Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra S938B Titanium Black 256GB

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a top-tier Android flagship with a 200MP camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a stunning 6.9-inch display. It excels at gaming and photography, and the 5000mAh battery lasts all day. At $925 unlocked, it's a strong value against pricier competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite inside this thing is an absolute monster. Our benchmark database puts the S25 Ultra's performance in the 93rd percentile, which means it's faster than nearly everything else we've tested. Apps open instantly, multitasking with 12GB of RAM feels effortless, and even heavy games run at high frame rates without turning the phone into a hand warmer. The 120Hz display makes everything feel smooth, from scrolling through Twitter to racing games.

Gaming is where this phone really flexes. We scored it 97.3 out of 100 for gaming, and that's not marketing fluff. The combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the vapor chamber cooling, and that gorgeous 2600-nit display means you can play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile at max settings without stutters. The stereo speakers are loud and clear, and the in-display fingerprint sensor is fast enough that you won't think about it. For a phone this powerful, it stays surprisingly cool under load.

Stacked against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S25 Ultra wins on camera flexibility and raw specs. Apple's phone has a more polished ecosystem and better video recording, but Samsung's 200MP main sensor and 5x optical zoom give it an edge for photography. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has cleaner software and faster updates, but its Tensor chip can't touch the Snapdragon 8 Elite for gaming or sustained performance. The OnePlus 13 is the value play, with similar specs for less money, but its camera system isn't in the same league. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is a camera monster too, but it's harder to get in the US and lacks Samsung's software polish. The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a foldable, so it's a completely different form factor, but if you want a compact phone, the S25 Ultra's 64/100 compact score means the Razr wins that battle easily.

At $925 unlocked, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is actually a solid deal compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which typically runs $1,199 for the base model. You're getting a flagship phone with a 200MP camera, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage for less than Apple charges for their top dog. The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes in around $1,099, so Samsung undercuts that too. The OnePlus 13 is cheaper at around $800, but you give up the S Pen and some camera versatility. If you want the most phone for under a grand, this is hard to beat.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the kind of phone that shows up, does everything well, and then asks if you'd like it to also handle your taxes. It sits at the very top of the flagship Android food chain, and at around $925 unlocked, it's actually priced a bit below what you'd expect for this level of hardware. You get a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM, and a camera system that reads like a spec sheet fever dream. If you're searching for the best Android phone for photography or gaming, this one keeps coming up for a reason.

Samsung didn't reinvent the wheel here. They took last year's Ultra, sharpened the corners, bumped the internals, and threw in a 200MP main camera with a 50MP ultrawide and not one but two telephoto lenses. The 5x optical zoom is the star for anyone who likes to shoot from a distance. And with 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, you won't be deleting photos to make room for a system update anytime soon.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra good for everyday use? Honestly, it's overkill in the best way. The 5000mAh battery gets most people through a full day without reaching for a charger, and when you do need to top up, 45W wired charging gets you back in the game fast. It's a big phone, no getting around that, but if you want the biggest screen and the most cameras, that's the trade-off.

Skip the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a phone that fits comfortably in one hand or a front pocket. The 6.9-inch display and boxy design make it a two-hand phone for most people, and our compact score of 64 reflects that. If you're not into mobile photography or gaming, you're paying for features you won't use. The Pixel 9 Pro XL gives you cleaner software and faster updates for less money, and the OnePlus 13 offers similar performance in a slightly smaller package. And if you're an iPhone user deep in the Apple ecosystem, the 16 Pro Max is the smoother transition.

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? If you want the best Android phone for photography, gaming, or just having the biggest screen possible, yes. This is the phone to beat in 2025. The camera system is genuinely best-in-class, the performance is top-tier, and the battery life won't leave you hunting for outlets. At $925, it's also priced aggressively for what you get.

But it's not for everyone. If you have small hands or hate big phones, this will feel like carrying a tablet. And if you don't need the S Pen or the 200MP camera, the OnePlus 13 or Pixel 9 Pro XL will save you money without sacrificing much. Still, for most people who want a no-compromise Android flagship, the S25 Ultra is the easy answer.