Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Take your pick of 2025's flagships

The fall season was packed with a ton of exciting releases, highlighted by the Google Pixel 9 series. However, we're already amidst the winter season, and that means new Samsung and OnePlus flagships. The Samsung Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 figure to be two of the best Android phones in 2025, so how do they compare?

That's a complicated question. The OnePlus 13 appears to have an early edge, but it’s $100 more expensive than the Galaxy S25 — and much bigger. The Galaxy S25, meanwhile, is cheaper and more readily available at U.S. carriers. Here’s how these two phones shake up and which one is right for you.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Design

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Samsung's Galaxy S25 lineup includes the standard Galaxy S25 along with the bigger Galaxy S25 Plus and the premium Galaxy S25 Ultra. On the other hand, the OnePlus 13 is the brand's only flagship model for 2025. It's important to remember that the OnePlus 13's 6.82-inch screen size and large form factor will feel more like the Galaxy S25 Ultra in hand. However, OnePlus' flagships are usually priced like Samsung's base-model phones, which is why you may be choosing between a OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25.

Still, the size difference may be the biggest reason to choose one of these phones over the other. It's jarring. The Samsung Galaxy S25 measures 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2mm, and weighs just 162 grams. That's relatively miniature compared to the OnePlus 13, which measures 162.9 x 76.5 x 8.5-8.9 mm. If you like small phones, the choice is easy: go with the Galaxy S25. Want a phone that feels more like the Galaxy S25 Ultra on a budget? The OnePlus 13 is your pick.

There are a few other design and build differences worth noting. The OnePlus 13 has a circular camera housing that holds its triple-camera system and flash. It's physically loud, off-center, and large. By comparison, the Galaxy S25's camera lenses are separated and much more understated than the OnePlus 13's camera array.

Both phones will have excellent durability ratings; the Galaxy S25 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, while the OnePlus 13 is IP69 rated. The newer IP69 rating tests the OnePlus 13 against high-pressure and high-temperature water jets although likely won't make a major impact during daily use. The Galaxy S25 also has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 coverings for the front and rear glass, and the OnePlus 13 has a Crystal Shield glass front.

The two phones will have different fit and finish options, too. The Galaxy S25 comes in the following colors: Icyblue, Navy, Mint, and Silver Shadow. They are available on a glass back, whereas the OnePlus 13 can be configured with an eco-leather or glass back in either black, blue, or white colorways.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Hardware and specs

Both the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which includes the company's custom Oryon cores for greater performance and efficiency. However, the Galaxy S25 has a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy variant co-designed by Samsung and Qualcomm. It’s overclocked and faster than the OnePlus 13’s base Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.

While the Galaxy S25 and OnePlus 13 both use the same display technology (AMOLED, 120Hz), their screen sizes are a key differentiator. The Galaxy S25 is still smaller than the 6.82-inch OnePlus 13.

Samsung once again didn’t upgrade the camera system on the Galaxy S25. That means the flagship ships with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens. By all indications, the OnePlus 13 has a better camera system. With a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide, and a periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, the OnePlus 13 looks to have better rear camera hardware in almost every way. Samsung may have improved its image signal processing and computational photography to pull more out of the Galaxy S25's hardware, though.

The OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 have the same connectivity options, packing Wi-Fi 7, NFC, 5G, and Bluetooth 5.4. However, the base Galaxy S25 lacks UWB. The OnePlus 13 also comes with more RAM options, with as much as 2x the amount as the Galaxy S25.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Performance and software

Theoretically, the OnePlus 13 and the Galaxy S25 should offer similar performance, since they are both powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Performance will be great on both devices, because the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is significantly improved compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. As previously mentioned, the Galaxy S25 will be faster due to its overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SoC.

Both phones are powered by Android 15, but different skins. The OnePlus 13 has OxygenOS 15, while the Galaxy S25 will get One UI 7. At the end of the day, which one you prefer will come down to preference. However, the Galaxy S25 has more AI features and will get longer software support. Samsung pledges seven years of OS upgrades, but OnePlus is only giving OnePlus 13 buyers four years of OxygenOS upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. OnePlus 13: Which should you buy?

The OnePlus 13 has better hardware overall than the Samsung Galaxy S25, but it’s also bigger and more expensive than the latter flagship. If you’re looking for the most affordable and compact Galaxy phone, the Galaxy S25 is your pick. The OnePlus 13, on the other hand, is a Galaxy S25 Plus or Ultra killer at an attractive $900 price point and is definitely worth considering.