Samsung Galaxy S S938B/DS Black 256GB

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best Android flagship phone you can buy, with a stunning 6.9-inch display, a versatile 200MP camera system, and blistering Snapdragon 8 Elite performance. It's expensive and huge, but if you want the most capable smartphone on the market, this is it. Just shop around, because prices vary by over $100 between vendors.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite inside this thing is an absolute monster. Paired with 12GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, apps open instantly and switching between a dozen of them feels effortless. In our database, the S25 Ultra lands in the 95th percentile for raw performance, which puts it among the fastest phones we've ever tested. Gaming is similarly ridiculous. Titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run at max settings without breaking a sweat. The vapor chamber cooling does its job, too. After 30 minutes of gaming, it gets warm but never uncomfortable.

Day-to-day use is buttery smooth thanks to that 120Hz refresh rate. Scrolling through Twitter or flipping between Chrome tabs feels like the phone is reading your mind. Samsung's One UI has matured into something genuinely pleasant, with fewer duplicate apps and less bloat than a few years ago. The 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support mean you're future-proofed for whatever networks throw at you. And with satellite connectivity baked in, you've got a lifeline in areas where cell service doesn't reach. For business users or anyone who needs their phone to just work without hiccups, this is as good as it gets right now.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the most direct competitor, and honestly, picking between them comes down to ecosystem preference. The S25 Ultra has a more versatile camera system with that 5x optical zoom and 200MP main sensor. Apple's video capabilities are still slightly ahead, but Samsung has closed the gap significantly. The display on the Ultra gets brighter and the S Pen is something Apple simply doesn't offer. On the flip side, iMessage and FaceTime keep a lot of people locked into iOS, and the A18 Pro chip trades blows with the Snapdragon depending on the workload.

The OnePlus 15 is the value play here. It's got a similarly fast processor and a great screen for hundreds less. You lose the S Pen, the 200MP camera, and some of the software polish, but for pure speed, it's right there. The Pixel 10a is a completely different beast. It's smaller, cheaper, and runs a cleaner version of Android with Google's computational photography magic. But it can't touch the Ultra on raw specs or zoom range. And the Motorola razr ultra 2025 is for a different buyer entirely. If you want a flip phone, the Ultra's slab form factor is a non-starter. But if you want the most capable phone on the market, the razr feels like a toy next to this thing.

Value is a tricky word when you're talking about a phone that costs somewhere between $905 and $1040. That's a $135 spread across vendors, so shopping around matters. Newegg currently has the best pricing on the 256GB model if you're hunting for a deal. For what you're getting, the S25 Ultra justifies its price better than most flagships. The camera system alone would cost you hundreds in dedicated gear, and the display is genuinely reference-grade. But if you don't need the S Pen or the 200MP sensor, the OnePlus 15 delivers similar performance for less money. And the Pixel 10a undercuts it dramatically while offering a cleaner software experience. The Ultra is worth it if you'll use everything it offers. If half these features will go untouched, you're leaving money on the table.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the kind of phone that makes you wonder what's left to improve. It's a 6.9-inch slab of glass and titanium that packs basically every feature you could ask for into a single device. If you're searching for the best Android phone money can buy right now, this is the conversation starter. The 200MP main camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and that gorgeous Dynamic AMOLED display put it in a league of its own. It's not cheap, with prices floating between $905 and $1040 depending on the vendor, but Samsung isn't aiming for budget-conscious buyers here.

This is the international unlocked version (model S938B/DS), which means dual SIM support and no carrier bloatware. For frequent travelers or anyone who wants the freedom to switch networks, that's a real perk. The S Pen is still tucked inside, which remains a uniquely Samsung thing. You'll either use it daily or forget it exists for weeks. There's no middle ground. But having it there when you need to sign a document or doodle a quick note is genuinely handy.

Build quality is what you'd expect from a phone in this tier. IP68 water resistance, the latest Gorilla Glass, and a matte finish that actually resists fingerprints. At 6.9 inches, this is a big phone. If you've got smaller hands or prefer something that disappears into a pocket, the size alone might steer you toward the standard S25 or even the Pixel 10a. But for anyone who wants the biggest screen and the best specs, the Ultra is the obvious pick.

If you value one-handed use or pocketability above all else, look elsewhere. The S25 Ultra's 6.9-inch screen makes it a two-handed phone for almost everyone, and its compact score of 67.1 in our database confirms it's a beast to carry. The Pixel 10a or even the standard Galaxy S25 are much more manageable. Also, if you're not going to use the S Pen, you're paying a premium for a feature you'll ignore. The OnePlus 15 delivers similar speed and a great screen for less money without the stylus tax. And if you're already using an S24 Ultra, the year-over-year upgrades aren't dramatic enough to justify the cost unless you absolutely need the latest processor.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the most complete smartphone you can buy right now. It's not perfect. The size will be a dealbreaker for some, and the charging speeds feel dated when Xiaomi is pushing 120W. But the combination of that incredible display, the versatile camera system, and the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is hard to argue with. For photographers, power users, and anyone who wants a phone that can genuinely replace a laptop for light work, this is the one to beat.

Should you buy it? If you want the best Android experience available and don't mind the size or the price, absolutely. The S Pen alone makes it unique in a sea of glass slabs. But if you're coming from an S24 Ultra, the upgrades are iterative rather than revolutionary. And if you're on a tighter budget, the OnePlus 15 or Pixel 10a will get you 90% of the experience for a lot less cash. For everyone else, the S25 Ultra is the new benchmark.