Andy Walker / Android Authority
Despite employing a Samsung as my primary smartphone, I’ve really enjoyed using my Pixel as a sidekick. Granted, it’s a Pixel 8, so it lacks the latest and greatest features of the Pixel 10 series, but having access to Android 16 has been a joy. The software is swift, cheerful, and clean, but there’s a reason I opt for the Galaxy S24 FE as my main device. I still miss plenty of software features when using the Pixel over the Galaxy.
Modes, Routines, and Good Lock are high on that list, but the stock file manager would be my biggest issue if I switched to the Pixel permanently and were limited to stock apps. This isn’t to say that Files by Google is a bad app; it’s just that Samsung My Files is much better. Here’s why.
Which is the better file manager? 58 votes Samsung My Files 59 % Files by Google 19 % Neither, I prefer another file manager (mention which in comments). 22 %
Own a NAS? My Files knows what you need
Andy Walker / Android Authority
My Files isn’t the most inventive nameplate, but the Samsung app is surprisingly powerful preinstalled software. If you have a NAS or file server you access regularly, you’ll want a file manager that can get you there, and Samsung’s app does this job better than the Pixel’s Files by Google.
Through its Network Storage Manager extension, My Files can connect to FTP servers and other network stores via SMB. Adding these locations is easy through the built-in wizard, which scans the network for potential shares. Once I selected my NAS and added my credentials, I could browse my network shares in less than 30 seconds. Browsing my shares on My Files was faster than most third-party file managers. Navigating between network directories was lag-free, and scrubbing through videos with the built-in player was smooth.
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What about Files by Google? The default Pixel file manager does not offer network storage options. Both apps can connect to cloud storage, allowing access to Google Drive, but that’s all Files by Google offers for remote storage. My Files also provides access to OneDrive, which is ideal for Windows users.
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