Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Xiaomi Poco F9 Ultra

EDITORIAL: The S25 Ultra may be an incremental upgrade in hardware and camera tech but it is a world leader in AI functionality as Samsung turns to AI software to set itself apart from the competition. This is a phone with top performance, a full day of battery life, excellent photo and video results and 7 years of very stable OS package. Included is DeX - still the very best desktop replacement software there is. The screen, while not the brightest minimizes reflections and is more usable outdoors than any other. This year, Samsung decided to give us an Ultra with improved battery endurance and faster charging too. The lack of expandable memory is the only thing keeping the S25 Ultra back. The included stylus lost its Bluetooth but still works great.

EDITORIAL: Poco used to stand for "flagship killer" with a combination of excellent performance and lower price. For years, the compromise was the brand and imaging performance. But everything has an end and we're seeing a new Poco now: exceptional endurance, top-tier components with improved imaging and a flagship-level price. While disappointing to many, F9 Ultra is still a phone with a lot.