Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Pixel 9 Pro XL
Short answer: buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra for raw speed, cooler gaming, the built-in S Pen and the extra 3x lens. Buy the Pixel 9 Pro XL for Google's natural-looking photos, a brighter screen, a 42MP selfie camera and the cleanest Android with the newest Google AI features. Both get seven years of updates and both have a 5x periscope zoom.
Updated 15 November 2026
Design and build
The S24 Ultra has a titanium frame, a flat screen with sharp corners and a built-in S Pen, and weighs 232 g. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a polished aluminium frame, a matte glass back with Google's camera bar and rounded corners, and weighs 221 g. Both are IP68.
The Pixel feels softer and a little lighter in the hand. The Samsung is boxier but its S Pen is useful for notes, signing PDFs and precise photo editing.
Display
Both have a 6.8 inch QHD+ LTPO screen with 1 to 120Hz refresh. The S24 Ultra reaches 2600 nits and has anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass. The Pixel 9 Pro XL reaches 3000 nits peak, behind Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Pixel is slightly brighter at peak, while the Samsung's anti-reflective glass reduces glare. In real use both are excellent outdoors and for watching videos.
Performance and chipset
The S24 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses Google's Tensor G4. The Snapdragon is clearly faster in gaming and heavy tasks, and runs cooler under load.
The Tensor G4 focuses on AI and camera processing rather than raw speed. For daily apps the Pixel is smooth, but in long PUBG Mobile sessions during Pakistan's summer it can warm up more than the Samsung.
Cameras
The S24 Ultra has a 200MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 50MP 5x periscope and a 10MP 3x telephoto. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide and a 48MP 5x telephoto, plus a 42MP selfie camera.
Pixel photos look very natural, with excellent skin tones and night shots, and features like Add Me and Best Take. The Samsung's extra 3x lens helps with portraits, and its 200MP mode captures more detail. Video is good on both, with the Samsung recording up to 8K 30fps natively.
Battery and charging
The S24 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5060 mAh battery with 37W wired (with Google's 45W charger), 23W wireless on Pixel Stand 2 and 12W Qi.
Battery life is good on both, and the Samsung's more efficient chip often gives it a slight edge. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box.
Specs side by side
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy vs Google Tensor G4
- Display: 6.8 inch QHD+ LTPO vs 6.8 inch QHD+ LTPO
- Peak brightness: 2600 nits vs 3000 nits
- Main camera: 200MP vs 50MP
- Ultra-wide: 12MP vs 48MP
- Zoom: 50MP 5x + 10MP 3x vs 48MP 5x
- Front camera: 12MP vs 42MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh vs 5060 mAh
- Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless vs 37W wired, 23W wireless
- Stylus: built-in S Pen vs none
- Weight: 232 g vs 221 g
- Launch software: Android 14, One UI 6.1 vs Android 14
Software and updates
Both get seven years of Android and security updates. The Pixel 9 Pro XL runs clean Android and gets new versions and Pixel Drops first, with Gemini built in. The S24 Ultra runs One UI with Galaxy AI tools and Samsung extras such as DeX and S Pen features.
PTA Patch Approved and SIM notes in Pakistan
Our Android phones, including the S24 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL, are Non Custom box pack units that are PTA Patch Approved, so a local SIM works normally. Only our iPhones are sold as PTA Patch Approved. Read is Google Pixel good in Pakistan (Is Google Pixel Good in Pakistan? What to Know Before You Buy) for local service and network notes.
Both phones support a nano-SIM plus eSIM.
Who should buy which
Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you play games, want the S Pen, or want a 3x lens alongside the 5x periscope.
Buy the Pixel 9 Pro XL if photos of people, night shots, selfies and clean Android with Google AI matter most. For Pixel against Apple, see Pixel 9 vs iPhone 16 (Google Pixel 9 vs iPhone 16).
