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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerSamsung Galaxy S24 vs Google Pixel 8a
In the battle of the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8a, the S24 takes the lead for those wanting premium performance and features. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, it offers superior processing power that makes handling demanding tasks a breeze. On the flip side, the Pixel 8a shines with its impressive camera system, making it a great choice if you're into photography on a budget. Both phones promise 7 years of software updates, but you'll get a more premium experience with the Galaxy S24's 2600-nit peak brightness display, compared to the Pixel's 2000 nits. This means outdoor visibility is significantly better on the S24, a crucial factor for many users in 2026.
📱 Display: 6.2" vs 6.1"🔋 Battery: 4000 mAh vs 4492 mAh⚖️ Weight: 5.93 oz vs 6.63 oz
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Samsung Galaxy S24
★4.6
(1,055)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Graphics:Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
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Google Pixel 8a
★4.4
(1,570)•Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G3
Graphics:Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10
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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 S24
Google Pixel 8a
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Samsung Galaxy S24
6.2" (6.17" measured diagonally as a full rectangle; 6.0" accounting for rounded corners)Winner
Google Pixel 8a
6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Refresh Rate
Samsung Galaxy S24
Adaptive 1–120 Hz
Google Pixel 8a
60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Samsung Galaxy S24
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Google Pixel 8a
Google Tensor G3
RAMKey
Samsung Galaxy S24
8 GB (LPDDR5X)
Google Pixel 8a
8GB LPDDR5X
Storage
Samsung Galaxy S24
128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Google Pixel 8a
128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Samsung Galaxy S24
50MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.8), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Google Pixel 8a
64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OISWinner
Ultra-Wide Camera
Samsung Galaxy S24
12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Super Steady video
Google Pixel 8a
13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Samsung Galaxy S24
4000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback
Google Pixel 8a
4,492 mAh (Typical)Winner
Wireless Charging
Samsung Galaxy S24
Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W)
Google Pixel 8a
Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W)
Design2 specs
Weight
Samsung Galaxy S24
5.93 oz (168 g) (mmWave model)Winner
Google Pixel 8a
6.6 oz (188 g)
Dimensions
Samsung Galaxy S24
5.79" x 2.78" x 0.30" (147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm)
Google Pixel 8a
6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy S24
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
Google Pixel 8a
5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
+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 S24 vs Google Pixel 8a
Samsung Galaxy S24
★4.6(1,055)Amazon
Google Pixel 8a
★4.4(1,570)Amazon
| Criterion | Samsung Galaxy S24 | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.6(1,055)Amazon | ★4.4(1,570)Amazon |
Operating System | Android | Android |
Software Support | 7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031) | 7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520) | Google Tensor G3 |
Graphics | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
RAM | 8 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB LPDDR5X |
Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0) | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.2" (6.17" measured diagonally as a full rectangle; 6.0" accounting for rounded corners) | 6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X (LTPO) | Actua OLED Display |
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 pixels (FHD+, 416 ppi) | 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+), 430 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Adaptive 1–120 Hz | 60–120Hz (Smooth Display) |
Peak Brightness | 2600 nits peak (outdoor) | 1,400 nits (HDR) / 2,000 nits (Peak) |
Main Camera | 50MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.8), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Super Steady video | 13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | 10MP Telephoto (67 mm, f/2.4), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens) |
Optical Zoom | 3x optical zoom; 2x optical-quality zoom (enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) | N/A (Optical quality at 0.5x and 1x via sensor crop) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 30x (Space Zoom) | Up to 8x Super Res Zoom |
Video Recording | 8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240 fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
Front Camera | 12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps | 13MP Front (f/2.2, 96.5° FOV), Fixed Focus |
Battery | 4000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback | 4,492 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% in ~30 minutes with 25W adapter (sold separately) | Up to 18W (Adapter sold separately) |
Wireless Charging | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W) | Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W) |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC | 5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC |
USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
Durability | IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Armor Aluminum 2 frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back | IP67 (Dust and water resistant up to 1m); Gorilla Glass 3 (front); Matte composite back; Aluminum frame |
Dimensions | 5.79" x 2.78" x 0.30" (147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm) | 6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm) |
Weight | 5.93 oz (168 g) (mmWave model) | 6.6 oz (188 g) |
Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition | Under-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock |
Extras | Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist); Samsung DeX; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG; Dual eSIM support | VPN by Google One; Titan M2 security; Gemini AI integrated; Audio Magic Eraser |
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Samsung Galaxy S24
Rating:★4.6(1,055)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 generations of OS upgrades; 7 years of security updates (guaranteed until 2031)
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm; 8-core CPU: 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.1GHz A720, 2x2.9GHz A720, 2x2.2GHz A520)
Graphics:Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
RAM:8 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB (UFS 4.0) / 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Display Size:6.2" (6.17" measured diagonally as a full rectangle; 6.0" accounting for rounded corners)
Screen Type:Dynamic AMOLED 2X (LTPO)
Resolution:2340 x 1080 pixels (FHD+, 416 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Adaptive 1–120 Hz
Peak Brightness:2600 nits peak (outdoor)
Main Camera:50MP Wide (24 mm, f/1.8), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:12MP Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° FOV), Super Steady video
Telephoto Camera:10MP Telephoto (67 mm, f/2.4), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
Optical Zoom:3x optical zoom; 2x optical-quality zoom (enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor)
Digital Zoom:Up to 30x (Space Zoom)
Video Recording:8K video at 24/30 fps; 4K at 30/60 fps; Slow motion 1080p at 240 fps
Front Camera:12MP Front (26 mm, f/2.2), Dual Pixel PDAF; 4K video at 30/60 fps
Battery:4000 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 29 hours video playback
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% in ~30 minutes with 25W adapter (sold separately)
Wireless Charging:Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (up to 15W); Wireless PowerShare (4.5W)
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
Durability:IP68 (up to 1.5 m freshwater for 30 min); Armor Aluminum 2 frame; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back
Dimensions:5.79" x 2.78" x 0.30" (147.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm)
Weight:5.93 oz (168 g) (mmWave model)
Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint (under display); Face recognition
Extras:Galaxy AI (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist); Samsung DeX; Stereo speakers tuned by AKG; Dual eSIM support
✓ Pros:
- • Commitment to 7 years of OS and security updates
- • Bright 2600-nit LTPO display adjusts down to 1Hz
- • Compact form factor without compromising on build quality
- • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip provides top-tier performance
- • Galaxy AI features integrated directly into the OS
✗ Cons:
- • Wired charging capped at 25W (slower than Plus/Ultra models)
- • Base 128GB model uses slower UFS 3.1 storage (256GB+ uses UFS 4.0)
- • Lacks Wi-Fi 7 support (limited to Wi-Fi 6E)
- • No UWB (Ultra-Wideband) support on the base model
- • 8GB RAM is lower than competitors' standard offerings
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Google Pixel 8a
Rating:★4.4(1,570)Amazon
Operating System:Android
Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates
Processor:Google Tensor G3
Graphics:Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10
RAM:8GB LPDDR5X
Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size:6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Actua OLED Display
Resolution:1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+), 430 ppi
Refresh Rate:60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness:1,400 nits (HDR) / 2,000 nits (Peak)
Main Camera:64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera:13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom:N/A (Optical quality at 0.5x and 1x via sensor crop)
Digital Zoom:Up to 8x Super Res Zoom
Video Recording:4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Front Camera:13MP Front (f/2.2, 96.5° FOV), Fixed Focus
Battery:4,492 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:Up to 18W (Adapter sold separately)
Wireless Charging:Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W)
Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
USB:USB Type-C 3.2
Durability:IP67 (Dust and water resistant up to 1m); Gorilla Glass 3 (front); Matte composite back; Aluminum frame
Dimensions:6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm)
Weight:6.6 oz (188 g)
Biometrics:Under-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras:VPN by Google One; Titan M2 security; Gemini AI integrated; Audio Magic Eraser
✓ Pros:
- • Unmatched 7-year software support commitment in the mid-range segment
- • Bright 120Hz Actua OLED display (2,000 nits peak)
- • Flagship-grade Tensor G3 processor brings premium AI features (Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser)
- • Compact and comfortable design with a durable matte finish
- • Includes wireless charging (rare at this price point)
✗ Cons:
- • Charging is slow (18W wired / 7.5W wireless) compared to competitors
- • Large bezels surround the display, looking dated compared to the Pixel 8
- • Uses older Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection
- • Optical fingerprint sensor can be slower than ultrasonic alternatives
- • Gets warm under heavy load due to Tensor G3 efficiency
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Which one is better?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the better buy for most people - its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor crushes the Tensor G3 in performance.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 if: you want top-tier performance for gaming, need a vibrant display for outdoor use, or appreciate a more premium build. (6.2" display, 4000 mAh battery)
Choose the Google Pixel 8a if: you want a better camera for photography, need a longer-lasting battery for daily use, or prefer a more budget-friendly smartphone. (6.1" display, 4492 mAh battery)
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Samsung Galaxy S24 excels if you value commitment to 7 years of os and security updates. Google Pixel 8a is better if you prioritize unmatched 7-year software support commitment in the mid-range segment. 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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