Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy: which one should you go for?

If you’ve decided your next phone is going to be an Android, you’ve really got two names to choose between. Google and Samsung have been going at each other for years now, and both have had their annual refresh, with the Galaxy S26 arriving back in February and the Pixel 11 announced on 12 August. Neither one is a huge leap forward, if we’re honest. Memory prices have gone up across the industry, and it’s made 2026 a fairly quiet year for phones generally.

That’s the brand new stuff though. If you’re buying refurbished, you’re weighing up something quite different, like a Pixel 7 against a Galaxy S23, or a Pixel 9 against an S24. The phones are a year or two old, the prices are a fraction of what they were, and the things that should sway you aren’t quite the same.

Here’s how we’d think about it.

What you get with a Pixel

Cameras, mainly. Google does most of the clever work in software rather than sticking exotic lenses on the back, which means even a three or four year old Pixel still takes photos that look brilliant. You point it at something, press the button, and it sorts the rest out. If you’re the sort of person who takes a lot of pictures and has no interest in learning what any of the settings do, a Pixel is hard to beat.

The software’s the other big draw. Pixels run Android the way Google intended, without an extra layer of apps and menus over the top. Some people much prefer Samsung’s version and find the Pixel a bit bare, so it does come down to taste, though there’s certainly less to switch off when you first set one up.

Then there’s the price. Pixels drop in value quicker than Galaxies do, which isn’t great news if you bought one new, but it’s very good news if you’re buying second hand. A former Google flagship for the price of a mid-range phone is a decent deal in anyone’s book.

What you get with a Samsung Galaxy

Choice, for a start. Samsung makes a phone in just about every size and at every price, so there’s a much better chance of finding exactly the shape you’re after. The Ultra models are the ones people tend to get excited about, with a proper zoom lens, a big bright screen and the S Pen tucked into the bottom of the phone. Nothing in the Pixel range does that.

The screens are lovely too, which shouldn’t be a surprise given Samsung makes displays for half the phone industry. Build quality on the flagships has generally been a step up from the equivalent Pixel as well.

You also get a few extras that are genuinely useful if you’re already in the Samsung world. DeX turns your phone into something close to a desktop computer when you plug it into a monitor, and a Galaxy Watch or a set of Buds will pair up more neatly with a Galaxy phone than with anything else.

The trade-off is price. Samsungs hold their value better, so you’ll pay a bit more for a phone of the same age.

How long will the phone keep getting updates?

This is the one we’d really pay attention to, and it’s the bit most comparison articles skip over entirely.

Once a phone stops getting security updates, it’s not really one you want doing your online banking. That makes the cut-off date more important than the camera or the chip, and the dates jump around a lot between models, sometimes between two phones that look almost identical from the outside.

Have a look at the gap between the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 8. Google switched from five years of updates to seven starting with the 8, so two phones released twelve months apart have three years between them in terms of how long they’ll last. Samsung did exactly the same thing with the Galaxy S24. It’s one decision made in a boardroom a few years ago, and it matters far more than anything on the spec sheet.

One thing on the Galaxy S23, since it comes up a lot. It stops getting new versions of Android in early 2027, then carries on receiving security patches for another year after that. The phone stays perfectly safe to use in the meantime, it just stops picking up new features.

Which models are worth buying right now?

Starting with Google, the refurbished Google Pixel 9 is the one we’d point most people towards. Updates run all the way into 2031, the camera’s excellent, and it’s come down a long way from what it cost new. If you’d rather spend a bit less, the Pixel 8 sits just underneath it and is still supported until 2030, which is longer than most of us keep a phone anyway.

The refurbished Google Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro are cheaper again and still solid performers, with support running to autumn 2027. Good options if the budget’s tight and you don’t mind revisiting the question in a couple of years’ time. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 5 are cheaper still and absolutely fine for messaging, photos and everyday bits and pieces, though they’re near the end of their update runs, so think of them as a phone for now rather than a phone for years.

Over on the Samsung side, the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S24 is the equivalent pick. It’s supported into 2031, the camera’s modern, and at 6.2 inches it’s one of the few decent phones left that isn’t enormous. Fancy something bigger? The S24 Plus gives you more screen and more battery, and the S24 Ultra throws in the best zoom in the range plus the S Pen.

Older Galaxies are worth a look if price is the main thing driving your decision. The S23 in particular is a lot of phone for the money these days, with patches running through to 2028.

Thinking of switching from an iPhone?

It’s a lot easier than it used to be. Both Google and Samsung have apps that shift your contacts, messages, photos and calendar across in one go, and you’ll have it done in an evening rather than losing a weekend to it.

The bits that don’t come with you are your iMessage history and anything tied to an Apple subscription. Do remember to turn iMessage off on your old iPhone before you part with it, otherwise your texts will carry on vanishing into a phone you no longer own, which is a genuinely annoying problem to sort out afterwards.

Going the other way, or just want to put some money towards the switch? You can browse our refurbished iPhones alongside the Android range and compare the two properly.

Why buy refurbished?

Every Android handset we sell is fully tested by the team here at The iOutlet, unlocked and ready to go, and graded so you can decide how much cosmetic wear you’re happy to live with against how much you want to spend. They all come with a 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you change your mind, you’re covered.

There’s a nice side effect to it as well. Every phone that finds a second owner is one that isn’t sitting forgotten in a drawer, and one fewer that needs making from scratch. Looking at those update dates above, most of these phones have years of good use left in them.

Have a browse through the full refurbished Google Pixel range and our refurbished Samsung phones to see what’s in stock and where the prices sit at the moment.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Google Pixel better than a Samsung Galaxy?

Neither one is better across the board. Pixels tend to have the stronger camera for the money and cleaner software, while Samsung gives you more sizes to choose from, better zoom on the Ultra models and the S Pen. Pixels are usually cheaper refurbished, simply because they lose value faster.

Which lasts longer, a Pixel or a Samsung?

It depends on the model rather than the brand. The Pixel 8 and anything newer gets seven years of updates, and Samsung matched that from the Galaxy S24 onwards. Older phones from both were on five-year cycles, so it’s worth checking the specific model before you buy.

Do Google Pixel phones have better cameras than Samsung?

For everyday photos, usually yes. Google’s processing gets you a great result without any effort. Samsung’s Ultra models have the edge on zoom though, with far more reach than any Pixel offers.

Can I use a Samsung Galaxy Watch with a Google Pixel?

Yes, although you’ll lose a few features. Galaxy Watches work with any recent Android phone, but a handful of Samsung-specific functions only show up when it’s paired with a Galaxy handset.

Is it worth buying a refurbished Pixel 6 or Galaxy S22 in 2026?

As a short-term phone, yes. Both are near the end of their security update windows, so you’d want to plan on replacing them within a year or so. Spending a bit more on a Pixel 8 or a Galaxy S24 buys you several extra years of support.