While Pro Max’s, Ultra’s, and Pro XL’s get all the attention every year, the base models are becoming the more compelling option to me, bringing flagship power and enough high-end features to a compact body. More importantly, they are significantly cheaper than their biggest siblings. The Samsung Galaxy S25 brings all the necessary upgrades you’d expect from an annual update, bringing the fight to Google’s own “affordable flagship,” the Pixel 9.
I’ve used Pixel smartphones since the very beginning (the Pixel 2 XL remains a favorite), and after comparing them to numerous Samsung flagships over the years, I feel confident in my opinions. Of course, it’s always a good idea to wait for our hands-on testing and detailed reviews of the Galaxy S25, but I can’t imagine my preference shifting unless we find something truly worrisome. When it comes to the Galaxy S25 vs Pixel 9 fight, for me, there’s a clear winner.