It is solely February, however it seems like we have already seen the best Android phones of 2025. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13, you are taking a look at two of essentially the most full handsets available on the market proper now, with each units that includes the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, sufficient RAM to energy numerous AI instruments, and different key advances that we’ll possible see and listen to extra of later this yr.
Additionally: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the Galaxy S25 Ultra – and there’s a clear winner
Even so, the newest from Samsung and OnePlus aren’t good, and their most notable shortcomings are the explanation why this comparability exists within the first place. That will help you determine which of the 2 units to improve to, you may need to think about components like software program expertise, battery and charging, and the options that make every one distinctive. I break down the record of key shopping for causes under.
Specs
|
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely |
OnePlus 13 |
|
|
Show |
6.9-inch QHD LTPO AMOLED with 120Hz |
6.82-inch QHD LTPO OLED with 120Hz |
|
Processor |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM/Storage | 12GB RAM with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB with 256GB, 512GB |
| Battery | 5,000mAh with 45W wired and 15W wi-fi charging | 6,000mAh with 80W wired and 50W wi-fi charging |
| Digital camera | 200MP foremost, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (5x), 10MP telephoto (3x), 12MP selfie | 50MP foremost, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (3x), 32MP selfie |
| Sturdiness | IP68 with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 | IP69 with Crystal Protect super-ceramic glass |
| Weight | 218 grams | 210 – 213 grams (relying on colour) |
| Value | Beginning at $1,299 | Beginning at $899 |
You should purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely if…
1. You need the extra succesful digicam system
Whereas the S25 Extremely would not essentially push the envelope this yr with its upgraded digicam system, it is nonetheless certainly one of, if not essentially the most versatile choices available on the market. You are getting a 200-megapixel vast lens that pulls in additional element than most telephones, the identical 50MP and 10MP telephoto lenses from final yr’s S24 Extremely, and a brand new 50MP ultrawide that, from our testing, can seize crisp and sharp-looking panorama and macro images. (With close-up photographs, you simply need to be additional affected person because the telephone adjusts its focus.)
Additionally: 4 useful Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features that power users will drool over
The bigger digicam enhancements with the S25 Extremely come within the type of software program, from computing picture particulars to modifying topics with generative AI instruments. For instance, there is a new Audio Eraser feature that permits you to modify the quantity of varied sound profiles in movies (each newly and beforehand recorded ones). The flexibility to seize footage in Galaxy Log mode additionally signifies that creatives and video professionals have higher management of lighting, distinction ranges, and total colours when modifying.
2. You need the most effective of AI experiences proper now
If you happen to instructed me years in the past that Google Pixel customers are contemplating switching to Samsung because of software, I’d’ve thought you had been loopy. However right here we’re, with the S25 Extremely taking the lead this yr in AI capabilities and updates, and Google helps so as to add gas to the tank. The most recent Galaxy telephones characteristic a swath of AI features, however the standout for me is cross-app integrations with Gemini.
By linking providers from Samsung, Google, and different third-party purposes, customers can now ask Gemini to satisfy a series of duties with a single command. For instance, you possibly can long-press the ability button — which may be configured to activate Gemini as a substitute of Bixby now — and ask the assistant to seek for an area Mexican restaurant that is pet-friendly and ship the handle to a contact. Such a characteristic is presently unique to the Samsung Galaxy S25 sequence and Google Pixel 9 sequence.
3. The Samsung-exclusive advantages entice you
Shopping for a flagship Samsung phone entitles you to a number of advantages, together with a longer-than-average software program replace coverage — with the S25 Extremely supporting as much as seven years of OS and safety patches, wider entry to restore providers and components, and extra choices for instances, display screen protectors, and different third-party equipment.
Additionally: I’ve used every Samsung Galaxy S25 model – and the one I love most isn’t the Ultra
With the Galaxy S Extremely mannequin particularly, there’s the good thing about having a built-in S Pen stylus, which provides you precision inputs for notetaking, sketching, and different inventive duties. Simply know that this yr’s S Pen no longer has a rechargeable battery and, subsequently, loses the power to regulate the telephone wirelessly.
You should purchase the OnePlus 13 if…
1. You need the most effective telephone for the cash
Flagship telephones can price a reasonably penny, so if bang to your buck is what you are after, the OnePlus 13, which begins at $799 if you trade in any phone in any condition to OnePlus, is a much better deal than the $1,299 Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. In methods, you are getting extra and higher specs on the OnePlus than the Samsung, despite the fact that the previous prices $500 much less. For instance, whereas the OnePlus 13 incorporates a non-overclocked variant of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, tests have shown that the distinction in efficiency is negligible.
Evaluate: OnePlus 13: This flagship costs hundreds less than S25 Ultra – but wins in key ways
On the time of writing, the OnePlus 13 additionally comes with a free storage improve, which nets you a 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage configuration for a similar value as the bottom tier. That is in comparison with the S25 Extremely, which begins at 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (should you make the most of Samsung’s free improve provide).
2. You’d slightly not have to sit down by the outlet
One of many key causes to purchase a OnePlus telephone is its quick charging speeds. This yr’s mannequin options the identical 80W wired charging and 50W wi-fi charging as its predecessor, however even then, these numbers outpace what Samsung is providing with the S25 Extremely. With 80W wired charging (through the SuperVooc charger included within the field), the OnePlus 13 can cost from 0% to 100% in lower than 40 minutes. To place issues into perspective, even the 50W wi-fi charging is quicker than the S25 Extremely’s wired charging, which caps out at 45W.
Additionally: The best Android phones to buy in 2025
The OnePlus 13 additionally incorporates a bigger 6,000mAh silicon-based battery, in comparison with the S25 Extremely’s 5,000mAh lithium-ion battery. Selecting this materials over the standard lithium-ion permits the telephone maker to embed a denser battery capability with out including bulk. From our exams, there is a noticeable distinction in battery life that favors the OnePlus.
3. Water harm traumatizes you
To guard the tech inside, the OnePlus 13 is among the first telephones within the US market to characteristic an IP69 ranking. In comparison with the IP68 ranking sometimes discovered on flagship phones just like the S25 Extremely, the upper water resistance permits the OnePlus 13 to face up to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and steam cleansing. So, should you occur to depart the handset in your pants as they’re within the washer, or the gadget slips via your fingers and falls right into a pot of boiling water or soup, it ought to be capable to nonetheless operate correctly after a wipe.
