The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro XL match-up is one we can't wait to see play out in 2025. But we don't have to wait until then — thanks to the tireless work of leakers, we can already see some of the ways this battle will go once Samsung's new flagship arrives.

Even putting aside rumored upgrades to its cameras and chipset and the alleged design revamp, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be one of the biggest phone launches of 2025 simply because it's Samsung's premium flagship. But the S25 Ultra will arrive in a smartphone market with tough competition like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL — a phone that shows just how smart and capable a premium smartphone could be, while also undercutting Samsung on price.

While the Galaxy S25 Ultra's specs and features are not confirmed right now, we're comparing what's been leaked about that phone to the Pixel 9 Pro XL to see how the phones may match up. That way you can start to figure out whether you're safe to buy a Pixel right now, or if waiting until the new year for the new Galaxy could be the smarter bet.

Unfortunately for us, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to cost at least $1,299. That’s the same price as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but up over the $1,199 of previous S series Ultras. It’s also way higher than the $1,099 starting price for thePixel 9 Pro XL, even though that's the most expensive Google phone, apart from the company's foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold. These figures get a little fuzzier when you pay for these phones with a contract rather than buying them outright, but it’s still a distinct advantage for Google.