Android Authority Reviewer Explains Why He Always Picks Samsung Galaxy Over Pixel

The reviewer said Google makes “great” phones, but “great” is not the same as the phone he would actually buy and recommend to friends. After using both Galaxy and Pixel devices for years, he said every time he returns to a Galaxy, and the Pixel 11 lineup has not changed that. He stressed that his choice has nothing to do with foldables, the S Pen, or niche features, but rather with the experience of living with one device for two or three years.

One of his first arguments centers on Samsung’s preinstalled apps and features. He said Samsung’s Secure Folder, for instance, offers more functionality than Google’s Private Space on Pixel. The feature does not force a secondary Google account and can be completely hidden from the app drawer. He also praised Samsung DeX as a dependable laptop replacement while traveling, adding that Pixel’s Desktop Mode is barebones and does not yet work wirelessly, which limits its usefulness.

The same pattern repeats across other built-in tools, he wrote. Samsung’s Modes and Routines beats Pixel Rules because it triggers more conditions and actions. Samsung Notes exceeds Google Keep with features such as note summarization and easy PDF annotation. Samsung Gallery provides better usability and searches every photo, not only cloud-backed ones. The author acknowledged Google’s excellent apps—Photos, Drive, Calendar, Gboard and Gemini—but noted that all of those can be installed on a Galaxy, while the reverse is not true.

Another central point is One UI’s flexibility. The “clean” or “pure Android” experience on Pixel starts to feel like Google simply did not bother after a few weeks, according to the reviewer. One UI, by contrast, is built around customization. He specifically identified Samsung’s Good Lock suite as the single biggest reason he would never switch to a Pixel. Good Lock lets users redesign the keyboard, hide status bar icons, change the recents layout, set per-app timeouts, create custom gestures or build a DIY home screen. Even if someone ignores those options, he wrote, he would rather have them and not use them than lack them entirely.

The third reason is raw performance. Most flagship Galaxy phones sold in the US use Snapdragon chips, which the author said outperform Google’s Tensor silicon in raw power. He acknowledged Tensor was never meant to chase benchmark numbers, but he argued Snapdragon still provides a practical edge. He also pointed to persistent Pixel reliability issues—overheating being the most obvious—plus network problems, missed incoming call bugs and inconsistent battery life. He called these issues widespread across recent Pixels and said they are not things he wants on his primary device. Samsung phones have their own flaws, he said, but not on the same scale.

Finally, the reviewer said Samsung’s ecosystem gives him more reasons to stay loyal. He admitted disliking vendor lock-in but said he cannot ignore the convenience and integration that comes with owning multiple Galaxy products. He concluded that when paying flagship prices, he wants a phone that works reliably, and for now that remains a Galaxy.