For the previous a number of years, my routine has remained the identical. I’ll get pleasure from utilizing the most recent OnePlus flagship. I really like the efficiency and worth for cash the corporate is thought for, and the OnePlus 11 and 12 have been legitimately good smartphones. Nonetheless, part of me is all the time glad to get again to the nice and cozy embrace of the Samsung Galaxy collection as soon as the overview interval is over.
I’m an old-school Galaxy Notice fan, and although we’re a great distance from that period, the Galaxy Extremely telephones do sufficient to maintain me hooked. Samsung affords glorious units with nice software program and highly effective {hardware} to match. Nevertheless, 2025 is popping out otherwise than in earlier years, and OnePlus has stepped up its recreation with the OnePlus 13. Let’s discover out if it did sufficient to make me neglect in regards to the Galaxy S25 Extremely and maintain my SIM precisely the place it’s.
Learn our overview
The OnePlus 13 is nice sufficient to make you say goodbye to Samsung
A real day by day driver candidate
What I like in regards to the OnePlus 13
A whole 2025 flagship cellphone
The OnePlus mission assertion all the time sounded good. The corporate provided the most recent flagship processor and premium supplies for lower than the competitors, permitting US clients to expertise one thing completely different with a tool that includes spectacular energy with out the Samsung price ticket. However one thing would all the time maintain me again from totally having fun with the telephones.
That’s not the case this yr, as OnePlus did a improbable job making the OnePlus 13 a whole flagship expertise. I’ll begin with the design. While you decide up the OnePlus 13, you’ll be able to instantly inform the engineers put effort and time into the system’s really feel. Regardless of the bigger digicam array, it’s balanced, and I really like the skinny aluminum band across the edge. It’s really a thicker cellphone than the Galaxy S25 Extremely however feels thinner due to the design — it’s a improbable system to carry.
I additionally love that OnePlus provides us a 16GB RAM variant. You’ll pay a further $100, however it’s nonetheless considerably cheaper than a base Galaxy S25 Extremely. It provides added peace of thoughts that my OnePlus 13 can be snappy for years, even with no matter AI developments are in retailer. With the Snapdragon 8 Elite, my OnePlus 13 is a efficiency monster with a improbable gaming expertise. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset delivers as marketed, and I’m excited to see what highly effective purposes will finally take full benefit of it.
OnePlus already had a bonus over Samsung concerning charging speeds, however the firm took issues additional with the battery for 2025. It’s best to imagine every part you’ve heard in regards to the OnePlus 13’s 6,000mAh silicon-carbide battery — it’s improbable. I get a full two days of battery life, whereas, with the Galaxy S25 Extremely, I’m trying to find a charger after lunchtime on the second day. You won’t assume that’s a giant deal, as you all the time bear in mind to plug your cellphone in in a single day. Nevertheless, it’s a superb security blanket while you don’t, and every time I neglect, I don’t fear about getting via my day.
Even for those who neglect, quicker charging speeds guarantee you’ll be able to prime off shortly. The OnePlus 13 helps 80 and 100W wired recharging with the right adapters. These are huge figures, contemplating Samsung is caught at 45W once more. OnePlus makes use of a dual-cell design to assist with long-term battery well being, which is a priority individuals have with quicker charging speeds. All informed, the OnePlus 13 comes out forward on battery.
The {hardware} on OnePlus units has all the time been improbable, however the software program has prevented me from really having fun with them. I don’t assume OxygenOS 15 is best than One UI 7. Nevertheless, OxygenOS 15 is in a much-improved place in comparison with earlier years, and it’s now not a destructive for OnePlus telephones. It might not be a motive I’d purchase a OnePlus 13, however it’s not a motive I’d keep away from choosing one up.
OnePlus 13 digicam samples
Digital camera efficiency is another excuse I’ve beforehand prevented OnePlus telephones. Pictures seem a step beneath these of Samsung, Google, and Apple, and whereas I’m not a shutterbug, I need to know that my flagship cellphone will take an honest point-and-shoot picture when wanted. No matter OnePlus and Hasselblad did for the OnePlus 13 is working, because the photographs are glorious. Nighttime pictures is improved, and whereas it’s all a private desire, there are cases once I desire the output from my OnePlus 13 over the Galaxy S25 Extremely — one thing I wouldn’t have been capable of say in earlier years.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely picture samples
What I like in regards to the Galaxy S25 Extremely
A best-in-class Samsung show with glorious software program
I’m not going to rehash my misgivings in regards to the Galaxy S25 Extremely. It didn’t embody the improvements I hoped for on the {hardware} facet, as Samsung appears content material interesting to earlier Galaxy house owners buying and selling in older telephones. In the event you’re coming from a Galaxy S21 Extremely, you’ll discover significant upgrades, and it’s laborious to say something unhealthy in regards to the cellphone. It’s a superb performer in a modern (albeit non-descript) bundle. In the event you’re a long-time Samsung fan, and the most recent battery and digicam {hardware} don’t excite you, the Galaxy S25 Extremely is improbable.
Nevertheless, I’d be fooling myself if I stated Samsung nonetheless did not maintain vital benefits over OnePlus. One UI 7 is an exceptional piece of software program, and it’s silky clean on the Galaxy S25 Extremely. It’s very important to distinguish One UI 7 from Galaxy AI, because the latter is in a clumsy spot. Samsung touted AI as a motive you’d purchase a Galaxy S25 Extremely, however the options aren’t prepared for primetime. It’s not the transformative expertise the corporate hoped for, however it doesn’t imply all is misplaced. One UI 7 is stable, and Samsung affords 7 One UI model upgrades and seven years of software program help. There are many causes you’d select a Galaxy S25 Extremely over a OnePlus 13; its software program is on the prime of the record.
Another excuse you’d purchase a Galaxy S25 Extremely is the show. I perceive it’s not the most recent show know-how, however it’s a stunning panel — the most effective I’ve seen on a smartphone in a very long time. I don’t know what number of cellphone screens I stare at yearly, however the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s show dazzles me each time I decide it up. I’m glad Samsung moved away from the pure shade tones on the Galaxy S24 Extremely, returning to the colourful hues it is recognized for. You possibly can nonetheless dial again the saturation if wanted, however I really like having the choice. We stare at our smartphone shows for hours a day, so a very good panel is important. I perceive some customers will wrestle with PWM dimming on the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however it’s an unimaginable smartphone show that may please most of us.
I’m disillusioned that Samsung eliminated some S pen capabilities, however I’m glad it’s there. I take advantage of it to scroll via social media and scribble notes on paperwork. It’s improbable for cropping GIFs to ship to associates and write down a quantity shortly. I hate to see the S pen’s position diminished, and I hope it’s not an indication that Samsung plans to take away it completely.
It’s not a straightforward choice between the 2
I desire the OnePlus 13 over the Galaxy S25 Extremely this yr, however I perceive it’s troublesome for most individuals to change. There aren’t OnePlus shops within the US you’ll be able to stroll into when one thing goes improper, and you’ll’t finance one via your service. A smartphone is a lifeline for individuals, and the considered going with out when one thing goes improper frightens many customers.
In most years, I wouldn’t point out service retailer financing, however Samsung focused improve cycles to promote new flagships, banking on customers coming from an older Galaxy mannequin. In the event you’re an fanatic like myself, decide up a OnePlus 13. In the event you’ve by no means eliminated a SIM card from a cellphone, purchase the Galaxy S25 Extremely.
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OnePlus 13
The OnePlus 13 is a beast of a cellphone. With a refreshed design, a principally curveless show, and a large 6,000mAh battery able to getting you thru a day with out breaking a sweat, this may very well be the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphone to beat in 2025. And hey, it is obtained a fairly nice digicam system, too.
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Extremely leaves the Notice-like design behind for the very first time. With flat edges, curved corners, and a large 6.9-inch show, this can be a fashionable flagship via and thru — and sure, that S Pen remains to be right here too.
