Flagship phones are often chosen because of their cameras. Google and Samsung have demonstrated in recent years that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a camera. Google’s Pixel 8a is the best budget Android phone, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE costs $150 more.
Does the performance of the camera justify the price? Through a few hundred photos and two weeks, I aim to discover that. As it turns out, their fight isn’t as clear-cut as you might think.
Hardware benchmarks
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE costs more but has more cameras
Reviewing the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and Google Pixel 8a’s hardware differences. Adding to the 50MP main camera is a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 3x telephoto lens. Compared to the Pixel 8a, the Galaxy S24 FE offers a brighter image after well over a week of snapping pictures with both phones. Sometimes, like in the last set of photos, this is desirable. Pixel 8a’s shot is dim and difficult to see, while Galaxy S24 FE’s is bright and easily visible. Samsung phones are great if you want bright images.
Google’s Pixel 8a’s photos are more detailed and color-accurate thanks to its darker tone. It is easy to see this in the first set of images, where the Pixel 8a’s greens and blues are vibrant, despite its darker image. Google’s camera offers a pop of color that I tend to like.
Galaxy S24 FE wins in macro
When taking macro photos, dedicated hardware or modes are sometimes used and bokeh is almost always added to separate the subject from the background. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE lacks a dedicated macro lens and an official macro shooting mode, but it failed to identify flowers and plants in my tests.
Galaxy S24 FE photos are brighter, more colorful, and more vibrant; I usually criticize this color profile as unrealistic.
In this instance, these pictures were taken directly in the sun on an island, and the Galaxy S24 FE does a better job preserving color and light. The Google Pixel 8a may have desaturated the image in processing to create a more lifelike picture, and as you can see, the purple flower’s color looks flat.
Finally, the Galaxy S24 FE doesn’t have a true macro mode. Macro photos would prevent the camera from refocusing properly. Several times, I needed to restart the camera app. For some, even better photo quality may not be enough.
Buy the Galaxy S24 FE for its zoom quality
Telephoto lenses offer a major improvement in zoom quality, which is why I won’t buy a phone without one again. The Galaxy S24 FE has a 3x telephoto, which pales next to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro. Galaxy S24 FE will crush phones without telephotos, like the Pixel 9, iPhone 16 and Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel 8a delivers optical-quality zoom at 2x without telephoto. A further zoom forces “Super Res Zoom,” which increases quality with software.
Photo samples above show that the Galaxy S24 FE’s 3x optical zoom beats the Pixel 8a’s 2x zoom. Both phones could take photos of manta rays, but the Pixel 8a couldn’t. A manta ray appears in the Galaxy S24 FE rather than a rock.
Google Pixel 8a shines at night
Looking at the above shots, you might think the Galaxy S24 FE is better in low light. Photo quality is better and color is sometimes better at night on the smartphone. Pixel 8a is more detailed but lacks details.
View the first set of photos, especially the blue-lit “Casino Royale” on the boat. Galaxy S24 FE blows out that part of the image so much it’s almost illegible. Pixel 8a, however, displays it with stunning clarity despite its dark surroundings.
I took almost no low-light photos with the Galaxy S24 FE. Google’s midrange is better for night photography.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s camera is better
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE vs. Google Pixel 8a is one of the closest camera tests I’ve ever done. Pixel 8a is great for basic point-and-shoot photography. Daytime colors are excellent, and nighttime details are excellent as well.
My preference is for the Galaxy S24 FE’s camera. In the daytime, it performs like the Pixel 8a but beats it.
