Samsung Galaxy S23 FEvsGoogle Pixel 7a
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 449 — USD 50 more than the Google Pixel 7a. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Performance — led by performance score (1,200,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes Battery — led by charging speed (25 W).
- Google Pixel 7a takes Price — led by price (399 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,200,000 pts vs 850,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a bigger screen — 6.4 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 90 Hz.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,450 nits vs 1,000 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want better video quality — 92 pts vs 91 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want longer battery life — 4,500 mAh vs 4,385 mAh.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if you want faster charging — 25 W vs 18 W.
Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want…
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a sharper screen — 429 ppi vs 403 ppi.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want sharper selfies — 13 MP vs 10 MP.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a better camera — 137 pts vs 127 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 7a if you want a lower price — 399 USD vs 449 USD.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Google Pixel 7a
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Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 449.
Google Pixel 7a
Choose Google Pixel 7a if price matters most. It costs USD 399, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- 3x telephoto
- Wireless charging
- Big discount
- Older chipset
- Battery life average
- Thick bezels
Google Pixel 7a
- Great camera
- Wireless charging
- Clean Android
- 18 W charging
- Thick bezels
- Average battery