Skip to main content

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) vs Pixel 9: Which one is worth it?

Side-by-side US MSRP bands, editorial scores, and strengths—then tune budget and priority to see which model fits your purchase.

S

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked)

Samsung · 2023

$799–$959

Overall 81/100

Official anchorFull Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) guide →
G

Pixel 9

Google · 2024

$799–$1,374

Overall 78/100

Official anchorFull Pixel 9 guide →

Quick verdicts (our rubric)

  • Best for camera

    Tie

  • Best for battery

    Tie

  • Best for performance

    Galaxy S23 (Unlocked)

  • Best value score

    Tie

  • Best overall rubric / for most people

    Galaxy S23 (Unlocked)

Which fits you?

Set budget and top priority—we score each phone with the same personalization rules as product pages.

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked)

80

Worth it

$799–$959

Pixel 9

77

Worth it

$799–$1,374

→ For $1000 with value first: Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) edges ahead on this rubric.

Full comparison

SpecGalaxy S23 (Unlocked)Pixel 9
Price band (US MSRP)$799–$959$799–$1,374
Release year20232024
Camera8/108/10
Battery8/108/10
Performance9/108/10
Display8/108/10
Value7/107/10
Overall score81/10078/100

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) — pros

  • Balanced mix of performance and battery
  • Very capable camera system for most users
  • Good value compared with pricier flagships

Pixel 9 — pros

  • Balanced mix of performance and battery
  • Very capable camera system for most users
  • Good value compared with pricier flagships

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) — cons

  • Some premium materials, telephoto, or advanced features may be reserved for top-tier models

Pixel 9 — cons

  • Some premium materials, telephoto, or advanced features may be reserved for top-tier models

Galaxy S23 (Unlocked) — best for

  • Power users
  • Photography
  • Everyday flagship buyers

Pixel 9 — best for

  • Power users
  • Photography
  • Everyday flagship buyers

More comparisons

Buying guides

Compare FAQs