Pixel 6 Pro or S22 Ultra? Disregard Price

[Android Central Question]

Hello,
I'm a Pixel 3 XL user and about to switch to the S22 Ultra (256 GB) that I purchased. However, I'm thinking about selling it locally for $980 and buying the Pixel 6 Pro for basically the same money after tax. So considering price is the same, which should I get? Consider:

1. I like the stock Android feel of my Pixel (not a lot of extra bloatware). I don't want extra stuff installed - or overly fancy interface that just sends up slowing the phone down or causing more bugs. For any of you that have used both, is the Samsung interface smooth, simple, and not buggy? Or do you prefer the Pixel's more basic interface?

2. Battery life is important. I hear the S22 Ultra isn't great. And I've heard that about the Pixel 6 Pro. Tests seem to show them pretty similar, if not better on the S22. But user reviews (real life usage) seem to say the Pixel does better than the Samsung?

3. I'm very interested in the camera quality (I do a lot of travel photography - city scenes, nature/wildlife, etc and want a good camera for when I'm not taking my high end digital camera), but they seem to be a wash to me. Both look like great quality pictures with minor differences; maybe a bit better with the Pixel. And the S22 has 2 different Zoom levels, but considering the higher Megapixel count on the Pixel's 4x Zoom, you can crop zoom with the Pixel and have about the same as the 10x zoom levels with the S22 Ultra.

4. Others: The S Pen is cool, but not sure I'll use it.
The rounded corners of the Pixel seem less likely to cause cracked screens than the S22's sharp corners?
Future trade in value? Seems like that would be an easy win for Samsung when comparing S21 Ultra and Pixel 5 trade in values...
Speed for things like gaming isn't very important to me.
Reliability *IS*

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the options considering what's important to me! Thanks,
--Kyle

 

[Laura Knotek]

@mustang7757 what do you suggest?

 

[mustang7757]

I do have both device

S22u battery life is little better

Bloat u get more on Samsung compared pixels , but s22u runs just as smoothly and has a brighter panel , Google for some reason doesn't like to run brighter display . Samsung is more customizable.

Trade-in Samsung offers more

Pictures if u want a point and shoot no better than pixel in almost all conditions but Samsung owns the telephotos and pro mode. June Update is supposed to change a lot of the camera on Samsung so i haven't gotten June yet to determine

If your use to pixel experience then u be right at home with Pixel 6 pro with its redesign and cameras cant go wrong . Samsung if you like to customize but both solid devices

Tough choices lol

 

[mustang7757]

I'll leave a Link to register so you can communicate here, As a guest account you can only post questions but can't reply
https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=409154

 

[Morty2264]

Welcome to Android Central, Kyle! There are definitely advantages and drawbacks to each device. I think if you are truly wanting to try the Pixel 6, you can always buy it and if it is not up to your satisfaction, you can always return it!

I also recommend watching review videos from people like Android Authority, Flossy Carter, and Android Central (gotta get AC in there too!). But at the end of the day, this all boils down to what you think you are needing in a phone!

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

 

[bkdodger2]

S22 ultra you definitely going to have more apps on the phone but this phone does not slow down one bit. At least not for the Snapdragon in the US... I agree on the battery. It's better for me than the Pixel... Another thing that I like the ultra over the pixel is the screen brightness. I feel Samsung just makes an awesome screen to look at... On the pixel side, you definitely going to love the clean stock pixel experience... And I feel like the Pixel 6 pro is an excellent phone. No issues other than I would like the battery to be a little bit better but not a big deal... Voice dictation and all the smart features and a very good camera...

 

[kyley]

Thanks for all the great feedback! It's helpful to hear from actual users instead of just reviewers. I actually have an account (since 2010!), just forgot to log in first! I have used Samsung devices mostly in the past, but like my Pixel 3 XL (although it has some issues too) and the camera is pretty great too.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I heard speech to text doesn't work on the S22 Ultra?? Which seems crazy, and it's a feature that I use a lot! Can anyone comment on how well this works (or doesn't work) on the S22 phones? @bkdodger2, you touched on that - can you elaborate on the difference between the two?

This is a weird situation for me since I think overall I may prefer the Pixel 6 Pro, but the S22 Ultra seems like the better phone to own since it isn't costing me more and I would have higher trade in value for it.

As for the comments about the Zoom camera on Samsung being better, I think the much higher pixel count on the Pixel makes it at least as good, if not better... 4x Pixel pictures are going to be much higher pixel count than the 3x S22, and cropping the 4x Pixel pictures should be about equal to the 10x zoom on the S22...

Anyway, I *have* the S22 Ultra in hand. I have a buyer for it at $980. But I could buy the Pixel 6 Pro for a bit less than that. I'm leaning towards telling the buyer no and just keeping the S22 Ultra. If I don't like it, I can sell it, but being used I would get much less for it... Thanks everyone!
--Kyle

 

[bkdodger2]

Thanks for all the great feedback! It's helpful to hear from actual users instead of just reviewers. I actually have an account (since 2010!), just forgot to log in first! I have used Samsung devices mostly in the past, but like my Pixel 3 XL (although it has some issues too) and the camera is pretty great too.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I heard speech to text doesn't work on the S22 Ultra?? Which seems crazy, and it's a feature that I use a lot! Can anyone comment on how well this works (or doesn't work) on the S22 phones? @bkdodger2, you touched on that - can you elaborate on the difference between the two?

This is a weird situation for me since I think overall I may prefer the Pixel 6 Pro, but the S22 Ultra seems like the better phone to own since it isn't costing me more and I would have higher trade in value for it.

As for the comments about the Zoom camera on Samsung being better, I think the much higher pixel count on the Pixel makes it at least as good, if not better... 4x Pixel pictures are going to be much higher pixel count than the 3x S22, and cropping the 4x Pixel pictures should be about equal to the 10x zoom on the S22...

Anyway, I *have* the S22 Ultra in hand. I have a buyer for it at $980. But I could buy the Pixel 6 Pro for a bit less than that. I'm leaning towards telling the buyer no and just keeping the S22 Ultra. If I don't like it, I can sell it, but being used I would get much less for it... Thanks everyone!
--Kyle

Speech to text is fine on the Ultra especially when you use it more as it recognizes your pattern ….BUT it’s not Pixel level…no phone is Pixel level text voice dictation ..this newer phone and software can’t be matched for it and call screening …another sample you can voice dictate and type words in and voice stays active which on the Ultra once you type it stops voice and you have to engage the voice again …

 

[J Dubbs]

Thanks for all the great feedback! It's helpful to hear from actual users instead of just reviewers. I actually have an account (since 2010!), just forgot to log in first! I have used Samsung devices mostly in the past, but like my Pixel 3 XL (although it has some issues too) and the camera is pretty great too.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I heard speech to text doesn't work on the S22 Ultra?? Which seems crazy, and it's a feature that I use a lot! Can anyone comment on how well this works (or doesn't work) on the S22 phones? @bkdodger2, you touched on that - can you elaborate on the difference between the two?

This is a weird situation for me since I think overall I may prefer the Pixel 6 Pro, but the S22 Ultra seems like the better phone to own since it isn't costing me more and I would have higher trade in value for it.

As for the comments about the Zoom camera on Samsung being better, I think the much higher pixel count on the Pixel makes it at least as good, if not better... 4x Pixel pictures are going to be much higher pixel count than the 3x S22, and cropping the 4x Pixel pictures should be about equal to the 10x zoom on the S22...

Anyway, I *have* the S22 Ultra in hand. I have a buyer for it at $980. But I could buy the Pixel 6 Pro for a bit less than that. I'm leaning towards telling the buyer no and just keeping the S22 Ultra. If I don't like it, I can sell it, but being used I would get much less for it... Thanks everyone!
--Kyle

It sounds like you prefer pixels... I would stick with what you prefer and are comfortable with. It's hard to go wrong getting what you're leaning towards, once you get it I'm sure you'll be glad you made the choice. Don't overthink it

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

It sounds like you prefer pixels... I would stick with what you prefer and are comfortable with. It's hard to go wrong getting what you're leaning towards, once you get it I'm sure you'll be glad you made the choice. Don't overthink it

I agree with this. The S22 Ultra is definitely a better phone, but if you personally prefer aPixel then you should use a Pixel.

 

[Morty2264]

I too agree with the notion that if you prefer a Pixel, perhaps going for it now and seeing how you feel about it, once and for all, would be a safe move? Keep us posted on what happens!