I like Pixel phones, but these 5 features are why I stick with Samsung

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On paper, Google’s Pixel phones check almost every box. They get Android updates first, take fantastic photos, have great designs, and offer some exclusive features like Add Me and the Pixel Screenshots app. Yet, if you gave me a choice, I’d take a Galaxy phone over a Pixel any day .

That’s not a knock on Pixel phones. If anything, it’s a testament to how much Galaxy phones have improved over the years. They offer several features that Google still hasn’t matched, such as more customization options, better first-party apps, powerful automation tools, and seamless integration with Windows PCs.

These are all extremely meaningful features — and things that make Galaxy phones feel more complete to me over any Pixel.

The biggest appeal of Pixel phones is the software experience, and honestly, it’s perfect for anyone who prefers a clean interface. But the problem is that simplicity also means fewer customization options for things like the home screen, lock screen, and notification panel. Heck, you can’t even remove the search widget from the home screen if you want to. I know some people don’t care about that sort of thing, but it’s nice to have the choice, and that’s where Samsung is miles ahead.

One UI already offers plenty of customization options, but the whole experience goes to another level once you install Good Lock . For instance, Good Lock offers a Keys Cafe module that lets me design a keyboard from scratch with custom colors, typing sound, and even gestures.

The LockStar module is another of my favorites. It lets me customize the lock screen by changing clock style, adding widgets, rearranging shortcuts, and even decorating the always-on display (AOD) with stickers. There are similar modules for the home screen and quick settings panel. And Good Lock isn’t just about customization. It also brings a few extras like better gestures, improved one-handed mode, searchable notification history, and countless other quality-of-life tweaks.

Galaxy phones often get criticized for coming loaded with too many apps, and to be fair, that criticism isn’t entirely wrong. My Galaxy S26 came with its own apps for browsing, note-taking, file management, and more, all alongside Google’s apps. Personally, though, I feel having more choice is better than having less. Having used Samsung phones for years, I’ve actually come to prefer many of Samsung’s apps over Google’s equivalents.