Arguably right now, the S25 Ultra is the peak Android phone. A new design, even if that is somewhat familiar, one of the best displays around, and cameras that can match up with some of the best that you can get. And to me, that sounds pretty familiar because you can say all of that about Google’s new latest flagship, the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Putting phones up against each other used to be so much simpler because it used to just be, “Oh, that camera is better than that,” or “This chip is faster than that.” While this still applies in some cases, we’re in a bit of a hole at the moment where actually no matter what flagship phone you pick up, whether that’s going to be from Samsung or Google, you’re going to be getting almost the exact same experience.
Let me start off with what I think is the most important factor when picking up any new phone, and that is the price. Now, Google prices the Pixel 9 Pro XL at $1,099, which is pretty hefty, but they will also offer you a smaller Pro at $999. The problem here is, though, no matter which of these you’re picking up, it still starts at an amazingly low 128GB, which in 2025 is teetering on disappointing, especially when people now are keeping their phones longer than ever before. When you turn to Samsung, their minimum storage is 256GB, which I think should just be the basic minimum at this point. But you are going to pay for that storage. You’re going to fork out $1,299, which is an insane amount on a phone that, if you listen to the comments, will tell you isn’t really a big upgrade over the S24 Ultra or even the S23 Ultra, but that is a whole different discussion.
While the Pixel is definitely cheaper than the S25 Ultra, it really stacks up to it. Let’s take its cameras, for example. Now, the Pixel might have one less lens and not quite stack up megapixel-wise to the main camera on the S25 Ultra, but when you do end up looking at these photos side by side, it’s a lot closer than you might think. I captured about 100 photos on each of these phones, and my conclusion is they’re both really great. You might prefer shadows, highlights, and dynamic range on one phone, but then look at pictures from another and think the low-light photos look a bit better on there. And you know what? That’s absolutely fine.
Personally, while I still think the photos that come from the S25 Ultra look great, I do just lean slightly over to the Pixel 9 Pro XL when it comes to that main lens because I think the processing is just a little bit more natural. When it comes to the periscope lens, though, this is where Samsung gives you just a little bit more because it includes that three-times lens, which I love. Sometimes five times is just a little bit close, and the fact that I can be a little bit further away and still get optical quality is a really nice option. You do get that two-times digital zoom from the main camera on the Pixel, but nothing really beats optical, even though it still does a pretty good job.
For the five-times lens, I really think it depends on what lighting you take your photos in, which makes one of these better over the other. Outside in daylight, I struggle to pick between the two of these because honestly, there is very little between them, and details are actually great on both. When it comes to lower-light photography, I think here the Pixel just stands out because you get a little bit more detail in the shadows, and I really like these photos.
Switching to the ultra-wide lens, Samsung did upgrade that with the S25 this year, bringing it more in line with the Pixel. While I still prefer the Pixel’s ultra-wide, it’s all preference when it comes down to cameras. It’s not my job to tell you which cameras you should prefer on the Galaxy or the Pixel because we all like something a little bit different, and that’s absolutely fine.
Both phones have improved over the last few years when it comes to video. They’ve been playing catchup to the iPhone, and now both of these phones do a really nice job. Watching both videos side by side, I might just prefer the S25 Ultra over the Pixel 9 Pro XL. These are both shot at 4K 30, and while the Pixel does look a little more natural to life, it also looks a little bit dull, whereas the S25 Ultra is slightly more pleasing to my eye. Dynamic range is great on both, but in lower light, the S25 Ultra just has better details, and the Pixel is lacking ever so slightly. Stabilization-wise, I’m going to give it to the S25 Ultra pretty easily. I just think this is a tad better than we see on the Pixel.
One big upgrade on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is that Samsung upgraded its video so you can now shoot in log. This means the camera records a flat, low-contrast image with a really wide dynamic range, capturing more detail than a regular camera. For most people, this isn’t a deciding factor, but for creators, this is a big step up in pro video. The Pixel 9 Pro XL doesn’t have this, which makes me lean toward the S25 Ultra for video.
For day-to-day use, I haven’t had as much time with the S25 Ultra as I have with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, but the display on the S25 Ultra is something else. They both have flat displays, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display is possibly my favorite display I’ve ever used on a phone. The anti-reflective display, introduced last year, is such a game-changer. There’s almost no reflectiveness compared to the Pixel 9 Pro XL, making it much better for outdoor viewing.
Using both these phones for the same tasks feels very similar. Watching movies, scrolling through social media—it’s almost identical. However, when it comes to power, the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy in the S25 Ultra is just better than the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 Pro XL. If you want more graphics-intensive performance, the S25 Ultra is the clear winner.
Battery-wise, both phones get to the end of the day. The Pixel leaves me with just under 20%, while the S25 Ultra leaves about 30%, meaning I could probably make it through the morning without charging.
AI is a huge selling point, but there’s very little difference between the two phones. Samsung worked closely with Google, so their AI features are almost identical. However, I’d choose Galaxy AI over Gemini because it feels more seamless and easier to use.
There are some differences, like UFS 4.0 storage on the S25 Ultra versus UFS 3.1 on the Pixel, a three-times and five-times telephoto lens on the S25 Ultra versus just a five-times on the Pixel, and of course, the addition of the S Pen. But the S25 Ultra is also $200 more. Despite the Pixel 9 Pro XL having a less powerful chip, it stacks up well for daily use.
Choosing between Samsung and Google is tough, and both brands now offer full ecosystems with watches and headphones. But if I had to pick one phone for the rest of 2025, I’d go with the S25 Ultra. It just feels like a more premium experience, and in seven years, I think the Snapdragon 8 Elite will hold up better than the Tensor G4. If you’re on the fence, I don’t envy you—it’s a tough decision.
