I in contrast the 2 finest Android flagship telephones of 2025 – and it was fairly darn shut

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13

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OnePlus has introduced its new flagship telephone sooner than anticipated. The OnePlus 15 is right here, and it takes on the heavyweights like Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely with out costing a thousand {dollars} (except you configure it with extra storage and RAM). It provides an enormous and vivid show, the most recent Qualcomm flagship processor, an enormous battery, and rather more. 

So, ought to anybody purchase the Galaxy S25 Extremely in at present’s market? It seems, there are nonetheless a number of causes to spring for Samsung’s flagship, even when OnePlus is the brand new hotness.

Additionally: Hundreds of readers purchased these telephones in 2025, however none of us anticipated no. 1

In case you are undecided between the 2 telephones or simply wish to examine the most recent OnePlus 15 to the Galaxy S25 Extremely, you are in the correct place. I in contrast the 2 flagships beneath, and here is the one which’ll higher fit your wants.

You should purchase the OnePlus 15 if…

Prakhar Khanna holding the OnePlus 15.

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You desire a extra sturdy telephone

The OnePlus 15 is IP68 and IP69 rated for mud and water resistance, whereas the Galaxy S25 Extremely provides an IP68 ranking. For the unaware, IP68 is for submersion, whereas the latter is for water jets at temperatures as much as 80°C, guaranteeing the system can stand up to much more excessive situations. These are extra vital in day-to-day use, because of a display that may stand up to water droplets.

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You’ll be able to’t use a Samsung or Apple telephone’s display in a drizzle or across the pool as a result of the water droplets register faux touches. I may very well be replying to a textual content message and must wipe off the display persistently to get my message proper. Against this, the OnePlus 15’s show means that you can work together with the display even when it is lined in water droplets. This implies I can change songs within the bathe and textual content a buddy close to a pool with out worrying about water getting contained in the telephone or interfering with my display.

Should you go for the Sand Storm variant, you get a extra sturdy body. In line with OnePlus, this “MAO-treated center body” provides higher sturdiness than different variants — making the OnePlus 15 extra sturdy for every day use than the Galaxy S25 Extremely.

2. You want your telephone to final greater than a day

The OnePlus 15 contains a 7,300mAh battery capability, which reportedly incorporates 15% silicon content material within the anode for enhanced vitality density (in comparison with the business customary of 10% silicon content material at the moment in use). By comparability, the Galaxy S25 Extremely sports activities an ageing 5,000mAh battery capability. In my utilization, each these telephones lasted longer than I anticipated, however that is as a result of I saved my expectations low when utilizing the Samsung flagship.

Additionally: Neglect Samsung S25 Extremely: This OnePlus flagship beats the Android large in significant methods

I have been utilizing the OnePlus 15 for every week now. Yesterday, I started my day at 8 a.m. to go to a convention. I used social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, captured a variety of photographs utilizing the default Digicam app, navigated utilizing Maps, and listened to music on Spotify. By time for dinner, I had 40% battery left on my telephone.

The Galaxy S25 Extremely would not final me by way of the night on days like these with heavy utilization. On the OnePlus 15, I’ve persistently clocked 9 hours of display time and nonetheless had loads of battery left for doomscrolling earlier than mattress. If you need your telephone to simply final you a day and go as much as two days on average utilization, the OnePlus 15 is your finest guess. And if you find yourself low on battery, it will additionally cost sooner at 80W, as in comparison with Samsung’s 45W quick charging.

3. $200 in financial savings sounds good to you

The OnePlus 15 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, as in comparison with final 12 months’s Snapdragon 8 Elite on the Galaxy S25 Extremely. OnePlus has paired it with a 1.5K decision and 165Hz refresh rate-supported show alongside a big vapor cooling system. It’s arguably extra highly effective than the Samsung flagship with out breaking the financial institution.

In case you are keen on cellular video games however do not wish to spend greater than $1,000 to get probably the most highly effective flagship telephone in the marketplace, the OnePlus 15 would serve you nicely. It’s priced at $899 for the bottom variant, as in comparison with the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s launch worth of $1,300.

You should purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely if…

Prakhar Khanna using the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra' display.

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

1. You need the very best show on a telephone

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely builds upon the already class-leading Galaxy S24 Extremely show. It added a greater anti-reflective coating to supply a extra color-accurate show. This improves display legibility in each indoor lighting and direct daylight. It is a pleasing display for consuming content material, studying, and shopping the online. In truth, the Galaxy S25 Extremely has my favourite show on any smartphone I’ve used to date.

Additionally: Why the Samsung S25 Extremely continues to be my favourite Android telephone this 12 months – particularly at this worth

As compared, the OnePlus 15 contains a lower-resolution show and lacks an anti-reflective coating. It’s nonetheless large and vivid with narrower bezels, nevertheless it does not have the identical pleasing-to-look-at expertise. I would love for Samsung to borrow OnePlus’ AquaTouch expertise for higher usability in sure environments. That mentioned, I would choose the Galaxy S25 Extremely over OnePlus’ new flagship telephone for content material consumption any day.

2. An S Pen stylus intrigues you

Samsung has repositioned the S Pen over time — transferring it from the Word lineup to the Galaxy S sequence. It eliminated sure Bluetooth capabilities from the Galaxy S25 this 12 months. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless wonderful for jotting down fast concepts and notes in your telephone.

Should you want writing in your telephone’s display, the Galaxy S25 Extremely is the one high-end telephone to supply this function. Keep in mind, you not get options like a distant digital camera shutter button, nevertheless it nonetheless is useful at conferences. In distinction, the OnePlus 15 lacks this functionality.

3. You need longer software program assist

OnePlus is providing 4 years of OS assist and 5 years of safety updates with the brand new OnePlus 15. It runs Android 16 out of the field. As compared, the Galaxy S25 Extremely was launched with Android 15-based One UI 7 and obtained its first OS improve a few months in the past.

Additionally: The most effective Samsung telephones of 2025

Regardless of that, it should final you longer than the OnePlus 15 — Samsung provides seven years of OS and safety updates. Should you purchase the Galaxy S25 Extremely proper now, it should final you one 12 months longer than the OnePlus 15, supplied you are positive with the extra time degradation in battery life.

Specs

OnePlus 15 Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Show 6.78″ AMOLED with 165Hz, 1800 nits peak 6.9″ QHD AMOLED 120Hz, 2600 nits peak
Weight 211 grams (Sand Storm), 215 grams (Infinie Black / Extremely Violet) 218 grams
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Dimensions 76.7 x 161.4 x 8.1mm 77.6 x 162.8 x 8.2mm
Storage 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery 7,300mAh, 80W wired quick charging and 50W wi-fi charging 5,000mAh, 45W wired charging and 15W wi-fi charging
Digicam 50MP extensive / 50MP Extremely Large / 50MP telephoto (3.5x) / 32MP entrance 200MP extensive / 50MP telephoto (5x) / 10MP telephoto (3x) / 50 MP ultrawide / 12MP entrance
Worth $899 $1,299 (when not on sale)

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I’m Abhishek Tiwari, sharing simple and accurate updates on technology, smartphones, gadgets, cars, bikes and electric vehicles on imgalive.in.

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