Compare Fall 2025 flagship phones - Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Pixel 10 Pro - on cameras, performance, AI, battery and charging. Pick yours.
© A. Krivonosov
Fall 2025 is when flagship smartphones finally prove what they can do in everyday use: cameras inch toward small-DSLR quality, performance begs for tougher workloads, and features like AI, satellite connectivity, and blazing-fast charging are no longer out of reach. So which models are truly worth your attention right now? The Pepelats News team picked five standouts—either already on shelves or due in October—and took a closer look at what each does best.
The first thing people check on a new phone is how it shoots. In 2025, the toolkit has grown: beyond the main sensor, you now see telephoto and periscope lenses, ultrawide modules, and even Log video capture. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra comes across as a camera workhorse, pairing a 200 MP primary sensor with multiple telephotos and upgraded stabilization. Industry assessments place the Galaxy S25 lineup near the top of mobile photography rankings.
It’s still early to judge the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max—review units haven’t reached experts yet—but on paper its optics and fast autofocus deserve attention.
Judging by Apple’s trajectory, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will keep pushing its cross-camera data fusion and a stronger Night mode. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro continues to lean on computational magic: low light, portraits, and video are where Pixel traditionally feels most at home.
Lastly, the fresh OnePlus 15 is, according to announcements, set to arrive with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a DetailMax image pipeline aimed at the class leaders.
The upshot: for a no-compromise all-rounder, the S25 Ultra looks like the safe choice; for those keen on bold photo experiments, consider the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max or OnePlus 15; if you value a restrained, photography-first feel, the iPhone or Pixel are more your style.
A 2025 flagship can’t just be “fast”—it has to stay consistent under pressure, avoid hesitation even in heavy games, and hold high performance without throttling.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy and puts up impressive numbers in benchmarks and real work, including video editing, AI insertions, and AR scenes.
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is built on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and pairs it with advanced cooling, which helps sustain comfortable frame rates in demanding titles.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max typically leads in stability and efficiency thanks to tight hardware–software integration. It may concede a peak here or there, but over long, sustained loads the iPhone often pulls ahead.
Google’s Pixel 10 Pro leans on its Tensor G5 made by TSMC rather than Samsung. It’s not a raw numbers champion, yet software optimization often keeps the Pixel smooth even with serious tasks.
The OnePlus 15 aims to be a speedster among flagships, balancing high output with minimal UI latency through its skin and new silicon.
If you want absolute muscle, the S25 Ultra or Xiaomi 17 Pro Max are strong candidates. If you’re after a phone that feels fast and stays ready, the iPhone or OnePlus land well.
What separates a flagship from a “near-flagship” now? In 2025, it’s the tech: on-device AI, computational video, satellite connectivity, and bright, razor-sharp, nearly bezel-free displays. Samsung is weaving Galaxy AI throughout the S25 family, unlocking new camera modes, voice control, and contextual prompts. Xiaomi isn’t far behind: its flagships bring AI tools, automatic styles, and high-watt wireless charging. The OnePlus 15 is slated to debut a new image engine, DetailMax.
Apple in 2025 expanded satellite capabilities, improved AR/VR features, and added smart, iPhone 17–tuned functions to iOS. Pixel, as ever, will keep experimenting with AI in the camera.
If you want everything at once without trade-offs, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra looks like the most versatile pick. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max suits those who want a bit more edge in the camera and fewer system constraints. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is for anyone living in Apple’s ecosystem who values polish, consistency, and long-term support. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro is for those who want an intelligent camera, simplicity, and hassle-free software. The OnePlus 15 reads like a dark horse—mixing power, design, and fresh tech without the extra baggage.