Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

I switched to Samsung after my Pixel was stolen, here’s what I miss and what I don’t

read original get Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra → more articles
Why This Matters

This switch from Pixel to Samsung highlights the evolving landscape of Android devices, showcasing how features are converging across brands and offering consumers more choices. It underscores the importance of ecosystem flexibility and feature parity, which can influence user loyalty and device switching decisions in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

My Google Pixel 7 Pro was stolen back in January after I foolishly left my bag unattended on the beach. I’m fortunate enough to have access to quite a few recent flagship Android phones, but I decided to switch to the ageing but still capable Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as my primary device.

I opted for the Samsung handset as I haven’t actually used a Galaxy phone as my primary phone in literal years. Sure, I’ve reviewed Samsung devices in the past, most recently the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. But I thought it would be a good idea to set the S23 Ultra up as a full daily driver — financial apps, work tools, and everything in between. So, what was it like switching from Google to Samsung? Here’s how it went.

Have you switched from a Pixel to a Galaxy device? 131 votes Yes, and I'm happy with the switch 47 % Yes, but I'm not happy with the switch 18 % No, but I happily switched the other way 30 % I switched the other way and was disappointed 5 %

What I like about switching to Samsung?

Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

Switching from my old Pixel to the slightly newer Samsung handset was undoubtedly made easier by the fact that One UI offers some features previously seen on Pixels. This includes call transcriptions and a recorder app with on-device transcriptions. I’m also glad call recording is broadly available on Samsung flagship phones, after Google dragged its feet in bringing this feature to Pixel phones in more countries.

I don’t care for most AI features, but Samsung’s older phone has a few more Galaxy AI features that will be familiar to Pixel owners. This includes webpage summaries, call summaries, writing tools, real-time call translation, and generative photo editing. Again, I don’t use these tools, but other Pixel owners thinking about jumping to Samsung will be glad to know there are broadly equivalent options.

Don’t want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a favorite source in Google Discover to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more.

to never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. You can also set us as a preferred source in Google Search by clicking the button below.

... continue reading