Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Valentine's Day is almost approaching, and you're considering acquiring a new smartphone for that important someone in your life. You may acquire the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the top-tier model in the newest line of flagship Samsung Galaxy series, equipped with its trusty S Pen, gorgeously rounded edges, and every Galaxy AI-powered feature, including the distraction-free Now. ProScaler is brief and picture-perfect. You may also get them the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the first XL phone in the Google Pixel series since 2019, featuring a larger-than-life screen and a new camera bar.
Both phones run Android, but they look and function very differently. Which one will impress your significant other? Allow us to save you the heartbreaking, time-consuming problem by providing this side-by-side advice to assist you in making this critical decision.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: specs
| Specs | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL |
| Size | 162 x 77.6 x 8.2mm | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 218 grams | 221 grams |
| Screen | 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 1440 x 3120 pixels Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz) 2,600 nits peak brightness | 6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO 1344 x 2992 pixels 1-120Hz Dynamic refresh rate 3,000 nits peak brightness |
| Operating system | Android 15 One UI 7 | Android 14 (upgradeable to Android 15) |
| RAM and storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 12GB RAM | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Google Tensor G4 |
| Camera | Rear: 200-megapixel primary 50MP ultrawide 50MP telephoto, 5x optical zoom 10MP telephoto, 3x optical zoom Front: 12MP | Rear: 50MP primary, f/1.68 aperture, 1/1.31-inch sensor size, OIS 48MP ultrawide, f/1.7, 123° field of view 48MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom, 1/2.55-inch sensor Front: 42MP |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 8 Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery & charging | 5,000mAh battery 45W fast charging Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare Qi wireless charging | 5,060mAh battery 37W wired charging 23W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging |
| Colors | Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Grey | Obsidian Black, Porcelain White, Hazel Green, Rose Quartz Pink |
| Price | Starting at $1,300 | Starting at $1,099 |
| Review | Hands-on review | 4.5 out of 5 stars |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra versus Pixel 9 Pro XL: Design and Display
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Whitesilver, and it has rounded corners rather than the sharp and pointy edges of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, giving the phone a more low-end appearance. The phone's rounded corners also make it simpler to handle because they won't leave a dent in your skin as its predecessor did after hours of use. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, available in Porcelain White, Hazel Green, Obsidian Black, and Rose Quartz Pink, has more rounded corners than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and features a revised camera bar, satin matte back, and metal frame.
The screens complement their individual lovely curves and have stunningly diverse displays to accompany them. The Galaxy S25 features a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a high resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, which is supplemented by a Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The Now Brief feature, which provides news, weather, and social network updates before you ever open the applications, really sells it. Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a slightly smaller 6.8-inch Super Actua display, a somewhat lesser resolution of 1344 x 2992 pixels, a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The 400-nit brightness difference is tough to believe given the Galaxy S25 Ultra's greater pixel count and ProScaler, which turns every shot and video into Oscar gold.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25.a.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: Performance
Nothing puts phones in a more competitive position than their performance. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which allows it to run at a frequency of 4.32GHz to improve CPU and GPU performance and reduce power consumption while running multiple apps without overheating the phone, representing a significant upgrade from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We are currently evaluating how high the performance will be, so you may want to wait for the complete Galaxy S25 Ultra review to find out.
Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL features the Tensor G4 CPU, which rates the phone's performance at 3.10GHz. That's not exactly an outstanding working speed, especially given that its vapor chamber is as large, if not larger, than the one in the Google Pixel 9 Pro itself, and it has 16GB of RAM, which should be enough to warrant a microprocessor that works at the same frequency as the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Even then, the pace will be throttled after a certain point. Samsung wins this award only for its Snapdragon processor.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: Battery and Charging
Another factor to consider while deciding between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is how quickly the phone charges. The former phone features a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W of fast charging, as well as Fast Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare, and Qi wireless charging, whilst the latter has a slightly larger capacity (5,060mAh) but only supports 37W cable charging and 23W wireless charging.
Despite having a battery that is similar in capacity to the Galaxy S25 Ultra's, the Pixel 9 Pro XL appears to have gotten the short end of the stick in terms of charging rates; nonetheless, they both have the potential to charge other phones and wearables via reverse wireless charging.
In our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, we mentioned that the battery lasts most of the day, depending on how much you use it. Prolonged screen time combined with gaming results in roughly 10% battery life remaining at the end of the day, whereas less screen time results in nearly 50% battery life remaining by the time you go to bed.
We don't have enough information on the Galaxy S25 Ultra's battery life, but its battery capacity is the same as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which depletes to 50% after five hours of screen time and charges completely in 70 minutes with a 45W adapter. Based on this, it's reasonable to expect that the Galaxy S25 Ultra's battery would charge in the same time, if not faster.
Winner: Tie
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra versus. Pixel 9 Pro XL: Cameras
Both phones in this category are fighting for the title of best buddy to photographers and multimedia creators. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's back camera consists of two 50-megapixel sensors, one of which is ultrawide with 5x optical zoom, one 10MP camera with a 3x optical zoom range, and a 200MP sensor, while the front camera has a 12-megapixel lens. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL's cameras are almost fairly balanced, with the back camera including two 48MP lenses—one ultrawide and the other telephoto with 5x optical zoom—as well as a 50MP main lens and a 42MP front camera.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra's ultra-wide camera is four times more powerful than that of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which was 12MP and provided an interesting experience of taking great pictures in a variety of lighting conditions, but it was also frustrating and sometimes frustrating when close-up shots caused the main camera to activate focus enhancer mode and dampen the depth of field.
With its well-balanced cameras, the S25 Ultra may provide photographs and movies with a brighter pop of color and more depth of focus, especially when ProScaler is used. The Pixel 9 Pro XL's cameras performed admirably with the balanced optics, particularly with the primary camera performing as much heavy lifting as the secondary cameras, zooming in up to 30x and functioning as the macro camera to capture the smallest details in stunning clarity.
Winner: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: software updates
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes pre-installed with Android 15 and One UI 7. The dual software allows everything to work seamlessly in conjunction with Galaxy AI and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Now Brief lets you manage your life quicker than you can write down your to-do list, and the microchip enables every application you're running to react faster. It will receive seven years of Android and security upgrades from Samsung.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL ships with Android 14, but may be updated to Android 15, which has been available for over four months. In terms of AI capabilities, the program is quite easy to use. When you check the weather on the Pixel Weather app, the AI Weather Report explains the prediction in a single line, giving you a better idea of how the day will unfold than the chart. You may also organize each screenshot into distinct folders based on its context. It will also receive seven years of Android upgrades, including security fixes and rare feature releases.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Pixel 9 Pro XL: Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is priced at $1,300 and will be available on February 7. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is now available, beginning at $1,099.
Which should you buy: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or Pixel 9 Pro XL?
Even though our review has yet to be published, it appears like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the greatest phone to invest in, especially if you're buying it for someone you care about. Its processor is more powerful than the one in the previous generation, its style resembles any other phone with rounded edges, and it delivers the greatest photographs and videos while saving scrolling time with Now Brief — all thanks to AI. The color selections are excellent for a premium-tier phone, particularly Titanium Silverblue.
Now, we understand that some people may choose the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL since it is somewhat less expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Aside from the sticker shock, the camera shoots amazing photographs both close up and far away, the battery life is adequate, and the design is a significant advance over previous models. Furthermore, the color possibilities are more varied than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which includes blue. However, when it comes to features, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the finest option.
Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Purchase the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL:
$1,030 via Amazon. $1,099 at Best Buy.