Samsung Galaxy S25 vs OnePlus 13s: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagships

Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13s represent the pinnacle of Android flagship performance, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, these devices diverge significantly in their approach to battery technology and charging speeds, creating a compelling choice for users prioritizing different aspects of the smartphone experience. This comparison will dissect the key differences, revealing which phone delivers the best value and performance for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the OnePlus 13s emerges as the winner. Its significantly faster 80W wired charging, combined with a comparable Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, offers a more convenient and time-saving experience. While the Galaxy S25 boasts superior battery endurance, the charging speed difference is substantial enough to sway the decision for most.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S25 OnePlus 13s
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 3, 5, 8, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, January 222025, June 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, February 03Available. Released 2025, June 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front, aluminum alloy frame
Dimensions146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm (5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in)150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2 mm (5.94 x 2.82 x 0.32 in)
SIM· 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 - CNNano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)185 g (6.53 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5Crystal Shield Glass
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1216 x 2640 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.32 inches, 97.9 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 830 (1200 MHz)Adreno 830
OSAndroid 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7Android 15, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual-50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1/2.75", 0.64µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF
FeaturesBest Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video-
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, Dolby Vision HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, HDR10+HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF32 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/3.1", 0.7µm, AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) 4.5W reverse wireless80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 18W QC 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAh5850 mAh
Misc
ColorsIcy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue BlackGreen Silk, Black Velvet, Pink Satin
ModelsSM-S931B, SM-S931B/DS, SM-S931U, SM-S931U1, SM-S931W, SM-S931N, SM-S9310, SM-S931E, SM-S931E/DSCPH2723
Price$ 674.99 / C$ 689.00 / £ 435.99 / € 548.13 / ₹ 80,999₹ 52,999
SAR1.13 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.29 W/kg (head)     1.36 W/kg (body)-
EU LABEL
Battery37:16h endurance, 2000 cycles-
EnergyClass B-
Free fallClass A (270 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Samsung Galaxy S25

  • Exceptional battery endurance (37:16h)
  • Industry-leading 2000 charge cycle battery lifespan
  • High peak display brightness (1395 nits)

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Limited information on display technology beyond brightness

OnePlus 13s

  • Ultra-fast 80W wired charging
  • Versatile charging standards (PPS, PD, QC)
  • Potentially superior thermal management

  • Battery endurance figures unavailable
  • Limited camera specifications

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S25 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1395 nits, suggesting a vibrant and easily viewable display even in direct sunlight. While the OnePlus 13s’ display specifications aren’t provided, Samsung’s history suggests a focus on color accuracy and potentially a higher PWM dimming rate, benefiting users sensitive to flicker. The lack of detailed display specs for the OnePlus 13s makes a direct comparison difficult, but Samsung’s track record in display technology gives it a slight edge in this category.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Samsung’s focus on camera technology, the S25 likely features a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensor sizes. The absence of camera details for the OnePlus 13s suggests a more pragmatic approach, focusing on delivering solid image quality without pushing the boundaries of mobile photography. It's reasonable to assume both phones will offer excellent image quality in good lighting conditions, but Samsung may have an advantage in low-light scenarios.

Performance

Both the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13s are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8750-AC/AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 2x4.47/4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores. The minimal CPU clock speed difference (0.15 GHz) is unlikely to translate to a noticeable real-world performance gap. The key difference lies in thermal management, which isn’t specified. However, OnePlus historically prioritizes aggressive cooling solutions, potentially allowing the 13s to sustain peak performance for longer durations during demanding tasks. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S25 shines with a remarkable 37:16h battery endurance and a 2000-cycle battery lifespan, indicating exceptional longevity. In active use, it achieves 13:09h. The OnePlus 13s, while lacking endurance figures, compensates with significantly faster charging: 80W wired (with PPS, PD, and QC support) versus the S25’s 25W. This translates to a 50% charge in just 30 minutes for the S25, but a much faster full charge for the 13s. The 13s also offers 5W reverse wired charging, while the S25 provides 4.5W reverse wireless, offering a slight convenience advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 if you prioritize long-term battery health and absolute endurance, needing a phone that can reliably last through a full day and beyond with minimal charging concerns. The 2000 charge cycle rating is a significant advantage for longevity. Buy the OnePlus 13s if you value speed and convenience, wanting a phone that can rapidly replenish its battery, getting you back to full power in under an hour, even if it means slightly less overall battery lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus 13s throttle under sustained load, given its faster charging and potentially smaller battery?
While the OnePlus 13s charges faster, the Snapdragon 8 Elite's thermal performance is crucial. OnePlus has a history of implementing robust cooling solutions, which could mitigate throttling. However, without independent thermal testing, it's difficult to definitively say if it sustains peak performance longer than the Galaxy S25.
❓ How does the 2000 charge cycle rating of the Galaxy S25's battery translate to real-world usage?
A 2000 charge cycle rating means the battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after being fully charged and discharged 2000 times. This significantly extends the battery's lifespan compared to phones with lower cycle ratings, making the S25 a better long-term investment for users who frequently charge their devices.
❓ Is the 5W reverse wired charging on the OnePlus 13s useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
Yes, the 5W reverse wired charging is convenient for topping up small accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch. While not as fast as dedicated chargers, it provides a useful emergency charging option when an outlet isn't available.