The compact phone market isn't getting any bigger, and you're stuck with very few options at the end of the day. So it's always good to see a Pixel land and add to the rather limited set of options. The latest Pixel 9 is one cool such device, offering a brand new design and some AI wizardry. But, how does it compare to the slightly older Samsung Galaxy S24, which is basically considered the king of compact phones?

Also, since both are priced at $799, buyer confusion can become quite real. So I took the phones out for a full-throttle ride to see which is the best all-around flagship shrimpy. Let's get right into it!

I'm not going to dwell on the box contents of the two phones because there's nothing but flies in there. No charging adapter, case or anything fancy. So you have to deal with all that separately. As for the phones themselves, they are like chalk and cheese. I have with me the Galaxy S24's Amber Yellow and the Pixel 9's Porcelain colors.

The Pixel 9 embraces a completely new design with an oval camera bar that doesn't blend into the frame like the previous series. It's clean, looks futuristic aesthetic and I'm all for it. In addition, it keeps all kinds of wobble away. The back panel is glass and the sides are polished metal.