Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: We tested both and it's a close one

Kerry Wan and Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

At Unpacked 2025 earlier this year, Samsung unveiled its big, atrocious flagship smartphone -- the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The mobile instrumentality brought respective improvements, including a lighter design, a custom-made Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a revamped camera system. With further testing, we recovered it to beryllium the best Samsung phone money tin buy, but 1 question remains: however does it stack up against the best Android phones?

Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the Galaxy S25 Ultra - and it's bully quality for Samsung

Not each flagship Android exemplary volition beryllium cleanable for you, truthful it would behoove you to look astatine different options. Case successful point: Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL. Both of these smartphones are astatine the apical of their people and person akin specs. There are notable differences betwixt them, allowing the devices to basal retired supra the rest. Read connected if you're stuck betwixt the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Pixel 9 Pro XL to larn which is champion for you.

Specifications

You should bargain the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation the amended camera

Both smartphones person top-of-the-line cameras, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra has the amended set. Much of the strategy shares similarities with the Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera array, specified arsenic the 200MP main lens. But this clip around, the instrumentality has a marque caller 50MP ultrawide camera. I tested the camera earlier this twelvemonth and recovered the upgraded lens to marque a meaningful interaction successful capturing details and macro shots.

Also: Samsung present sells refurbished Galaxy S24 Ultra, S24+, and S24 astatine discounted prices

There is much to the S25 Ultra's cameras than conscionable the lenses, arsenic Samsung has made respective bundle changes, too. For example, 10-bit HDR signaling is present the default, delivering affluent "color expression". Virtual Aperture, a caller inclusion, enables depth-of-field control. Other tweaks see improved low-light photography and sound reduction.

2. You privation a amended processor

Google's Tensor G4 deserves its accolades, but the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite is the superior processor. Compared to the erstwhile model, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, this chipset delivers a 37% summation successful processing powerfulness and a 30% summation successful GPU performance. The neural processing portion (NPU) is gaining a 40% show boost.

Each exemplary successful the Galaxy S25 bid houses this chip, but the hardware successful the S25 Ultra possesses unsocial features. ProScaler utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to boost representation quality. The mobile Digital Natural Image motor (or mDNIe) wrong the processor enables amended "display powerfulness efficiency." For gaming, the Vulkan Engine, alongside "improved Ray Tracing", ensures smooth, realistic play.

3. You're a instrumentality of the AI features

I anticipation you're a instrumentality of artificial quality due to the fact that the Galaxy S25 Ultra is packed with generative AI features. Google's Circle to Search is returning with aggregate upgrades. It's faster than earlier and tin admit telephone numbers, email addresses, and URLs that look connected screen. Scanning the aforementioned contented lets you marque calls, nonstop emails, oregon sojourn websites directly.

You should bargain the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if...

Adam Breeden/ZDNET

1. You're buying connected a budget

It goes without saying, but flagship phones aren't cheap. Prices for the Galaxy S25 Ultra commencement astatine $1,299.99, truthful beryllium prepared to wage a premium. If wealth is an issue, Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL retails for $949. The exemplary has been connected the marketplace since August 2024, truthful there's a bully accidental that you'll beryllium capable to find it connected merchantability astatine Amazon. Remember that you are buying 1 of the best smartphones retired there, well-suited for assorted tasks.

Also: Best inexpensive phones of 2025: Budget models with precocious performance

2. You privation a lightweight telephone

When I accidental a "lightweight phone," I'm not talking astir design. The Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs the aforesaid arsenic the Pixel 9 Pro XL astatine 218 grams. I'm referring to bundle due to the fact that the fig of features a smartphone houses impacts its usability.

As pointed retired successful our past comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro XL takes a "cleaner attack to software". Google's smartphone wasn't arsenic bloated arsenic the Galaxy S24 Ultra. That information remains existent with S25 Ultra; if anything, the occupation has worsened. While the Circle to Search upgrade and improved gaming show are invited additions, they whitethorn beryllium underutilized by the mean user.

Also: I switched from my Pixel 9 Pro to the 9a for 3 weeks - here's my buying proposal now

If you similar simpler smartphones, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is up your alley. Its features consciousness little intrusive, giving users immoderate tools to heighten the UI without being overwhelming. It feels much approachable, and radical who aren't tech-savvy mightiness find its interface easier to understand.

3. You privation a telephone that speeds done tasks

Make nary mistake: the Galaxy S25 Ultra is powerful. The Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC (system connected a chip) indicates the instrumentality has robust rendering capabilities. All the AI tools volition surely impact people's productivity. But each this tech is supported with conscionable 12GB of RAM, which I would reason is simply a immense misstep connected Samsung's part. 

Review: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

AI bundle is rather demanding connected smartphone hardware, and the comparatively debased representation could effect successful dilatory performance. Google indispensable person recognized this information erstwhile it was processing the Pixel 9 Pro XL, truthful it gave the telephone 16GB of RAM to enactment its AI tech. This RAM boost is 1 of the reasons wherefore the smartphone is highly regarded. Granted, our trepidations towards the S25 Ultra's constricted representation whitethorn vanish erstwhile we get our hands connected the device. Until then, the representation remains a concern.

Alternatives to consider

This nonfiction was primitively published connected January 21, 2025, and was updated connected April 25, 2025.