Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13: Possibly the most fun comparison for 2025
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase from the links on this page.
Intro
The year 2025 has kicked off with two flagship smartphone releases that are bound to draw attention: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13. OnePlus is aiming to offer users the flagship experience for a starting price of $900, which is $400 less than Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra.
So, what does Samsung bring with its brand new S25 Ultra flagship phone to justify a price of $1,300? Well, it has features like the S Pen and longer software support. It also comes with an additional telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a display that neutralizes reflections.
But the OnePlus 13 offers a level of quality that is quite close to its S25 Ultra competitor. It doesn't have that extra telephoto camera, but the rest of the camera system is pretty good. It also comes with an equally amazing display and incredibly fast processor. And while it might not have a titanium body, it does have an IP69 certification, making it more durable than the S25 Ultra in other scenarios besides fall damage.
In this comparison, we’ll dive deep into the design, display, performance, camera, and battery life of these two devices. If you’re torn between OnePlus’s value-driven approach and Samsung’s feature-packed offering, this breakdown should help you decide.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13 differences:
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | OnePlus 13 |
|---|---|
| Premium pricing at $1,299 for the 256GB/12GB RAM base model | Cheaper ($899) for the same 256GB/12GB RAM configuration |
| Features industry-standard UFS 4.0 storage for fast app loading and file transfers | Matches with UFS 4.0 storage for seamless performance |
| Customized Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) chipset, slightly overclocked for higher performance | Standard Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) chipset for top-tier speed |
| Built with lightweight titanium for enhanced strength and durability | Constructed with aluminum, less durable but still lightweight |
| Gorilla Glass Armor 2, offering superior anti-reflective coating for outdoor visibility | Crystal Shield ceramic glass, durable but lacks anti-reflective properties |
| Dual telephoto lenses: 3x and 5x optical zoom for versatile photography | Single 3x telephoto lens, limiting zoom flexibility |
| Upgraded 50MP ultra-wide camera for improved image clarity and low-light performance | 50MP ultra-wide lens with a broader 120° field of view |
| Supports 45W wired and 15W wireless charging, sufficient for most users | Excels with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging for quicker power-ups |
| Integrated S-Pen for productivity tasks like note-taking and drawing | No stylus support |
| 5,000 mAh battery | Larger, next-gen 6,000 mAh battery |
| Rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, suitable for everyday environments | IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering better protection against high-pressure water |
| Packed with advanced tools like ProVisual Engine, Virtual Aperture, and cross-app AI actions | Includes AI Notes, AI Reply, and features like Parallel Processing |
Table of Contents:
Read more:
Design and Size
Samsung is going thin
Apparently blue is in fashion. | Image by PhoneArena
Samsung has refined its flagship design yet again with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The phone continues to sport a titanium frame, making it lighter and stronger than aluminum alternatives. The design has been tweaked for better ergonomics, with the S25 Ultra now slimmer with curved corners instead of the sharp-edged ones from before.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 sticks to its core values: clean, modern design. Some might not be big fans of the large circular camera module at the back, but a nice saving grace is the phone's unique Arctic Dawn finish that does not attract fingerprints or scratches and is less slippery.
Samsung has reduced the thickness by a significant magin. | Image by PhoneArena
Dimensions are 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm, which is slightly more compact than the competition. And, of course, Samsung’s signature S-Pen is still integrated into the phone, adding a layer of productivity for note-takers and creatives. But maybe it is in particular the S-Pen that makes the S25 Ultra around 9 grams heavier than the OnePlus 13.
As a side-note, we noticed that Samsung has removed Bluetooth connectivity from this new version, which could be seen as an indication that the company is thinking of ditching this feature in future products.
The OnePlus 13 measures 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5mm, which makes it just a touch taller and thicker than the S25 Ultra. What stands out, though, is its extreme durability. With IP68 and IP69 ratings, this phone is built to handle water and dust like a champ.
In other words, you should be able to throw the OnePlus 13 in a washing machine without any worries of it breaking.
Keep in mind, these ratings are based on tests in controlled environments. Real-world factors like saltwater, soap, or hard drops can still cause damage, so always check the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Keep in mind, these ratings are based on tests in controlled environments. Real-world factors like saltwater, soap, or hard drops can still cause damage, so always check the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Display Differences
You can't go wrong with either screen. | Image by PhoneArena
Samsung continues to set the standard in display technology. The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a 6.9-inch LTPO OLED screen with a dynamic refresh rate of 1–120Hz. It’s protected by Gorilla Glass Armor 2, which great anti-reflective coating for better visibility in bright conditions. Samsung’s displays are known for their vibrant colors, deep contrast, and industry-leading HDR10+ visuals, and the S25 Ultra is no exception.
The OnePlus 13, on the other hand, features a slightly larger 6.8-inch QHD OLED display. While it matches Samsung in refresh rate and resolution, its Crystal Shield ceramic glass lacks the anti-reflective properties of Gorilla Glass Armor. However, OnePlus introduces Eye Care 4.0 certification, which reduces blue light for more comfortable viewing during extended use. What's more, there's also the Aqua Touch 2.0, which makes the OnePlus 13 even more responsive than its predecessor when operated with wet fingers or gloves.
Our display lab tests showed us that the S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13 are capable of very similar peak brightness levels. Both screens are more than visible even in bright conditions, but the S25 Ultra takes the cake here thanks to its anti-reflective coating.
Performance and Software
This is where the battle of innovations is happening
Both devices run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, built on a cutting-edge 3nm process. The S25 Ultra's version of the 8 Elite is slightly overclocked, meaning it should technically be a bit more powerful, and as you'll find out from our tests—it is, but there's a caveat.
For memory, the OnePlus 13 comes out on top, going up to 16GB whereas the S25 Ultra maxes out at 12GB of RAM.
Performance Benchmarks:
It appears that even with the larger vapor chamber, Samsung does not feel confident enough to let the Snapdragon Elite run wild. The phone's software appears to limit the chip's performance aggressively, resulting in throttling during extended heavy loads. The OnePlus 13 does not have that issue.
As for the UI and operating system, you get One UI 7 on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which delivers a polished experience with deep customization options, making Samsung phones truly amazing for power users. Samsung promises 7 years of software updates and security patches, making it among the best in that department.
With this new Galaxy phone generation, you get new AI features including:
- AI Select: A smarter way to interact with on-screen content. For instance, it can identify objects, create GIFs, or suggest edits with Generative AI.
- Circle to Search: Enhanced multimodal capabilities let you search for text, audio, or visuals on your device with contextual results.
- Cross-App Actions: Perform multi-step tasks across apps with a single command, like saving a recipe directly to Notes or scheduling events in Calendar.
- Now Brief and Now Bar: Summarize your day with actionable updates, from weather forecasts to event reminders, right on your lock screen.
That said, we are a bit underwhelmed as far as the AI functionality of the S25 Ultra. For example, the phone should be capable of enlarging the text that appears on screen simply through voice command. Instead, in our experience it led us to the settings making us do that manually, which defeats the purpose.
On the other hand, OnePlus focuses on efficiency and simplicity with its OxygenOS 15, which emphasizes speed and clean navigation. A standout feature is Parallel Processing, designed to make multitasking even smoother by eliminating animation lags. It is one of those small things you don't consciously notice, but has a general impact of your user experience.
OnePlus also promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches, still ensuring long-term software support, albeit not as long as that of Samsung.
As for AI, some of the notable OnePlus 13 features include:
- Global Search & Circle to Search: Allows you to find content across apps using natural language processing for more intuitive navigation.
- AI Notes: Organizes and categorizes notes automatically, making it easier to manage and retrieve information.
- Pass Scan: Lets you store boarding passes directly in Google Wallet for quick and convenient access.
- AI Reply: Suggests contextually relevant replies in messaging apps to streamline communication.
Camera
New image sensors on both sides
The understated camera design of the S25 Ultra is much more flattering. | Image by PhoneArena
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, features the same 200 MP main camera as last year. The new addition is a 50 MP ultra-wide camera that we expect to offer much better image quality than the 12MP one on the predecessor. There are also two telephoto lenses at 3X and 5X optical zoom.
Samsung's new ProVisual Engine provides advanced AI-driven scene optimization, reducing noise and enhancing dynamic range.
Virtual Aperture is another standout feature, giving users greater creative control over depth of field, while Galaxy Log introduces professional-grade video recording capabilities with richer color grading potential.
On the other end of the ring we have the OnePlus 13, which comes equipped with a Hasselblad-tuned triple-camera system. You get a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 120° field of view, and a 50MP telephoto lens offering 3X optical zoom.
On the other end of the ring we have the OnePlus 13, which comes equipped with a Hasselblad-tuned triple-camera system. You get a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 120° field of view, and a 50MP telephoto lens offering 3X optical zoom.
While the OnePlus 13 camera upgrades bring sharper images and better low-light performance compared to previous years, we found the photos to be overly processed. Colors tend to be too vivid, and HDR effects can feel exaggerated, which might not appeal to everyone. The phone also features 120x digital zoom, but the results rely heavily on AI upscaling and don’t quite match the quality of true periscope-style zoom lenses like on the Galaxy Ultra. The 32MP front camera is serviceable but doesn’t stand out compared to competitors.
In our testing, the OnePlus 13 earned a score of 144.9—an improvement over the OnePlus 12 but still trailing behind heavyweights like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. So, we do expect the S25 Ultra to be noticeably better when it comes to camera quality, at least in some areas.
In our testing, the OnePlus 13 earned a score of 144.9—an improvement over the OnePlus 12 but still trailing behind heavyweights like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. So, we do expect the S25 Ultra to be noticeably better when it comes to camera quality, at least in some areas.
PhoneArena Camera Score:
OnePlus has improved the camera system of its flagship phone significantly with the OnePlus 13, and that shows in our Camera Score ranking. For the most part, it was pretty close to scores the S25 Ultra got, with the primary exception being the main camera, which got 13 points more in photography and 9 points more in video recording.
Main Camera
The most visible difference here is in the post-processing that goes behind the scenes. As we stated in our review, the OnePlus 13 delivers photos that feel overprocessed, with a good amount of contrast and some color boosting. The S25 Ultra image is more subdued and has handled HDR better, revealing more information in the top right corner where the sun peers through the clouds.
Everything we noticed during the day shots is also observed when shooting during low light scenarios. In this case, the lower contrast of the S25 Ultra helps reveal more from the shadow areas in the image.
Zoom Quality
The 3X cameras on both phones produce great image quality. Particularly in this comparison though, the S25 Ultra seems to have overexposed a little, losing some detail in the white ornaments of the roof.
Ultra-wide Camera
The new 50MP ultra-wide camera Samsung has included with the S25 Ultra seems to be doing a great job. There's plenty of detail in the shot from both phones. The S25 Ultra captures more thanks to its wider field of view.
Selfies
Both images have lots of detail and great colors in this case. It's safe to say that you can't go wrong with either phone as far as selfies go.
More Camera Samples
Video Quality
First thing you might notice is that the image coming from the S25 Ultra has warmer colors while the OnePlus 13 is a bit cooler and more realistic. The transition between cameras is smooth for both phones, which is nice to see.
The new ultra-wide camera on the S25 Ultra delivers plenty of detail, although the one on the OnePlus 13 is also pretty good. Of course, since the OnePlus lacks a dedicated 5x telephoto camera, there's slightly less detail compared to the S25 Ultra when you zoom in at 5x. At 3x, however, the two seem to be matched during the day.
Surprisingly, the OnePlus also does a great job at stabilizing the video, appearing to match the S25 Ultra in that regard.
At night, the OnePlus was able to capture more light resulting in a brighter image compared to the Galaxy, which was another small surprise that we didn't expect to see. The S25 Ultra is better at avoiding light flares from artificial lights.
What's interesting is that, unlike during the day, when there is limited light in the scene the Galaxy does a much better job color reproduction, in this case by finding the right white balance. Also, the image coming from the new ultra-wide camera on the S25 Ultra is slightly sharper in comparison. And the same advantages for the Galaxy apply when using the telephoto cameras at night.
Battery Life and Charging
OnePlus 13 has much faster charging
It's hard to beat that OnePlus fast charging. | Image by PhoneArena
The S25 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery is paired with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite, just like the OnePlus 13's 6,000 mAh battery is. We will soon have our in-depth battery tests for more detail on the real-world performance of these two.
Something OnePlus has going for it though, is a new Silicon NanoStack tech, said to be much better at preserving the long-term battery health.
Another area where the OnePlus 13 beats the S25 Ultra is charging, with 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging vs the 45W wired and 15W wireless on the S25 Ultra.
Another area where the OnePlus 13 beats the S25 Ultra is charging, with 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging vs the 45W wired and 15W wireless on the S25 Ultra.
PhoneArena Battery and Charging Test Results:
Despite its considerably smaller battery, the S25 Ultra managed to stay on top of the OnePlus 13 and its innovative silicon-carbon battery tech, scoring half an hour more of battery life. But one can argue that things even out considering that it took us 26 minutes less the charge the OnePlus 13 completely. Not to mention the insanely fast wireless charging of the OnePlus.
Specs Comparison
Here's a quick look at the specs for both phones, but feel free to check out our more detailed Galaxy S25 Ultra vs OnePlus 13 specs comparison.
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | OnePlus 13 |
|---|---|
| Size 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm 213 g | Size 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm 210 g |
| Display 6.9" OLED 1-120Hz LTPO Gorilla Glass Armor 2 | Display 6.8" OLED 1-120Hz LTPO Crystal Shield super-ceramic glass |
| Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite made for Galaxy 3nm | Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite 3nm |
| Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12GB/1TB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage | Storage 12/256GB 16/512GB - LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage |
| Cameras 200MP main 12MP ultrawide 10MP 3X telephoto 50MP 5X telephoto 12MP front | Cameras 50 MP wide 50 MP ultrawide 50 MP 3X telephoto --- 32 MP front |
5,000mAh battery | Battery 6,000 mAh |
| Charging USB-C 45W wired 15W wireless | Charging USB-C 80W wired 50W wireless |
Summary
You might be better off saving a few bucks and going with the OnePlus. | Image by PhoneArena
Comparing the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is an interesting exercise, especially since they each bring something unique to the table. The OnePlus 13 seems like a fantastic option for those who care about getting good value without compromising on key features. The world-class charging capabilities, awesome display technology, and the new cameras are nothing to scoff at, especially when you factor in the competitive price and solid build quality.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra on the other hand comes with better support and the S-Pen. More importantly, its camera system is still better in many cases. There's that Gorilla Glass Armor 2 that we love here at the office.
But if we are strictly speaking bang for your buck here, the OnePlus 13 is the more clear choice, at least for most users. Unless you are in need of the extra benefits that come with the S25 Ultra, than it's hard to justify the price difference between these two phones.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra on the other hand comes with better support and the S-Pen. More importantly, its camera system is still better in many cases. There's that Gorilla Glass Armor 2 that we love here at the office.
But if we are strictly speaking bang for your buck here, the OnePlus 13 is the more clear choice, at least for most users. Unless you are in need of the extra benefits that come with the S25 Ultra, than it's hard to justify the price difference between these two phones.
![T-Mobile users can get iPhone 16 for the price of a budget phone (no new line) [UPDATED]](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/167601-wide-two_350/T-Mobile-users-can-get-iPhone-16-for-the-price-of-a-budget-phone-no-new-line-UPDATED.jpg)
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: