Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Android's Flagship Battle
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and seamless AI integration, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its superior battery endurance (44:54h vs 49:30h) and faster charging (65% in 30 min vs 70%) coupled with the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s raw power, outweigh the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s software advantages.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GGX8B | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GGX8B | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, August 13 | 2025, January 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, August 22 | Available. Released 2025, February 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~486 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~498 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 116.9 cm2 (~92.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades | Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 16GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi-zone Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance | Laser AF, Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF, | - |
| Video | 8K@30fps (via cloud-based upscaling), 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 42 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), PDAF | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature) | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 37W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 70% in 30 min 23W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless Bypass charging | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5060 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian | Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Black, Titanium White Silver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jade Green, Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Pink Gold |
| Models | GGX8B, GZC4K, GQ57S | SM-S938B, SM-S938B/DS, SM-S938U, SM-S938U1, SM-S938W, SM-S938N, SM-S9380, SM-S938E, SM-S938E/DS |
| Price | $ 474.43 / C$ 909.98 / £ 599.95 / € 495.04 / ₹ 99,990 | € 895.00 / $ 859.98 / £ 799.99 / ₹ 110,498 |
| SAR | - | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:30h endurance, 1000 cycles | 44:54h endurance, 2000 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class B |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Superior AI and machine learning capabilities
- Long-term software support from Google
- Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Shorter battery life and fewer charge cycles
- Slower wired charging speed
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Exceptional battery life and longevity
- Faster charging speeds
- More powerful processor for demanding tasks
- Lower peak display brightness
- Samsung’s One UI may not appeal to all users
- Potentially more bloatware
Display Comparison
The Pixel 9 Pro XL boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 2365 nits, compared to the S25 Ultra’s 1417 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. However, the S25 Ultra likely employs a more efficient LTPO panel, dynamically adjusting refresh rates to conserve battery. While peak brightness favors the Pixel, the S25 Ultra’s panel technology likely contributes to its longer overall endurance. Both devices will likely feature similar resolutions, but the Pixel’s higher brightness could be a key differentiator for outdoor use.
Camera Comparison
While both phones will undoubtedly feature advanced camera systems, the context data doesn’t provide enough detail for a direct comparison. However, given Samsung’s history, the S25 Ultra will likely feature a larger main sensor and more advanced optical image stabilization (OIS). The Pixel 9 Pro XL will lean heavily on Google’s computational photography prowess, utilizing its Tensor G4 chip to enhance image processing. Expect the Pixel to excel in low-light scenarios and portrait mode, while the S25 Ultra may offer greater versatility with zoom capabilities and video recording options. Ignoring the likely inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on both devices, the main sensor and image processing pipeline will be the key differentiators.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leverages the Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite, built on a 3nm process, featuring Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.47 GHz. This architecture promises significant performance gains over the Google Tensor G4 (4nm) with its Cortex-X4 prime core at 3.1 GHz. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon cores are designed for sustained performance, minimizing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Pixel 9 Pro XL relies on Google’s Tensor G4, optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, but will likely fall behind in raw CPU and GPU power. The S25 Ultra’s LPDDR5x RAM will also contribute to faster data transfer speeds.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers a substantial 44:54h endurance, exceeding the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 49:30h. This difference is likely due to the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s superior power efficiency and the S25 Ultra’s optimized software. While the Pixel 9 Pro XL charges to 70% in 30 minutes with its 37W wired charging, the S25 Ultra reaches 65% in the same timeframe with 45W. The S25 Ultra also boasts 2000 charge cycles, double that of the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 1000 cycles, indicating a longer lifespan. The Pixel’s reverse wireless charging and bypass charging are convenient features, but don’t offset the S25 Ultra’s overall battery advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if you prioritize a tightly integrated software experience, cutting-edge AI features, and a display that prioritizes peak brightness. You'll benefit from Google's computational photography and long-term software support. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you demand maximum battery life, the fastest possible performance for demanding tasks like gaming, and a more versatile charging ecosystem. It’s the choice for power users and those who value raw hardware capabilities.