The world of AI has seen numerous innovations recently, with ChatGPT and OpenAI receiving a lot of attention. However, ChatGPT is relatively new compared to two other AI platforms launching in 2024: Samsung’s Bixby and Google Assistant. Bixby and Google Assistant may not have the “cool factor” of emerging AI systems, but you can’t deny their versatility and functionality.
Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby are available on a variety of Android devices. Both help you take orders and streamline your daily tasks. But which one is better than the other? Are Bixby and Google Assistant compatible with all Android devices, or are their uses limited? More importantly, does it work on devices other than smartphones?
Here’s a comprehensive comparison of Bixby and Google Assistant to help you decide which is best for your lifestyle.
Bixby vs. Google Assistant: Device Integration
Google Assistant is available on all Google Nest and Home products, including Android TV, lights, security cameras, speakers, and more. Google Assistant is also available with Android Auto, so you can use the virtual assistant to issue commands while you’re driving. Google Assistant is also available in smart devices from other brands, so you can use Google’s voice assistant in Lenovo’s smart home systems as well. And while you can find it on all the best Android phones, did you know that you can also download and use it on your Apple iPhone?
On the other hand, Samsung’s Bixby is only available on Samsung devices such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. You’re also limited to being able to control other devices only through the SmartThings app, which doesn’t have native support. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s more limited. However, Bixby’s full functionality is only available on newer devices, so unlike Google Assistant, which is usually available on older devices, you’ll need to keep upgrading to get the most out of Bixby.
This won’t be much of an issue for users who have been using Samsung devices for years and want to keep investing in new Samsung products, but if you live with people who use a variety of Android devices, Google Assistant may be a better option for seamless integration between devices.
The winner here is very clear. Google Assistant is available on Apple iPhone and many more devices, helping you create a comprehensive system that’s easy to use.
Winner: Google Assistant
Bixby vs. Google Assistant: Performance and Accessibility
Both assistants feature hotword activation. Google Assistant can be called with “OK Google” or “Hey Google,” while Bixby can be called with “Hey Bixby.” You can also access both digital assistants by using your Android phone’s power button or by setting up a hotkey/shortcut to open the voice service with a single touch or swipe. Google Assistant has the advantage of being available on more devices, so you’re more likely to have one nearby that can help you when you speak.
Bixby is newer than Google Assistant, but that doesn’t always mean it’s better. Google Assistant has been on the market for a long time, so it’s responsive and has a lot of extra features. It also integrates better with third-party apps like WhatsApp, making it easier to complete tasks hands-free. Bixby offers similar features, but because it’s tied to Samsung, it tends to be better for phone-related tasks like changing Bluetooth settings, optimizing your device (cleaning out the trash), and delivering news. However, while this is also a task that Google Assistant can manage, it requires some additional setup.
Google’s strength is online search, so it’s no surprise that Google Assistant does better. Bixby can also perform online searches, but the results are usually not as good as Google Assistant.
Both assistants are easy to summon and can also help you control your phone. However, since Bixby is only used on Samsung phones, it’s a little easier to control. But Google Assistant’s better search capabilities and more refined features give it the win here.
Winner: Google Assistant
Bixby vs. Google Assistant: Features
This feature is a standard feature in all digital assistants, and we’re happy to report that both Bixby and Google Assistant have the feature available. Bixby comes with a variety of features, broadly divided into three categories: Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision, and Modes and Routines. Bixby Voice is the “default” mode you’d expect from a voice assistant and lets you ask basic questions about the weather, schedule, or most other general knowledge topics. But the real power of Bixby Voice lies in device integration. Once set up, you can ask Bixby to make calls, read messages, change settings, upload images to social media, rate Uber drivers, and more.
Bixby Vision is Bixby’s Google Lens that can identify objects or animals pointed at. You can also find shopping results for an item, provide an estimated calorie count for a food, or find nearby attractions you might want to visit. Modes and Routines are a “this, then that” engine, similar to Siri Shortcuts or the IFTTT app. So, if you put on the same playlist every day after work, you can ask Bixby to turn on your Spotify playlist whenever you come home after a certain time on certain days of the week.
Google Assistant has all these features and more, plus Google Lens and Assistant Routines. Google has focused on advanced uses of Assistant voices. If you have a Pixel, you can also use Assistant to check your calls, take your place in the call queue, and even convert voice messages to text. This is a huge piece of AI engineering, and we’re always curious to know what else Google has in store for Google Assistant.
Again, Google Assistant takes care of this. It can do everything Bixby can do and more.
Winner: Google Assistant
Bixby and Google Assistant: Supported languages
Google Assistant supports more than 40 languages and can even be set to understand two languages at once. Perfect for bilingual families. Bixby only supports 9 languages, but it also has a dual language mode.
There is a clear winner here. Bixby is available in some of the most popular languages in the world, but Google Assistant’s much broader language base puts it outside of this category.
Winner: Google Assistant
Final winner: Google Assistant
Google Assistant is the clear winner here. It’s available on far more devices, supports more languages, and offers unparalleled voice search capabilities. But Bixby isn’t all bad. Bixby brings great features to newer Samsung devices and executes offline and phone-based commands very well.
We recommend that you try both services. If both sound good, use them together (yes, you can). If having two assistants is too much of a burden, choose the one you use more often. In the end, they are just tools. Use this as a guideline for what works best for you. But in our opinion, Google Assistant is the better of the two.