Google Pixels beat the iPhone and Galaxy in 2022 — here's how

Google Pixels beat the iPhone and Galaxy in 2021 — here'due south how

The Google 6 Pro (left, in black) and Google Pixel 6 (right, in coral), leaning together against a tree on wooden decking

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

It's no secret that flagship smartphones have gotten too expensive. While we at Tom's Guide think devices like the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S21 Ultra are stellar handsets, they both start at more than than $1,000. That'south non chump alter, and even on a payment plan, that's a lot of money for most people.

But in 2021, Google took a stand. Starting with the $449 Pixel 5a, the company put out its phones at hundreds less than their competition. The $599 base model Pixel 6 went head-to-caput with the likes of the $799 iPhone 13 and Galaxy S21. The $899 Pixel 6 Pro traded blows with the $999 iPhone 13 Pro (or $ane,099 Pro Max) and $i,199 Milky way S21 Ultra.

And while none of those Pixel phones are free of faults, they're however incredible devices and great values. The Pixel 5a 5G is leagues better than basically every other budget-friendly smartphone. It bests the iPhone SE (2020) in almost every regard, especially the display and camera quality.

For years, Google has struggled to get things right. 2020 saw the fan-favorite Pixel 4a, a telephone we still think is a neat choice at $349 (or less, if you find a practiced bargain). But flagship Pixels take historically struggled to balance prices and features — the $899 Pixel 4 Twoscore was the breaking bespeak. The Pixel 5 was a much more toned-downward device, simply at $699, its feature set up paled in comparison to the likes of the Galaxy S20 Fe and OnePlus 8.

2021 is the year Google got serious about smartphones. The Pixel half-dozen serial is far from perfect, but the ii flagship phones are meliorate than anything else you tin can buy for either $599 or $899; the Pixel half dozen and Pixel half-dozen Pro certainly concur their own against more expensive devices.

This is why I think Google won the smartphone battle this twelvemonth. Not because the Pixel 6 Pro is the best Android telephone you lot tin can buy — it's not — just because Google figured out how to fix the cost for its phones properly. Ii of the best camera phones always price $599 and $899? That's impressive.

Cost matters, even on payment plans, and y'all don't have to go far before yous find someone who agrees that phones are as well expensive nowadays. While nosotros shouldn't take these pocketable computers for granted, the toll of living itself has noticeably increased in the last 5 years. With that in mind, when you want or need to upgrade your smartphone, the ones that offer the most bang for your buck will stand up out.

Google figured that out, which is why the 2021 Pixel lineup is so competitive. Allow's hope that continues in 2022. I tin't wait to run into what's side by side.

Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He'southward written about phones for over five years and plans to keep for a long while to come. He loves nix more than relaxing in his home with a volume, game, or his latest personal writing project. Jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, but y'all tin best reach him on Twitter.