Apple vs Samsung vs Google – Whose phones and accessories impressed most?

I finally got to dive into the iPhone, Pixel, and Galaxy worlds all in the same year, testing out some of their latest phones, wearables, and earbuds. If you're after a non-tech-snob's take, this column's for you!

We're pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to phones and accessories - unless you're locked into the Android or Apple ecosystem, which can make switching feel tricky. But hey, when the time's right, it's totally doable!

This tech wrap is for my people who like upgrading their phones and other gadgets every few years and don't mind splurging a little for something that stands out.

You can use any of the jump links below to hop and skip to your tech of choice. But first a disclaimer. I haven't reviewed every new release of 2024. These reviews are based on phones and wearables that have made an impression, whether good or bad (mostly good though).

• Pixel Watch 3
• Pixel Buds Pro 2
• Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Ring
• Galaxy Buds 3
• AirPods 4
• iPhone 16 Plus
• Apple Watch 10

Pixel Watch 3 - Pricey but worth it

I've mostly worn Samsung watches after moving on from Fitbit Inspire HR. It was first the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and then the Galaxy Watch 4.

So when I started testing the Pixel Watch 3 after its launch in September 2024, I was going in fully blind.

But tl;dr, I really, really like it.

Straight off the bat, the design caught my eye and how nice it looks on my wrist, which is on the smaller side.

The curved display as opposed to a flatter screen works well whether you're dressing up or dressing down.

The bezels are much thinner by about 16% compared to the Pixel Watch 2, meaning you get a bit more screen real estate. The display is also brighter than its predecessor - you can easily see the screen while training under the sun.

I've been using the 41mm, and it lasts around 24-26 hours on a single charge. But from what I've seen in online reviews, the 45mm is the real standout boasting a solid two-day charge.

Here are some specs that fellow smartwatch users, like me, will appreciate:

• You can choose between 40 workouts or create your own custom routine.
• The Readiness Score helps you gauge your body's training and overall condition. But to activate it, you'll need to wear the watch for seven straight nights.
• The New Target load helps to avoid overexertion but annoyingly it activates only after wearing the watch for 14 consecutive nights.
• I'm not much of a runner but there are a bunch of improved metrics such as ground contact times and stride length.
• I also appreciate the reminders about moving and how many steps I need to get in within a certain hour.

The main downsides are its pricey and some workout metrics are hidden behind a Fitbit Premium subscription.

Pixel Buds Pro 2 - One of my favourites of 2024

I'm super fussy about earbuds. My ears are sensitive and I absolutely require active noise cancellation.

Now similar to the Pixel Watch 3, I'd never tried Pixel Buds before.

So when I received the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to review, I didn't know what to expect at all.

The earbuds are tiny but they're such a snug, comfortable fit with a light-weight design. I've been using them daily, even for my workouts.

Despite all the jumping around they stay put.

Now for the sound. The Tensor A1 chip does a great job of cancelling low-end noise and voice calls are mostly smooth.

They were a little less effective with high-end sounds, especially when compared to my Airpods Pro 2. But I wouldn't call this a deal-breaker.

Podcasts and music sound great. But I did have to change to the heavy bass setting to adjust the output to my liking since the straight-out-of-the-box setting made the music sound a bit hollow.

Now because they fit so well, are comfortable and the sounds are mostly great quality, I'd skip past the minor hiccups and recommend them in a heartbeat.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - Makes it easier to recommend a non-Samsung, non-Apple smartphone

I swear I'm not fangirling the Pixel lineup for the sake of it. It's just the first year I've had the opportunity to expand from my Samsung and Apple universe. And it's also the year Google's gotten a fair bit right.

We've already discussed the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2. And then you add the Pixel 9 Pro XL to the mix?

It now looks like an iPhone, almost to a T and that's not a bad thing.

It's beautifully refined while still maintaining a modern sculpted camera bar - an iconic element of the Pixel brand, albeit a bit different than previous generations.

The battery life lasts a full day comfortably with moderate usage (two to three hours of streaming, social media doomscrolling, and web browsing).

The cameras are great, with photos rich in detail and colours vibrant. The selfie camera? Yes, please!

The images aren't as true-to-life as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but they're still really good quality.

The display is bright and beautiful, with thinner bezels than before and since my phone use doesn't go that deep, I was happy with the performance even if Pixel's Tensor G4 chip isn't on par with Samsung's Snapdragon or Apple's silicon.

It is a bit odd that the storage capacity starts at 128GB instead of 256GB. Especially for the $1,800+ starting price tag.

You can read my full review for more details but overall, the entire Pixel ecosystem left me impressed.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - A solid 9 out of 10

Samsung set the precedent for all things AI when it launched the Samsung Galaxy S24 series at the start of 2024.

But I'm still a work in progress when it comes to using AI tools, that is when I even remember to use them. So I'll happily skip past that and say this.

The S24 Ultra is a fantastic phone. The performance is top-notch, the cameras are among the best out there, and the battery easily lasts a full day with moderate use.

What really stood out to me though was the anti-glare display. Samsung hasn't highlighted it much, but it's genuinely impressive and gives the phone a nudge over the competition.

The squared edges, though, were uncomfortable, especially on such a large phone. Maybe it takes getting used or needs a phone cover to soften the grip. I only had it for a few weeks after launch, so it's hard to say definitively but if you're similar to me, the size and shape may not be everyone's cup of tea.

You can read my full review if you're considering the S24 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Ring - Niche but nice

This was one of the more interesting launches of 2024. But before I get to my POV here's a quick rundown for anyone unfamiliar with the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which works across most Android devices.

It's a wellness device rather than a fitness tracker. It's form over function and mostly tracks menstrual cycles, sleep and steps. Although it can detect activity, you'll still need to manually record a workout in the Galaxy Health app which can be a bit tedious.

The titanium ring is lighter and thinner than I expected. It sits well on the finger and you can't feel the sensors underneath. As a first iteration, it does pack a punch especially if you're not about smartwatches. The ring can be less obtrusive.

But funnily enough, I noticed it a lot more while trying to get used to it on my finger the first week compared to when I first started wearing smartwatches.

It was interesting to see my 'Energy Rating' and sleep tracker though.

I was told repeatedly to get better sleep and stop stressing, which felt spot on since I was having a rough few weeks. I wish I had photos to share, but I caught COVID the week I had to return the ring and the Samsung phone I was using with it, and the brain fog made me forget to transfer the images.

Long story short? It's a niche wearable that I personally wouldn't buy unless I was ditching my smartwatch or was fully invested in the Samsung ecosystem.

The location finder and features like pinching my fingers to turn off the alarm are pretty useful. But without those Samsung-specific perks, my fear of losing the ring would make it a dealbreaker.

Galaxy Buds 3 - Hard pass

The Galaxy Buds 3 are unfortunately a hard no. The hard plastic and lack of ear tips made them incredibly uncomfortable to wear after as little as 15 minutes. That's a deal-breaker for me straight off the bat even if the sound quality isn't bad.

If you've seen them called Cybertrucked AirPods, it's not a mistake - they really do look the part.

The seal isn't great either which makes active noise cancellation problematic.

Samsung hyped them up for their AI tricks such as using voice controls to adjust the volume and change songs. But all of that becomes irrelevant without comfort.

iPhone 16 Plus - Why go Pro?

I love seeing the Plus model get its moment under the sun after being the awkward middle child in the iPhone lineup.

It has a more powerful processor, includes the Action and Camera Control buttons, the colour range is fun (you don't get that on the iPhone 16 Pro models) and the vertical camera configuration actually looks nice.

More importantly, though, the battery is an absolute beast, clocking just under two days of moderate use. The larger 6.7-inch display is perfect for my use. I love watching YouTube, podcasts and TV shows both on the go and at home, despite having a very large 75-inch television.

I'll admit though, having a 60Hz refresh screen feels pretty underwhelming compared to rivals and even the iPhone 16 Pro models. And while the cameras are solid, the lack of a telephoto lens leaves you wanting more, especially for a phone of this size and price.

That's the compromise you'd make for great battery and some savings if you were to skip past Apple's top-of-the-line phones.

AirPods 4 - Better to go Pro?

The AirPods 4 are pretty solid for open earbuds, and for that style, the active noise cancellation is impressive. The sound quality has good depth, too.

The only issue is they didn't sit quite right in my ears. They weren't uncomfortable, but they did slip off now and then.

I mean, I'd like to be able to jog on the treadmill without constantly adjusting my earbuds, you know?

I've only tested the AirPods Pro 2 before this, and comparing the two, I'd go with the older Pro model with the silicone tips.

They might work better for your ear shape, but it's a bit of a gamble since you can't try them on due to sanitary reasons.

Apple Watch 10 - Bigger and better

As someone who's only used an old Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch 10 was a really pleasant surprise.

While I loved the Pixel Watch 3 for how it looks when I'm dressing up, I'm also a fan of big screens, so testing the 46mm version was a real treat.

The design is similar to its predecessors, but it's thinner and feels light on the wrist. Sleeping with it has been super comfortable.

The screen is also brighter when viewed from an angle, thanks to its wide-angle OLED display.

I'm also a huge fan of how fast it charges - about 45-50 minutes for a full charge. The battery lasts just over a day, so you get a bit of breathing room in case you forget to charge it in the morning before heading out.

Some fun features worth calling out include:

• You can play audio from some apps like Apple Music and Spotify. This is super handy if your headphones aren't around and you're out on a light jog and need some vibes to keep you going.
• The voice isolation feature is actually quite good. It reduces background noise when you're on the phone or taking FaceTime calls.
• watchOS 11 lets you pause your activity rings on days when you're taking a break, whether it's from exercise or just feeling unwell. It's a useful feature since you don't want reminders of unfinished rings when you can't complete them.