Pixel 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S25: Which is the best Android gaming phone?

The Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25 base models both cost $799, making them among the cheapest flagship-grade gaming smartphones. However, with either phone, you're signing up for different kinds of experiences: while one prioritizes AI features, the Samsung delivers raw gaming capabilities through its powerful chip. Choosing the right device is necessary based on your requirements and style.

In this article, we have compared the Pixel and Galaxy S25 based on how they should compare in video games. Let's have a look at their specs and expected performance.

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The Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 might be the top gaming choices today

The Pixel 10 bundles significant gaming prowess thanks to the Tensor G5 (Image via Google)

Reviews consistently suggest the S25 achieves some of the best Android gaming experiences ever. However, with the Pixel 10, Google has significantly upped its chips as well: with 12 GB of RAM, 120 Hz displays, and a new G5 chip that delivers up to 37% better performance than the last-gen, it makes a strong case for itself.

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Specs comparison

The S25 packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The Tensor G5, on the other hand, is based on TSMC's 3N design and bundles a 1+3+4 configuration for its octa-core makeup. The 8 Elite has a significant lead in operating clocks (4.47 GHz vs 3.78 GHz).

Coming to the graphics chip, the Adreno 830 GPU in the Galaxy S25 runs at 1.2GHz, while the Pixel 10's PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU operates at 1.1GHz. These differences pile up in real-world gaming.

The S25 includes a vapor chamber cooling solution, while the Pixel 10 base model is limited to graphite thermal management. While higher-end Pixel phones get a vapor chamber, that's missing from the base model.

The Pixel 10 sports a 6.3-inch Actua display, while the Galaxy S25 uses a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. Samsung also gets LTPO, which allows the smartphone to drop refresh rates to 1 Hz compared to the Pixel 10's 60 Hz minimum. This impacts battery life.

Here's a detailed comparison of the hardware specs:

Specification	Google Pixel 10	Samsung Galaxy S25
Processor	Google Tensor G5 (3nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3nm)
CPU Cores	1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.78GHz 3x Cortex-A720 @ 2.8GHz 4x Cortex-A520 @ 2.0GHz	2x Oryon @ 4.47GHz 6x Oryon @ 3.53GHz
GPU	PowerVR DXT-48-1536 @ 1.1GHz	Qualcomm Adreno 830 @ 1.2GHz
RAM	12GB LPDDR5X	12GB LPDDR5X
Storage	128GB/256GB UFS 4.0	128GB/256GB/512GB UFS 4.0
Display	6.3" 120Hz Actua OLED 2424 x 1080px Variable 60-120Hz	6.2" 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2340 x 1080px LTPO Variable 1-120Hz
Touch Sampling	240Hz	240Hz
Refresh Rate Range	60-120Hz	1-120Hz (LTPO)
Cooling System	Graphite thermal management	Vapor chamber (40% larger)
Battery	4,970mAh	4,000mAh
Charging	45W wired, 23W wireless	25W wired, 15W wireless
Audio	Stereo speakers Spatial audio	Dolby Atmos stereo speakers aptX HD/Adaptive support
Connectivity	WiFi 6/6E, 5G	WiFi 7, 5G
Gaming Features	Basic Android gaming	Game Launcher + Game Booster Real-time performance monitoring
Starting Price	$799	$799

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Performance comparison

The Galaxy S25's 8 Elite chip makes it a gaming powerhouse (Image via Amazon)

The S25 achieves 3,008 single-core and 9,730 multi-core Geekbench 6 scores. In comparison, the Pixel 10 was leaked to get 2,296 single-core and 6,203 multi-core scores. While these are comparable results (especially for a pre-release smartphone), we'll have to wait for the device to hit shelves for a clearer view.

AnTuTu 10 scores show the Galaxy S25 hitting around 2.3 million overall points with a GPU score of 945,955. The Tensor G5, on the other hand, is expected to trail the Samsung by up to 40%, getting 1.65 million overall points with 650,000 on the GPU.

These massive performance disparities have caused a controversy in the enthusiast Android community. How much of this materializes in the final product remains to be seen.

Benchmark	Google Pixel 10	Samsung Galaxy S25	Performance Gap
AnTuTu 10 Overall	1.65M points	2.3M points	+39% faster
AnTuTu 10 GPU	650,000 points	945,955 points	+45% faster
3DMark Wild Life Extreme	3,200 points	5,847 points	+83% faster
3DMark Solar Bay	6,800 points	9,124 points	+34% faster

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For now, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is the clear winner for gaming. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite outperforms most other smartphones on the market, and leaks already hint that the Pixel 10's Tensor G5 won't match it in demanding titles like Call of Duty and Genshin Impact.

While the Pixel 10 looks promising with a larger battery and Google's AI features, these advantages can't overcome its poorer gaming benchmark scores.