macro Focus on the ultrawide lens
- • Includes useful AI features like Add Me, Best Take, and Gemini integration
✗ Cons:
- • Lacks a dedicated telephoto lens (zoom limited to 8x Super Res Zoom)
- • Charging speed (27W wired) is slower than many competitors
- • Base storage starts at 128GB with UFS 3.1 (slower than UFS 4.0)
- • Tensor G4 performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in raw benchmarks
- • Display refresh rate bottoms out at 60Hz (not LTPO 1–120Hz like Pro models)
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Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the better buy for most people - its 108MP camera crushes the Pixel 9's 50MP. That said, grab the Pixel 9 if you want a lighter phone at 7.0oz and a longer software support life with 7 years of updates.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if: you want the best camera for photography, you need an integrated stylus for productivity, or you frequently watch videos on a large display. (6.8" display, 5000 mAh battery)
Choose the Google Pixel 9 if: you prefer a compact design for easy handling, you want the brightest display at 2,700 nits, or you need a phone that guarantees 7 years of software updates.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra excels if you value integrated s pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms). Google Pixel 9 is better if you prioritize compact and premium design with satin metal frame and gorilla glass victus 2. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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