Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: Which is the better premium smartphone

Both Samsung and Google are big names in the world of premium smartphones. If you are thinking of choosing one of the top flagship phones of 2025, then Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL can be two great options for you. But the question is, which of these two phones is right for you? So let’s compare Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL

Performance and Battery

When it comes to performance, both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL are excellent in different respects. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which makes it perfect for gaming and heavy tasks. On the other hand, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, which is great for AI features.

In terms of battery life, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. At the same time, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 5,060mAh battery, which is much better than the previous models. Both phones can last more than a day with light use.

Camera

Now talking about its camera, in terms of camera, both Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL bring their own features. Galaxy S25 Ultra has a quad camera setup, which includes a 200MP main sensor, 50MP 5x telephoto camera, 10MP 3x shooter and 50MP ultra-wide camera. At the same time, Pixel 9 Pro XL has a triple camera setup, which includes a 50MP main camera, 48MP 5x telephoto camera and 48MP ultra-wide camera.

Talking about the selfie camera, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 12MP front camera, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 42MP selfie camera. In terms of video recording, the Galaxy S25 Ultra can record 8K and 4K videos, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL has to use the Video Boost feature to record 8K videos.

Software and AI Features

Both phones run on Android 15, but there is a lot of difference in the software experience. The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers a pure Android experience, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra features Samsung’s One UI 7, which offers several extra features like notification-free mode and call recording.

In terms of AI features, both phones are excellent. Pixel 9 Pro XL has features like ‘Reimagine’ and ‘Add Me’, which make photos even better. At the same time, Galaxy S25 Ultra has features like ‘Circle to Search’ and Audio Magic Eraser.

Display and design

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED display, which supports a peak brightness of 3,000 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate. At the same time, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch LTPO QHD+ display, which supports a peak brightness of 2,600 nits.

Talking about the design, titanium and Gorilla Glass have been used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which gives it a premium look. At the same time, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has an aluminum body and a new camera bar design.

Price

The Pixel 9 Pro XL (16GB + 256GB) is priced at ₹1,24,999, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra (12GB + 256GB) is priced at ₹1,29,999.