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Google Pixel 8a vs Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Which budget flagship to choose

Google’s Pixel A-series and Samsung’s Galaxy Fan Edition (FE) phones have been offering near-flagship experience without being heavy on the pocket. Their latest offerings, the Pixel 8a and Galaxy S24 FE, boast upgraded hardware and more innovative AI features, thus making them the best options for anyone looking to spend around $500.

But which one should you choose? Let’s compare them side-by-side to find out which one truly offers the best value for money.

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Design and display...The Pixel 8a is a compact option with a plastic back, while the Galaxy S24 FE has a glass panel. The latter is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides. On the Pixel 8a, you have a slightly less durable Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front.

Both phones have protection against dust and water, though they are slightly better on the Galaxy S24 FE because of the IP68 rating (vs. IP67 on the Pixel 8a).

The Pixel 8a retains the 6.1-inch display from its predecessor but now boasts a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. The brightness has also gone up to 2000nits for enhanced outdoor visibility. In comparison, the S24 FE offers a larger 6.7-inch screen with a matching refresh rate and a resolution close to the Pixel 8a.

Both have high-quality OLED screens that look crisp and vibrant. However, gaming is better on the larger Galaxy S24 FE.

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Performance and software...When it comes to high-end gaming, the Galaxy S24 FE stands out as the clear winner. It ships with an in-house Exynos 2400e chipset, which has impressive gaming performance compared to the Tensor G3 powering the Pixel 8a. Also, the Galaxy device stays cooler for a longer period, thanks to its vapor chamber.

The benchmark results below tell the same story.

	Pixel 8a	Galaxy S24 FE
AnTuTu score	1,054,964	1,603,850
Geekbench (single-core)	1,624	1,993
Geekbench (multi-core)	3,651	6,374

However, we don’t really see much of that advantage in daily usage as both feel snappier. So, unless you’re a gamer, the performance shouldn’t be a concern on both devices.

The Pixel 8a enjoys a pure Android experience, while the Samsung phone benefits from extra customizations offered by One UI (it’s also based on Android). Both devices get the best software update policy on any Android device: 7 major Android updates and 7 years of security updates. The Pixel 8a also gets multiple Pixel Feature Drops every year.

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Camera...The Pixel A-series has been famous for offering excellent cameras, and the Pixel 8a is no different. It takes excellent photos and videos. The Galaxy S24 FE, on the other hand, also has good camera performance. However, when comparing the two, the Pixel 8a’s output looks sightly better than Samsung’s.

Both have high-resolution primary cameras: 64MP on the Pixel 8a and 50MP on the Galaxy S24 FE. They also have ultrawide sensors, but the Pixel lacks a telephoto shooter. However, thanks to Google’s computational prowess, it still manages to produce similar ultrawide shots. When it comes to video output, both deliver satisfactory results.

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Battery and charging...The Galaxy S24 FE ships with a larger 4,700mAh battery, compared to 4,492mAh on the Pixel 8a. The Galaxy device will obviously deliver a higher screen time on a single charge, but the difference is not that significant.

The Galaxy smartphone also wins on faster charging by offering 25W charging support (vs. 18W on the Pixel 8a). Both support wireless charging, with the S24 FE being the faster one again. It offers 15W wireless charging, while the Pixel 8a maxes out at 7.5W.

	Pixel 8a	Galaxy S24 FE
Design	152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm 188 g	162 x 77.3 x 8 mm 213 g
Display	6.1″ OLED 1080 x 2400 pixels 120Hz, 2000 nits	6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 1080 x 2340 pixels 120Hz, 1900 nits
Performance	Tensor G3 (4 nm) Immortalis-G715s MC10	Exynnos 2400e Xclipse 940
Rear camera	64MP – main 13MP – ultrawide	50MP – main 8MP – telephoto 12MP – ultrawide
Front camera	13MP	10MP
Battery	4,492 mAh	4,700 mAh
Charging	18W (wired) 7.5W (wireless)	25W (wired) 15W (wireless)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6e NFC Bluetooth 5.3 USB Type-C 3.2	Wi-Fi 6e NFC Bluetooth 5.3 USB Type-C 3.2

Pixel 8a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Final words...In short, the Pixel 8a will be a good buy if you’re looking for a compact smartphone with excellent cameras. It also gives you the purest Android experience with no unnecessary apps.

The Galaxy S24 FE will be a great buy if you’re looking for a bigger screen and a more powerful chipset capable of high-end gaming without getting too hot. Plus, you will get a bigger battery with better fast charging options.

Which one is going to be your next smartphone upgrade?

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