Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: which is the pound-for-pound champ?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a compromise-free flagship smartphone, however what occurs if you’d like one thing a bit of smaller? The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a superb cellphone, however it’s no Galaxy S25 Ultra Mini.

Thankfully, Google makes the closest factor you are going to get to such a tool within the type of the Google Pixel 9 Pro. For the primary time ever, Google has crammed all of its greatest options into a comparatively compact kind issue, with nearly no compromises. That’s the gross sales pitch, anyway.

So, does the Google Pixel 9 Pro truly match as much as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? Is it actually as easy a case of selecting your most popular display dimension? We’ve reviewed each telephones, awarding them a stellar 4.5 out of 5 rating in our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra overview and Google Pixel 9 Pro overview, respectively. But to declare a winner, we’ll have to interrupt issues down right into a point-by-point comparability.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: specs comparability

Before we dive right into a direct comparability, let’s run by means of the important thing specs of each telephones. They’re fairly totally different in a variety of key components:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: worth and availability

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Samsung’s newest flagship cellphone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, arrived on February 3, 2025. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro landed in outlets a bit of earlier on September 9, 2024.

Pricing for the Galaxy S25 Ultra begins from $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149 for 256GB of storage, whereas the 512GB mannequin prices $1,419 / £1,349 / AU$2,349. The high 1TB mannequin prices $1,659 / £1,549 / AU$2,749. It’s much more costly than the Pixel 9 Pro whichever means you narrow it.

Google’s cellphone begins from $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 for 128GB of storage, shifting as much as $1,099 / £1,099 / AU $1,849 for 256GB, and $1,219 / £1,219 / AU$2,049 for 512GB. US clients alone get the choice of a 1TB mannequin for $1,449.

Comparing like-for-like storage choices, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a not-inconsiderable $200 / £150 / AU$300 dearer. First blood, Google.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: design

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Samsung has switched up its design language with the Galaxy S25 Ultra to deliver it extra consistent with the remainder of the Galaxy vary. It’s all flat edges now, albeit with a lot pointier corners than the common Galaxy S25.

Google has additionally taken issues a flip for the flatter with the Pixel 9 Pro, although it seems extra like the usual Galaxy S25 than the Ultra – and thus, inevitably, much more like an iPhone.

Both feel and look just like the premium gadgets they’re, although the Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly the higher-end piece of package. Its body is made from titanium reasonably than the Pixel 9 Pro’s aluminum. Both telephones are IP68 licensed, so are equally water and dust-resistant.

From the rear, the Pixel 9 Pro is arguably the extra attention-grabbing cellphone of the 2. It all comes all the way down to Google’s elegant digicam module, which stands loud and proud, and covers a lot of the width of the cellphone. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s discrete digicam lenses merely do not have the identical wow issue.

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Of course, the most important distinction right here pertains to the dimensions of those two telephones. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is large, measuring 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm and weighing a hefty 218g. The Pixel 9 Pro is far more pocketable, measuring 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm and weighing 199g.

Samsung’s cellphone will get an extra focal point within the type of an built-in S Pen stylus housed within the backside fringe of the cellphone. Samsung could have robbed it of Bluetooth connectivity this yr, however it nonetheless presents an enter methodology that the Pixel 9 Pro (together with most different telephones) wholly lacks.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: show

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That distinction in dimension informs the dimensions of the 2 shows on supply right here. The Galaxy S25 Ultra packs an unlimited 6.9-inch AMOLED show, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro has a a lot smaller 6.3-inch variant.

Both are LTPO panels, so can modify between 1 and 120Hz refresh charges relying on the duty at hand. The Galaxy S25 Ultra technically packs in additional pixels – 1440 x 3120 vs 1280 x 2856 – however the distinction in dimension signifies that the pixel density is analogous.

Indeed, you may must dive into the settings to activate the complete QHD+ decision on the Samsung cellphone within the first place, which appears like a bizarre determination.

Where the Pixel 9 Pro wins factors is for its superior brightness. It can attain a 3000 nits peak in HDR content material, whereas the Galaxy S25 Ultra solely hits 2600 nits. Both are sturdy, however Google’s cellphone takes the sting on sunnier days.

There’s additionally the truth that the Pixel 9 Pro’s show is a bit more natural-looking, whereas Samsung has ramped up the colourful colours with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s definitely a glance, however it’s not probably the most technically correct on the market.

Both telephones make use of ultrasonic fingerprint sensors beneath their shows, that are quick and safe. Our reviewer did encounter extra learn errors with the Samsung than the Google, however this stuff are inclined to differ from individual to individual.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: cameras

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Both of those telephones take phenomenal photos, and are proper up close to the highest of the digicam cellphone tree – albeit for various causes.

Samsung continues to be the zoom king, having outfitted the Galaxy S25 Ultra with two telephoto cameras – one 10MP 3x and one 50MP 5x periscope digicam. The Pixel 9 Pro, against this, solely has the one 48MP 5x unit.

This signifies that the Galaxy S25 Ultra takes sharper photos throughout a wider vary of focal lengths, together with these hybrid photographs that crop in on the sensors for a deeper zoom. It additionally advantages from a 200MP essential sensor that captures extra element than the Pixel 9 Pro’s 50MP essential sensor.

Both producers supply a closely processed look, however Samsung’s shade science is probably rather less pure and extra over-saturated than Google’s. Expect bluer-than-blue skies and super-green leaves.

It’s powerful to decide on which cellphone takes higher nighttime pictures. Both Samsung and Google have a robust low-light algorithm sport.

Both telephones additionally make use of highly effective AI options that will help you make some creepily efficient AI changes, together with eradicating background objects and even inserting components that weren’t there within the first place. It won’t be pure pictures, however it certain is spectacular.

Google’s cellphone wins out with an outstanding 42MP selfie digicam, which is arguably the very best within the enterprise. It additionally takes the W on video recording, particularly with a Video Boost mode that improves sharpness, publicity, and stability on the small value of longer processing occasions.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: efficiency and software program

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There are two components to this part: efficiency and software program. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra clearly wins the primary one, whereas the Google Pixel 9 Pro mops up with the second.

Taking efficiency first, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra makes use of Qualcomm’s blazing Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It’s already quicker than just about some other cell processor available on the market – together with from Apple – and this can be a barely overclocked model of that chip too.

In the alternative nook, the Pixel 9 Pro is likely one of the weakest-performing flagship telephones available on the market. It can be unfair to label Google’s home-brewed Tensor G4 chip a dud, however it appears to be greater than a era behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite if you check out the standard CPU and GPU benchmark numbers. Last yr’s Galaxy S24 Ultra handily beats it, not to mention the present mannequin.

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Google would argue that that is an outdated option to view efficiency as of late, and that its AI efficiency is the place it is at. It’s definitely true that the Pixel 9 Pro runs some very intelligent AI instruments, and the cellphone’s 16GB of RAM makes the 12GB of the Galaxy S25 Ultra appear stingy to that finish.

There’s no getting away from the truth that the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels a lot snappier within the palms, nonetheless. The Pixel 9 Pro is not gradual, however there have been undoubtedly moments when it stuttered and paused throughout our overview interval, corresponding to once we had a number of apps working collectively. We had no such points with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

This may very well be significantly problematic going ahead. Both producers supply beneficiant seven-year software program replace guarantees, however solely the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels as if it is likely to be sufficiently snappy to nonetheless be working effectively in the direction of the tip of its lifespan.

However, in terms of the expertise of truly utilizing that software program, the Pixel 9 Pro wins palms down. Google’s inventory UI is solely a lot cleaner and fewer cluttered than Samsung’s. There’s no duplicate net browser, digital assistant, or fee app, and the app tray and notification middle are each way more intuitive.

Both Samsung and Google go massive on AI, and certainly Samsung has adopted a lot of Google’s tips, together with making Gemini its major assistant. We’ll go together with Google’s extra cohesive implementation, however the fact is each telephones have a equally sporadic hit charge in terms of AI software program.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: battery

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You’d anticipate the bigger cellphone to characteristic superior stamina, and that tallies with our expertise. Not solely does the Galaxy S25 Ultra have a bigger 5,000mAh battery (vs 4,700mAh within the Pixel 9 Pro), however it additionally has the extra environment friendly processor of the 2.

Both telephones will final a full day of pretty heavy utilization with out making you sweat, however the Galaxy S25 Ultra scored a lot better in our Future Labs checks. While Samsung’s cellphone lasted greater than 17 hours, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted about 4 hours much less.

This is not a criticism of the Pixel. It holds as much as its fellow small flagships fairly effectively. It’s simply in a unique class to the hulking Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Neither cellphone is massively spectacular when it comes time to recharge occasions. The Galaxy S25 Ultra helps 45W charging, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro helps 27W. While the Samsung cellphone is quoted as having the ability to get from empty to 65% in half-hour, the Pixel 9 Pro will solely get to 55% in the identical time. It’s not a massively important distinction, however it’s a win for Samsung nonetheless.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra helps 15W Qi wi-fi charging to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 12W, although Google wins the wi-fi spherical by supporting a quicker bespoke wi-fi resolution of 21W, offered you spend money on the Pixel Stand.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro are two of our favourite telephones, and so they’re additionally sufficiently totally different to make a straight-up winner very powerful to name.

If you are a media hound who likes your screens giant and your battery life epic, the huge Galaxy S25 Ultra is clearly the very best decide. Elsewhere, its S Pen perform makes it uniquely suited to scrawling notes and concepts.

For these after a extra compact cellphone, whether or not on account of having small palms or tiny pockets, the Pixel 9 Pro is for you. It offers you a largely compromise-free flagship expertise in a a lot smaller bundle, and it prices much less in addition.

The tit-for-tat continues: Samsung’s cellphone is far quicker, and thus arguably a bit of extra future-proof. Conversely, Google’s software program is far cleaner and nicer to make use of, and shopping for a Pixel means you are signing up for the newest and best AI options as they arrive. Google makes each the {hardware} and the software program right here, which counts for lots – simply ask Apple followers.

Ultimately, you are not going to be sorry with whichever of those two telephones you purchase. You simply must be sure you put some thought into what you actually worth in a smartphone earlier than you make your alternative.

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