Not sure what you mean by default Android apps but Google Pixel apps != AOSP's stock apps. AFAIK most apps can now be disabled in Settings on recent Samsung phones, I'm not a fan but I don't think they're that worse compared to Pixels, especially on the flagship devices.

Sony’s phones also come with minimally modified Android. They still have 3-4 bloatware apps to remove with ADB but it’s pretty manageable. I picked up an Xperia 1 V on discount to take the position of “flagship phone” in my Android app dev testing lineup and if I were switch my daily driver away from iOS, it would be in my list of considerations.

Motorola is also super minimal/mostly Google. I think the only bloatware on my newest was an app to control 'moto actions', which I find gimmicky but some tend to like.

Yeah, my previous Samsung I had to spend a half hour with adb to get all their junk disabled.

In my experience Samsung's flagship phones are top notch hardware with superb build quality. According to user reports on the internet the latest Google Pixel can't even manage to connect to the cellular networks reliably and without overheating. I wish Samsung would step their security game up to GrapheneOS standards because I just can't trust Google not to fuck the phones up.

Pixels come only with bloatware.

It's not a global toggle, but Asus definitely has options to make things more stock-Androidy — you can basically turn the Settings app back into something resembling the stock version, and a bunch of their other UI enhancements and changes are also optional.

A long time Android user wouldn't have mistaken my Zenfone 9 for a Pixel at any more than a cursory glance, but you can get it pretty close, particularly in terms of feel.