Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: Best Android of 2026?
Both Android flagships placed at MKBHD's Smartphone Awards: the S25 Ultra was runner-up for 2025 Phone of the Year and Pixel 9 Pro won 2024 Most Improved. They take opposite approaches to flagship Android — Samsung's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink hardware vs Google's opinionated software-first philosophy.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
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Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google · 2024 · From $999
Round wins
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5 · Google Pixel 9 Pro: 2 ·Ties: 1
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Google Pixel 9 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO | 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB |
| Camera | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto | 50MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,700 mAh |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | Android 14 |
| Starting price | $1299 | $999 |
| Released | 2025 | 2024 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra's 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with anti-reflective coating is brighter, larger, and more legible outdoors. Pixel 9 Pro's 6.3-inch is excellent but smaller and dimmer.
Performance
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraSnapdragon 8 Elite (S25 Ultra) outperforms Tensor G4 (Pixel 9 Pro) by roughly 35% in benchmarks and significantly more under sustained gaming or video-edit loads.
Camera
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 50MP 3x + 50MP ultrawide. Pixel 9 Pro: 50MP main + 50MP 5x telephoto + 50MP ultrawide. Samsung wins on zoom reach and resolution flexibility; Pixel wins on consistency and computational features.
AI & software
Winner: Google Pixel 9 ProPixel 9 Pro has the cleanest Android in 2026 and the most useful on-device AI features (Magic Editor, Pixel Studio, Recorder, Call Screen). Galaxy AI is broader but less polished, and One UI is denser by default.
Battery
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 5,000 mAh, 45W wired, 15W Qi2 — averaged 8+ hours of screen-on time. Pixel 9 Pro: 4,700 mAh, 27W wired, 21W wireless — averaged 5.5–6.5 hours.
S Pen / extras
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS Pen is a genuine differentiator — no Pixel equivalent. Samsung DeX (desktop mode) is also more mature than any Google equivalent.
Software updates
TieBoth ship 7 years of major OS updates. Pixel updates land first; Samsung tends to roll out broader feature additions.
Price
Winner: Google Pixel 9 ProPixel 9 Pro: $999. S25 Ultra: $1,299. The Pixel is $300 cheaper at base — substantial.
Final verdict
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the most capable Android phone in 2026, full stop — better camera zoom, S Pen, brightest display, longest battery life. Buy the Pixel 9 Pro if you prefer Google's clean Android, on-device AI features, and don't need top-end specs. The S25 Ultra is $300 more — that price gap is the deciding factor for many buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 9 Pro: which is the best Android phone in 2026?
The S25 Ultra is the most capable Android phone (runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 awards). The Pixel 9 Pro is the smartest Android phone (won Most Improved in 2024). Pick based on which matters more to you.
Is the S Pen worth $300 more?
Only if you'll actually use it for note-taking, photo editing, or signatures. If you don't already use a stylus on your tablet or laptop, you probably won't on a phone either.
Pixel 9 Pro vs Pixel 9 Pro XL: which compares better to the S25 Ultra?
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is the closer size/battery match to the S25 Ultra. If you're cross-shopping the S25 Ultra specifically, the 9 Pro XL is the more apples-to-apples Pixel option.