Flagship showdown: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

We compare the 2 best Android phones of 2025 to help you choose the right model.

2025 has been a bumper year for Android. In the past month alone, we've seen a fresh crop of foldables and AI-powered startups jostling for a permanent place in our pockets.

But if you want a truly premium flagship phone, the choice narrows to 2 main contenders: Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra or Google's newly launched Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Both phones claim to break new ground in the Android space, particularly when it comes to AI. So which model comes out on top?

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Specs compared

While both phones pack premium hardware, there are some big differences across the camera, processor and memory.

Here's how the specifications compare.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design

In 2025, Samsung finally redesigned the Ultra's look, ditching the sharp, businesslike oblong for softer rounded corners.

While this gives the phone a more modern feel, it arguably comes at the expense of originality.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL retains the bold redesign Google introduced last year. It now comes with thinner bezels, a matte glass finish and a new-look camera bar.

Despite being slightly larger, the S25 Ultra is 14 grams lighter than the Pixel 10 Pro XL. While this doesn't sound like much, you might start to feel the extra weight during extended bedtime doom scrolling.

Both phones are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, but the S25 Ultra uses the slightly tougher Amor 2 variant.

On the accessories front, the Pixel 10 Pro XL introduces Pixel Snap, a magnetic charging system that lets you snap your phone onto chargers, stands and other accessories. (You will need to buy these chargers separately.)

The Samsung S25 Ultra comes with an inbuilt S Pen stylus for writing and drawing applications. Some people adore this accessory, while others quickly forget it's there.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in 7 different colours compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL's 4. The finishes are pretty muted across the board, with nothing too bright or crazy on offer.

We think the Pixel 10 Pro XL has the better design overall, although this obviously comes down to personal taste.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras

We have yet to extensively test the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera, so stay tuned for our full review.

On paper at least, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a superior camera array despite being the older phone.

Its main camera boasts a huge 200MP sensor - 4 times larger than the Pixel 10 Pro XL. You also get an extra 10MP telephoto lens for a total of 4 rear cameras.

On the flipside (literally), the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a better front camera for selfies: 42MP vs 12MP.

Megapixels aren't everything, of course. Google is renowned for its advanced imaging software that runs rings around many competing phones. You can therefore expect the Pixel 10 Pro XL's camera system to punch well above its weight.

Google is also going all out with AI camera tools on the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

New additions include Camera Coach (which provides real-time tips for your photo subjects), Auto Best Take, AI-assisted video stabilisation and improved image sharpening on zoomed-in shots.

Both phones come with a 5x optical zoom and optical image stabilization.

We'll reserve our verdict for now, but the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is going to be tough to beat, especially when you factor in the extra camera.

In the meantime, you can check out a selection of our S25 Ultra test photos.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a 5000mAh battery that provides up to 31 hours of continuous video playback.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a slightly bigger 5,060mAh battery. Being a newer model, you can also expect improvements to the Pixel's energy efficiency compared to the S25 Ultra.

Both batteries will last more than a full day in-between charges, but the Pixel 10 Pro XL stretches slightly further.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance

Beneath the hood, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is powered by a Google Tensor G5 chipset and 16GB of RAM. It will be able to handle any app you throw at it, including processor-hungry AI tools and 3D games.

The S25 Ultra uses an extremely zippy Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU but comes with less RAM (12GB vs 16GB). Nevertheless, it remains an extremely powerful phone: neither model will give you trouble in terms of freezing or slowdown.

The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a brighter display, but the S25 Ultra is slightly larger and packs in more pixels.

Both phones come with the AI assistant Google Gemini, although Samsung offloads some tasks to its own AI assistant Bixby.

Given Google's massive investment in this area, it should come as no surprise that the Pixel 10 Pro XL packs in more AI features than the S25 Ultra.

Indeed, the new Tensor chip was co-designed by Google's artificial intelligence research laboratory DeepMind to ensure AI is front and centre.

In addition to the aforementioned AI camera tools, this includes Magic Cue (for shareable, context-aware suggestions), Voice Translate (which transcribes phone conversations into your native language in real time), and Pixel Journal (which provides AI insights into your wellbeing.)

Google has also made improvements to existing AI favourites like Call Screen and Circle to Search.

While both phones are exceptionally powerful, we think the Pixel 10 Pro XL has a slight edge. (Especially if you've drunk the AI Kool-Aid.)

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price

The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is available in 3 storage options, starting at 256GB for $1,999 and topping out at 1TB for $2,549.

The S25 Ultra starts at $2,149 for 256GB and climbs to $2,749 for the 1TB model.

However, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra works out cheaper if you take the time to shop around. For example, you can currently get the 256GB model for $1,547 on Amazon - a saving of over $600.

For a limited time, the Pixel 10 Pro XL has some great pre-order deals, including a free PlayStation 5 Slim when you buy through Vodafone and a $250-$350 gift card from JB Hi-Fi.

The catch is that you only have a few days left to get these deals. (Most pre-orders close on August 27.)

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which phone should you get?

If you can get it at a reduced price (which isn't too hard), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a better buy. It comes with more cameras and an S Pen stylus, making it more versatile.

On the other hand, if you want a clean Android interface and are intrigued by the possibilities of AI, the Pixel 10 Pro XL pushes in front. Our advice is to grab it quickly before the pre-order goodies disappear.