Editor's Notes: Google stopped manufacturing and selling the Google Pixel 3. You may still be able to find the Pixel 3 from retailers like Amazon or Best Buy.
Article Summary
Samsung and Google make the most popular premium Android smartphones on the market. The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL made premium smartphones simple, personal, and more affordable while the Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e pushed the boundaries of what a smartphone can do with unique features.
There are thousands of Android devices on the market in almost every country across the globe. But when you're trying to decide which is the very best, it usually comes down to flagship models from Samsung and Google.
Google released the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in late 2018. The hardware specs were the same or only slightly better than the previous model, but the software upgrades featured superior security and intelligent camera features.
In March 2019, Samsung launched their newest generation of premium smartphones with the Galaxy S10 with upgraded (Galaxy S10+) and downgraded (Galaxy S10e) models to offer more choice. All devices featured the fastest hardware with loads of RAM, multiple cameras and some unique Samsung features.
Galaxy S10 vs Pixel 3: At A Glance
Samsung Galaxy S10
Speed and Features For A Price.
- Fast processor and memory
- Three models to fit your budget
- Multiple cameras
- Huge, brilliant display
Google Pixel 3
Basically Everything You'll Need.
- Clean design and fast performance
- Two sizes and styles
- Intelligent camera software
- Cheaper and often on sale
Reasons To Get a Samsung Galaxy S10
Fastest Mobile Processor
Although followed days later by LG, Huawei and others, the Samsung Galaxy S10 was one of the first mainstream smartphones to use Qualcomm's newest SnapDragon 855 CPU offering the fastest performance of any mobile processor on the market at the time. In addition to speeds, the CPU in the Galaxy S10 line supported 4k 60fps video recording with real-time HDR10 providing rich colours, adding detail to dark images and keeping bright scenes from getting washed out.
Three Different Models
At it's debut, Samsung offered up a larger Galaxy S10+ model to compete with the iPhone XS Max. The larger model included a slightly larger screen (although with the same resolution), added an extra front-facing camera to improve bokeh effects and object tracking, a larger battery and premium colours and storage.
When Apple released the scaled-back iPhone XR they gave consumers a way to get their fastest phone for a cheaper price. All they miss out on is a few extraneous features and a higher-quality screen. Samsung followed that formula with the Galaxy S10e by eliminating one of the three rear-facing cameras, using a smaller and lower resolution (yet still AMOLED) screen, and reducing the RAM and onboard storage options. This put a new S10 in your pocket for hundreds of dollars less.
Each of the Galaxy S10 models offered two or three storage size options, and in Canada can be found with a black, white or blue finish.
Multiple Cameras
With three rear-facing cameras on the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+, that might seem like a confusing nightmare having to switch between each one to get the right shot. Instead, the ultra-wide angle, wide angle and telephoto cameras operate as one. By letting the user zoom in and out, the best camera is chosen by the software to get the sharpest image possible. The extra cameras might also help provide HDR image enhancement which gives the S10 the unique title of the first mainstream camera on the market to record video in high dynamic range. The cheaper Galaxy S10e doesn't include the telephoto camera but does have the other two.
Facing front, all S10 models included a 10 megapixel camera visible only in a small hole-punch in the screen. The Galaxy S10+ added a second 8 megapixel camera to improve object tracking and improved bokeh effects for better portrait photos.
Huge, Brilliant Display
All three models included Samsung's Infinity-O AMOLED screen with stunning colour reproduction. The "O" represents the in-screen cutout for the front-facing camera.
When Apple introduced the "notch" in 2017 they started a trend of pushing the visible screen to all four corners no matter what. The remaining problem is that speakers, cameras and fingerprint readers were in the way. The S10's speakers are still there (not hidden behind the screen like the LG G8 ThinQ), but is razor-thin and found at the extreme top and bottom of the device when in portrait mode. The front-facing camera is only visible as a hole-punch at the top-right. With Android's new dark-mode it might be easy to forget it's there. The Galaxy S10+ includes a second front-facing camera, so the hole-punch is more of an oval.
Reasons To Get a Pixel 3
Clean Design and Fast Performance
While the Pixel 3 was intended to be the reference model that all other Android smartphones were compared to, it's by no means basic. Installed is a pure version of the Android OS with new features like adaptive power and brightness to maximize performance while minimizing the drain on your battery. Digital Wellbeing helps you adapt to maximize your productivity without draining your energy by dimming the blue in your screen in the evening and allowing you to set limits on how long you use individual apps. Switching between apps is quick and effortless, and the battery lasts throughout the day.
Since updates come directly from Google, monthly security updates arrive on time and you'll be one of the first on your block to get the new major releases of the Android OS when they drop.
Two Sizes To Choose From
Choosing from the Pixel 3 or the Pixel 3 XL. Both have the same processor, memory, connectivity and features. The Pixel 3 XL has larger dimensions, screen, and battery than the Pixel 3, but also costs more.
Choose from 64GB of onboard storage or 128GB. Those are your only options and there's no room for expandable storage with a microSD card so splurge for the 128GB model.
Choosing from Just Black, Kinda White, or Not Pink colours. All three colours and both storage sizes are available on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
Intelligent Camera Software
There's only one rear-facing camera on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. It's an unusual choice while other flagships are adding 2, 3, 4 or even more cameras to their back. However, the fast processor and industry-leading AI watches the screen as you take your photo and can recognize depth, optimize low-light pictures, and clean up extreme digital zoom artifacts. Part of the strategy is to watch as you're setting up the shot and judge how far objects are and use fractions of pixels to make the shot. Your shaky camerawork actually helps rather than hinders getting the perfect shot on a Pixel 3!
There's two front-facing cameras on the Pixel 3 to help you fit everyone in that group selfie. Only the larger Samsung Galaxy S10+ model has a second camera, but it's not to help you get wider photos.
Cheaper and Often On Sale
At it's debut, the base model Pixel 3 started at $999 and went up to $1,259 for the 128GB Pixel 3 XL. The Galaxy S10e may provide a better deal at that price, but Google regularly discounts it from $150 off to Buy One Get One 50% off offers. The Pixel 3 could be found at almost every mobile carrier for $0 down on select 2-year plans and sometimes with cheaper monthly plans.
Phone Specs: S10e vs S10 vs Pixel 3
With similar hardware specifications, the Galaxy S10 and Pixel 3 are a close match. Samsung released the Galaxy S10e with scaled-back hardware in order to compete with the Pixel 3 (and iPhone XR) pricepoint.
| Samsung Galaxy S10e | Samsung Galaxy S10 | Google Pixel 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.8" AMOLED | 6.1" AMOLED | 5.5" OLED |
| Resolution | 1080x2280 (19:9) | 1440x3040 (19:9) | 1080x2160 (18:9) |
| OS | Android 9.0 Pie, One UI | Android 9.0 Pie, One UI | Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 855 2.8GHz | Snapdragon 855 2.8GHz | Snapdragon 845 2.5GHz |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/512GB | 64GB/128GB |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.5-2.4 wide, 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide |
12MP f/1.5-2.4 wide, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto, 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide | 12.2MP f/1.8 |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP f/1.9 | 10MP f/1.9 | 8MP f/2.2 wide, 8MP f/1.8 |
| Battery | 3100 mAh | 3400 mAh | 2915 mAh |
| Fingerprint Reader | Side | In-screen | Rear |
Phone Specs: S10+ vs Pixel 3 XL
Offering the same internal hardware with a plus-sized screen has become a trend, and premium smartphone owners love having the biggest and best device on the market... even though it may cost them up to $2,000 to buy it! The Samsung Galaxy S10+ competes directly with the Google Pixel XL, so we're comparing them one-on-one.
| Samsung Galaxy S10+ | Google Pixel 3 XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.4" AMOLED | 6.3" OLED |
| Resolution | 1440x3040 (19:9) | 1440x2960 (18.5:9) |
| Operating System | Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 855 2.8GHz | Snapdragon 845 2.5GHz |
| RAM | 8GB/8GB/12GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB/512GB/1TB | 64GB/128GB |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.5-2.4 wide, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto, 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide | 12.2MP f/1.8 |
| Selfie Camera | 10MP f/1.9, 8MP f/2.2 depth sensor |
8MP f/2.2 wide, 8MP f/1.8 |
| Battery | 4100 mAh | 3430 mAh |
| Fingerprint Reader | In-screen | Rear |
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