On the hunt for an Android phone that offers premium features without the associated hefty price tag?
Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE and Pixel 10 promise to offer a solid all-round Android experience, but at a cheaper price than the likes of the Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 10 Pro XL.
But how do the handsets compare, and which one will likely suit you better? Ahead of our official reviews of the phones, we’ve compared the specs and noted the key differences alongside any noteworthy similarities below.
Continue reading to see what sets the handsets apart and whether either has a chance of making it into our lists of the best smartphones or best mid-range phones.
Pricing and Availability
Launched at the beginning of September, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE has a starting RRP of £649/$649.99 for its smallest 128GB model.
Although it’s the cheapest of its series, the Pixel 10 is slightly more expensive than the Galaxy S25 FE, with a starting price of £799/$799 for the 128GB handset.
Exynos 2400 vs Google Tensor G5
Rather than sporting a Qualcomm or MediaTek processor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE and Pixel 10 are both fitted with their respective brand’s own. In fact, the entire Pixel 10 series, including the upcoming premium Pixel 10 Pro Fold, all run on the same Google Tensor G5 chip.
Google’s Tensor chips have never promised peak performance and instead favour AI smarts, although this hopefully shouldn’t affect the handsets in everyday use.
While we’re yet to review the Pixel 10, we have reviewed its pricier counterpart the Pixel 10 Pro XL and found it more often than not felt “fast and responsive”. If, however, we were to attempt more intensive tasks like demanding games, then the phone would begin to stutter and warm up.
While the rest of the Galaxy S25 series runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, the Galaxy S25 FE runs on Samsung’s own Exynos 2400. You may remember Exynos 2400 as it was found in the UK and Europe iterations of last year’s Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus instead of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy which was reserved for US customers.
Despite confirming that the Galaxy S24 was more powerful in the US than the UK, thanks to the difference in chips, we still concluded Exynos 2400 was a fast performer in everyday use. We even found it was possible to handle intensive games with ease too.
Both are fitted with AI-powered features
Both the Galaxy S25 FE and Pixel 10 are packed with their own respective AI toolkits, although they do share some features. In fact, the Galaxy S25 FE is fitted with some of Google’s own AI tools including Gemini Live and Circle to Search.
Otherwise, the Galaxy S25 FE’s Galaxy AI suite allows you to edit photos, generate images with Portrait Studio, receive Live Translation and more.
The Pixel 10 also features a photo and video editing suite, alongside genuinely useful apps like Pixel Screenshots and, of course, Gemini support. However, the Pixel 10 introduces a few new tools, such as Camera Coach, which is built into the phone’s camera and gives you live suggestions on how to take the best possible photo, based on the scene you’re capturing.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE has a bigger screen
Whether you prefer a larger display on a phone depends on your personal preference. While the Pixel 10 and even the Pixel 10 Pro are fitted with a more compact 6.3-inch display, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE sports a 6.7-inch screen instead.
The Pixel 10 is equipped with an Actua display, identical to its Pixel 9 predecessor, with an FHD+ resolution of up to 422ppi and a non-LTPO 60-120Hz refresh rate. As we’re yet to review the handset, we’ll have to wait and see how it holds up in everyday use.
During our brief time with the Galaxy S25 FE, we noted the screen is reminiscent of the more expensive S25 Plus thanks to its Dynamic AMOLED 2X tech, HDR10+ support. Both sport the same FHD+ resolution and lack LTPO support, meaning both should offer a solid, but not top-end, display experience for both scrolling and streaming.
Both have a trio of rear lenses but differ in their resolutions
Although both the Galaxy S25 FE and Pixel 10 are equipped with three rear lenses, they differ in their exact offerings. The S25 FE sports a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto, whereas the Pixel 10 is made up of a 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto.
As we’re yet to review either handset, we can’t comment on how well the cameras perform in real-world use. However, considering both premium Samsung and Google phones have a tendency to earn a spot on our best camera phones list, we have high expectations.
Pixel 10 supports Pixelsnap
Google introduced Pixelsnap with the entire Pixel 10 series, which is the name of the new wireless charging accessories that pair with the lineup. It’s essentially Google’s spin on MagSafe technology, with all Pixelsnap accessories sporting Qi2, 15W wireless charging technology and are designed to attach directly to the Pixel 10 without the need for a dedicated case.
While the Galaxy S25 FE does support Qi2 15W wireless charging, it doesn’t benefit from having built-in magnets. That means you’ll need to invest in a magnetic case.
Otherwise, the Pixel 10 promises slightly more battery life compared to the Galaxy S25 FE with over 30 hours on a single charge compared to 28. However, we’ll have to wait until we test each handset to see whether this really is the case.
Early Verdict
Both the Galaxy S25 FE and Pixel 10 are appealing options for those seeking a more affordable Android phone with a decent blend of high-end features. While both miss out on a powerful chip like Snapdragon 8 Elite, they promise to offer a solid everyday experience with minimal stutter or interruption.
It’s difficult to provide a conclusive verdict as we’re yet to review either handset, so we’ll be sure to update this guide once we have.
