I compared the two best Android flagship phones of 2025 – and it was pretty close

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

OnePlus has announced its new flagship phone earlier than expected. oneplus 15 It’s here, and it rivals giants like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra without costing a thousand dollars (unless you configure it with more storage and RAM). It offers a big and bright display, the latest Qualcomm flagship processor, a big battery, and more.

So, should one buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra in today’s market? It turns out, there are still plenty of reasons to root for Samsung’s flagships, even if OnePlus is the new hotness.

Also: Thousands of readers bought these phones in 2025, but none of us expected a no. 1

If you are indecisive between the two phones or want to compare the latest OnePlus 15 with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, you are in the right place. I’ve compared the two flagships below, and here’s which one will be better suited for your needs.

You should buy OnePlus 15 if…

1. You want a more durable phone

The OnePlus 15 is rated IP68 and IP69 for dust and water resistance, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers an IP68 rating. For those unaware, IP68 is for submersion, while the latter is for water jets at temperatures up to 80°C, ensuring that the device can withstand even more extreme conditions. These are more important in day-to-day use, thanks to a screen that can withstand water drops.

Also: The only Android Auto wireless adapter you should spend your money on (and it also works with CarPlay)

You cannot use the screen of a Samsung or Apple phone in drizzle or around a pool because the water droplets register a false touch. I might be replying to a text message and have to keep wiping the screen to get my message across. In contrast, the OnePlus 15’s display allows you to interact with the screen even when it’s covered in water droplets. This means I can change songs in the shower and text a friend by the pool without water getting inside the phone or interfering with my screen.

If you choose the Sand Storm variant, you get a more durable frame. According to OnePlus, this “MAO-treated middle frame” offers better durability than other variants – making the OnePlus 15 more durable for daily use than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

2. You need your phone to last more than a day

The OnePlus 15 has a battery capacity of 7,300mAh, which reportedly incorporates 15% silicon content in the anode for increased energy density (compared to the industry standard of 10% silicon content currently in use). By comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has an older 5,000mAh battery capacity. During my usage, both of these phones lasted longer than I expected, but that’s because I kept my expectations low when using a Samsung flagship.

Also: Forget the Samsung S25 Ultra: This OnePlus flagship beats the Android giant in meaningful ways

I have been using OnePlus 15 since last one week. Yesterday, I started my day at 8 am to go to a conference. I used social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, took a lot of photos using the default camera app, navigated using Maps and listened to music on Spotify. By dinner time, my phone had 40% battery left.

On such heavy usage days, the Galaxy S25 Ultra doesn’t last me well into the evening. On the OnePlus 15, I clocked a solid nine hours of screen time and still had enough battery left to doomscroll before bed. If you want your phone to easily last a day and two days on moderate usage, the OnePlus 15 is the best option for you. And when your battery gets low, it’ll charge faster at 80W compared to Samsung’s 45W fast charging.

3. $200 savings sounds good to you

The OnePlus 15 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite on last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. OnePlus has paired it with a 1.5K resolution and 165Hz refresh rate-supported display along with a larger vapor cooling system. It’s arguably more powerful than a Samsung flagship without breaking the bank.

If you’re into mobile games but don’t want to spend over $1,000 to get the most powerful flagship phone on the market, the OnePlus 15 will serve you well. It is priced at $899 for the base variant, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a launch price of $1,300.

You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…

1. You want the best display on the phone

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is based on the already class-leading Galaxy S24 Ultra display. It added an improved anti-reflective coating to provide a more color-accurate display. This improves screen legibility in both indoor lighting and direct sunlight. It’s a pleasant screen to consume content, read, and browse the web. In fact, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has my favorite display on any smartphone I’ve used so far.

Too: Why the Samsung S25 Ultra is still my favorite Android phone this year — especially at this price

In comparison, the OnePlus 15 has a lower-resolution display and lacks anti-reflective coating. It’s still big and bright with narrow bezels, but it doesn’t have the same pleasant viewing experience. I would love to see Samsung borrow OnePlus’ AquaTouch technology for better usability in certain environments. That said, I’d choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra over OnePlus’ new flagship phone for content consumption any day.

2. An S Pen stylus attracts you

Samsung has reinvented the S Pen over the past few years – moving it from the Note lineup to the Galaxy S series. It removed some Bluetooth capabilities from the Galaxy S25 this year. However, it’s still excellent for jotting down quick thoughts and notes on your phone.

If you like to write on your phone’s screen, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the only high-end phone to offer this feature. Remember, you no longer get features like the remote camera shutter button, but it still comes in handy in meetings. In contrast, the OnePlus 15 lacks this capability.

3. You want long-term software support

OnePlus is offering four years of OS support and five years of security updates with the new OnePlus 15. It runs Android 16 out of the box. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was launched with Android 15-based One UI 7 and received its first OS upgrade a few months ago.

Also: Best Samsung Phones of 2025

Despite this, it will last you longer than the OnePlus 15 – Samsung provides seven years of OS and security updates. If you buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra now, it will last you a year longer than the OnePlus 15, provided you’re okay with the overtime drop in battery life.

Specifications