Google Pixel 2 XL vs Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
A spec-by-spec comparison of the Google Pixel 2 XL and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.
Head to head
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Price | $65 | $85 |
| Our rating | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Battery | 3,520 mAh | 3,500 mAh |
| Wired charging | 18W | 15W |
| RAM (max) | 4 GB | — |
| Storage (max) | 128 GB | 256 GB |
| Screen size | 6 in | 6.2 in |
| Main camera | 12.2 MP | 12 MP |
| Weight (lower is lighter) | 175 g | 189 g |
| Released | Oct 2017 | Mar 2018 |
Summary: Google Pixel 2 XL is ahead on battery, wired charging, main camera, weight (lower is lighter). Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is ahead on storage (max), screen size.
★ Which should you buy? Google Pixel 2 XL is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs.
Researched with AI assistance by infozme.com from manufacturer and retailer sources — see how we research & rate phones.
Display
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Type | P-OLED | Super AMOLED, HDR10 |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~76.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 98.3 cm² (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~538 ppi density) | 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~529 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
Platform
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) | Exynos 9810 (EMEA) or Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 845 (USA/LATAM/China) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA; Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM/China |
| GPU | Adreno 540 | Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEA; Adreno 630 - USA/LATAM/China |
Memory
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Card slot | No | — |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM (UFS 2.1) | 64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 |
| RAM | — | 6GB |
| Card Slot | — | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot for dual SIM model) |
Main Camera
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Modules | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS | — |
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@30/60/120fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@240fps (gyro-EIS) | 4K@60fps (no OIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Dual | — | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
Selfie Camera
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Modules | 8 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.4µm | — |
| Features | HDR | Dual video call, Auto-HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Single | — | 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF |
Battery
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Type | Li-Ion 3520 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 18W fast charging (USB Power Delivery 2.0) | 15W wired (Quick Charge 2.0), Qi/PMA wireless charging |
Body
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Dimensions | 157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm (6.22 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) | 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 189 g |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum/glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Water Resistance | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | — |
| Water & Dust Resistance | — | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
Comms
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | — |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| GPS | — | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| NFC | — | Yes |
Launch
| Google Pixel 2 XL | Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, October 04 | 2018, February 25 |
| Released | 2017, October 17 | 2018, March 16 |
| Status | Discontinued | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better battery, Google Pixel 2 XL or Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus?
Google Pixel 2 XL — 3,520 mAh for the Google Pixel 2 XL versus 3,500 mAh for the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
Which is lighter, Google Pixel 2 XL or Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus?
Google Pixel 2 XL — 175 g for the Google Pixel 2 XL versus 189 g for the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
Which is newer, Google Pixel 2 XL or Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus?
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus — Oct 2017 for the Google Pixel 2 XL versus Mar 2018 for the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
Is the Google Pixel 2 XL or the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus rated higher?
We rate the Google Pixel 2 XL 8/10 and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus 8/10.
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