Xiaomi 15 Ultra with monster camera launched yesterday to challenge the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new Xiaomi flagship introduces powerful camera hardware including a 1-inch main and a 200-megapixel periscope sensor.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is initially launched in China, but March is set for the Global welcome of the device. The Chinese company is even considering bringing the new phone to South Korea as part of putting pressure on Samsung.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with Snapdragon 8 Elite, bigger battery, faster wired and wireless charging, funky design and so on. Camera is the most highlighted aspect of the smartphone, bringing it close to professional pocket cameras.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Camera Comparison

Galaxy S25 Ultra is unquestionably the most powerful camera phone in 2025. The new Samsung flagship has gained positive response from different review firms and some of the most popular tech reviewers out there globally.

Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra makes the S25 Ultra camera hardware feel outdated. Samsung can’t make bulky phones in favor of crazy camera specs. However, the difference in hardware indeed offers better experience in most scenarios.

Table compares the detailed camera specs and features of the two flagships:

Xiaomi 15 Ultra continues to boast Leica-tuned quad camera system. The module consists of a primary, a short telephoto, a long telephoto, and an ultrawide sensor. The main 1-inch camera now introduces a fixed f/1.63 aperture.

Compared to its predecessor, the mid zoom option has the same 1/2.51-inch IMX858 sensor but the 75mm f/1.8 lens is replaced by a 70mm f/1.8 one, meanwhile, the ultrawide moves to 14mm f/2.2 optic (1/2.51-inch Samsung JN5 sensor).

Samsung’s ISOCELL HP9 200MP telephoto camera is used in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Previously, Vivo X100 Ultra and Vivo X200 Pro also debuted this image sensor. For selfies, there’s a 21mm f/2.0 front camera with a 32MP resolution.

On-paper specs are quite promising and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra might beat the S25 Ultra in some scenarios. The hype is heavier than the real appeal and it’s unlikely that this device will be sold in the United States, dominated by iPhones and Galaxies.

Price: The 12/256GB model costs CNY 6,499 (€854, £700, INR 78,000, $895), the 16/512GB model is CNY 6,999 (€920, £760, INR 84,000, $960), the 16GB/1TB model is CNY 7,799 (€1,025, £850, INR 93,600, $1,070).

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra brings notable performance and quality improvements over the S24 Ultra. Recently, IceUniverse compared the camera video mode of the Galaxy S25 Ultra with the Galaxy S24 Ultra in different aspects.

Ice demonstrated a rigorous video quality comparison through video frames. The difference of details is easy to spot in video frames, rather than a video clip. The comparison involves four different croppings from a 4K 60fps video recording.

The S25 Ultra video camera records more details than the S24 Ultra. In the 2x samples, the shots recorded on S25 Ultra feature true-to-life colors, while the S24 Ultra has boosted the brightness.

The 3x samples show a significant difference in terms of quality. This time, the color and brightness remain similar but the details are way more crispy on the S25 Ultra over its predecessor.

Image credits – Ice Universe / X

S24U | S25U – 2x and 3x | Full-resolution images here

Similar to 3x, the 10x and 20x zoomed clips have no color or brightness difference. Both phones produce recorded video with natural colors, however, the difference is visible in details and quality.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra camera records objects sharper than the S24 Ultra in both 10x and 20x zoom, that too, without oversharpening the imagery and making it look weird in some cases.

Image credits – Ice Universe / X

S24U | S25U – 10x and 20x | Full-res images here

The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports 4K video recordings at 60fps. The phone’s quad camera setup, integrated with AI capabilities, unlocks true quality improvements. Images of video frames define the quality improvements over the S24 Ultra.

Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera System:

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a quad rear camera setup, plus an Infinity-O selfie camera. Here are the specifications and key details of each image sensor used in the S25 Ultra:

Rear Cameras:

Main Camera:

• Resolution: 200MP
• Sensor: ISOCELL HP2 (with a small process upgrade)
• Aperture: f/1.7
• Sensor Size: 1/1.3″
• Pixel Size: 0.6-2.4 µm (with pixel binning)
• Features: Multi-directional PDAF, OIS

Ultra-Wide Camera:

• Resolution: 50MP
• Sensor: ISOCELL JN3
• Aperture: f/1.9
• Sensor Size: 1/2.52″
• Pixel Size: 0.7 µm
• Features: Dual-pixel PDAF, Super Steady video

3x Telephoto Camera:

• Resolution: 10MP
• Sensor: Sony IMX754
• Aperture: f/2.4
• Sensor Size: 1/3.52″
• Pixel Size: 1.12 µm
• Features: PDAF, OIS

5x Telephoto Camera:

• Resolution: 50MP
• Sensor: Sony IMX854
• Aperture: f/3.4
• Sensor Size: 1/2.52″
• Pixel Size: 0.7 µm
• Features: PDAF, OIS

Front Camera:

• Resolution: 12MP
• Sensor: ISOCELL 3LU
• Aperture: f/2.2
• Sensor Size: 1/3.2″
• Pixel Size: 1.12 µm
• Features: PDAF

I have been a Samsung smartphone fan for years and love keeping up with the Ultra series. Each new model shows how far Samsung can go. Samsung has now introduced the Galaxy S25 series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event on January 22, 2025.

Let’s look at what’s new with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S23 Ultra, especially regarding the display, processor, battery performance, and the cool new seamless updates feature.

Display:

Starting with the display, Samsung has always been at the forefront of screen technology. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, released in early 2023, featured a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, offering vivid colors and deep blacks. It featured a 120Hz refresh rate, which provided smooth scrolling and animations.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra, which hit the market in 2024, took a step further. It maintained the 6.8-inch size but enhanced the brightness up to 2600 nits, making it extremely visible even under direct sunlight. The adaptive refresh rate was also refined, allowing for more efficient power management.

Now, moving to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, official specifications confirm a significant upgrade with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Edge QHD+ display, maintaining the high resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels and the 1-120Hz refresh rate but with an even higher peak brightness of 2600 nits.

Galaxy S25 Ultra | Credit – Samsung

Processor Performance:

Under the hood, the S23 Ultra was powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, offering exceptional performance for its time, especially in gaming and multitasking scenarios.

The S24 Ultra stepped up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which brought faster processing speeds, improved AI capabilities, and better power efficiency, ensuring that the device could handle the most demanding apps with ease.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which means it is super fast and smart! It makes things like translating languages instantly, taking better photos, and saving battery life way better. So, using the phone will feel smoother and smarter.

In the performance department: The Snapdragon 8 Elite (S25 Ultra) significantly outpaces both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (S23 Ultra) and Gen 3 (S24 Ultra) in terms of CPU and GPU performance, thanks to its higher clock speeds and enhanced architecture.

In addition, the 8 Elite offers superior AI capabilities with dedicated hardware for AI processing, a step ahead of the improvements seen in Gen 3 from Gen 2.

From a comparison point of view, the S24 Ultra with its Gen 3 chip is pretty efficient, but the S25 Ultra’s 8 Elite chip might be even better, giving you longer battery life when used the same way.

Image: Qualcomm

Check The Comparison Table Below:

Notes:

• The specific CPU clock speed for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 isn’t revealed by Qualcomm, but it’s less than the Elite based on the performance difference.

Battery and Efficiency:

Battery life is super important for phones. The Galaxy S23 Ultra had a 5000mAh battery, which lasted a day for most people. The S24 Ultra made it a bit better with smarter software and small efficiency tweaks, even though the battery size didn’t change, kept it at 5000mAh.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the same 5000mAh battery capacity as its predecessors, the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. Thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the S25 Ultra will be much more efficient. Even though the battery size stays the same, the chip’s design makes it use less power for the same activities, leading to better battery life for everyday use.

Additionally, Samsung mentions that the battery usage time on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is enhanced, allowing users to enjoy up to 31 hours of video playback, which suggests One UI 7 software optimizations or hardware efficiency improvements over previous models.

Credit – SammyFans

Seamless Software Updates:

An exciting new thing about the S25 Ultra is that it supports seamless updates, something not available in the S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra. This means updates will download in the background like on Google’s Pixel phones. Once it’s ready, just restart your device, and the software update will install instantly, making updates way less annoying.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Credit – Sammyfans)

In short, the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra were great, but the S25 Ultra is even better in terms of display, performance, and battery life. The idea of seamless updates is really exciting, showing Samsung cares about making software updates smooth too.

Disclaimer:

The article was first published on January 2, 2025, we updated the article with the latest official information.

Galaxy S25 Slim is going to be the sleekest model in the Galaxy S25 series. This year, Samsung has planned at least five models for the S25 series, fifth would be the S25 Fan Edition, expected to launch by the end of the year.

Samsung will bring the S25 FE to the market later this year, but we now have four models in the flagship range. These devices introduce different sizes and appearances for specific needs, let’s compare the key design aspects:

S25 vs Plus vs Slim vs Ultra – Design, Size and Thickness

Samsung’s S25 and S25 Plus look nearly similar to their predecessors, however, the in-hand feel would be different as well as the rear panel look given the new thicker camera rings.

Galaxy S25 (Base Model)

• Thickness: 7.2 mm
• Dimensions: 146.94 x 70.46 x 7.25 mm
• Screen Size: Approximately 6.2 inches

Galaxy S25 Plus

• Thickness: 7.3 mm (down from 7.7 mm in the previous model)
• Dimensions: 158.44 x 75.79 x 7.35 mm
• Screen Size: 6.7 inches

Credit – Onleaks / X

The S25 Slim retains the signature design but turns down the thickness by 1mm (vs Ultra). The design shift might make it more appealing for those who prefer a sleeker profile.

Galaxy S25 Slim

• Thickness: 6.4 mm
• Dimensions: 159 x 76 x 6.4 mm (excluding camera bump, which is 8.3 mm thick)
• Screen Size: 6.7 to 6.8 inches

The Ultra is getting massive change as it ditches the sharp angular corners. The device now comes with a slightly curvier design and introduces a completely flat display that better blends with frame.

Galaxy S25 Ultra

• Thickness: 8.25 mm (down from 8.6 mm in the previous model)
• Dimensions: 162.82 x 77.65 x 8.3 mm
• Screen Size: 6.86 inches, rumored to increase to 6.9 inches

Credit – Ice Universe / X

Comparison Table:

Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra on January 22, 2025. The Galaxy S25 Slim, on the other hand, is expected to be introduced later, with rumors suggesting a May 2025 timeframe as a tentative launch.

Credit – Ice Universe / X

We are in 2025, and for anyone who loves tech, it means one thing: new smartphones. Two names always seem to be at the forefront of these releases: Samsung and OnePlus. This year, all eyes are on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13 as they go head-to-head. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison to see how these two flagships stack up against each other.

Key Points of Comparison:

Camera:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• The S25 Ultra hosts a powerhouse setup with a 200MP main sensor, boosted by 50MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses, offering superior zoom and light capture capabilities.

OnePlus 13:

• The 13 features a trio of 50MP sensors for primary, ultrawide, and telephoto, with Hasselblad tuning for vivid colors and sharp images, though it lacks the high-resolution zoom of the S25 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaked Promotional Image | Credit – evleaks

Display:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• The device sports a 6.86-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, known for its vibrant colors and high brightness levels. The S25 Ultra has one of the best displays in the industry for use in direct sunlight.

OnePlus 13:

• Comes with a 6.82-inch AMOLED screen, also boasting a 120Hz refresh rate but with a slightly lower resolution, which might not match the S25 Ultra’s visual experience.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Render | Evan Blass

Software:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• Running on One UI 7, based on Android 15, with extensive AI integration for enhanced usability and productivity. Additionally, Samsung’s commitment to software updates is unmatched, promising up to 7 years of OS and security updates.

OnePlus 13:

• On OxygenOS 15 with Android 15, it offers a clean, fast interface but with fewer AI features and less software support, giving up to 4 years of OS updates.

Design Comparison:

OnePlus 13:

• The newly launched device maintains OnePlus’ signature sleek design with a unique circular camera module and a flat frame, making it both stylish and comfortable to hold.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• The S25 Ultra will retain its predecessor’s titanium frame for durability, introducing a flat-edged design with rounded corners, potentially offering a more premium feel and look.

Price Comparison:

OnePlus 13:

• Launched at a competitive price starting around $899, aiming to provide flagship features at a more accessible price point.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• The device is expected to be priced around $1,299, reflecting its premium materials and extensive software support.

Similarities Between the Devices:

Both devices share the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ensuring top-tier performance in gaming and multitasking. They also feature high-end battery capacities, with fast charging capabilities, and both support 5G connectivity.

Detailed Specifications Comparison:

The Verdict: Why the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Stands Out

While the OnePlus 13 brings compelling features and a lower price tag, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra emerges as the clear winner for those seeking the best of smartphone technology. The S25 Ultra’s advanced camera system, superior display quality, and unmatched software support make it a device that not only performs at the top level today but will continue to do so for years to come.

Additionally, the use of premium materials like titanium and the integration of Galaxy AI features provide an edge in both durability and functionality. For users who prioritize longevity, cutting-edge technology, and a seamless user experience, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the flagship to watch in 2025. Cheers!