If you asked me a few years ago which phone is the “best,” I’d probably give you a straight answer. But in 2026, after spending time watching, comparing, and mentally living with devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and Pixel 10 Pro XL, I’ve realized something important: there is no single best flagship anymore.
Instead, each of these phones is excellent at different things. And which one feels “best” really depends on how you use your phone.
So in this article, I’m going to walk you through these three devices the way I personally look at phones from design and display to performance, cameras, battery life, and everyday usability. This isn’t a spec-sheet fight. This is about how these phones actually feel and behave in real life.
First Impressions
The first thing I noticed when putting these three side by side is that they all feel truly premium, but in very different ways.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL immediately stood out to me visually. There’s something about its Moonstone color, polished edges, and signature camera bar that just feels clean and confident. It doesn’t scream for attention, but it quietly looks really good.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra felt familiar almost too familiar. If you’ve used recent Samsung Ultras, this one feels like the most refined version of the same design language. That’s not a bad thing, but it doesn’t surprise you anymore.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, looks fresh this year. Apple clearly wanted to shake things up, and while not everyone loves the new two-tone look or the orange color, it definitely doesn’t look like last year’s iPhone.
Right away, it was clear to me that this comparison wouldn’t be about “better” or “worse,” but about preference.
Design and Build Quality
Pixel 10 Pro XL: Quietly the Best-Looking
If I had to choose purely based on design, the Pixel 10 Pro XL wins for me.
The polished aluminum frame paired with the Moonstone glass back looks classy without being flashy. The camera bar is still very “Pixel,” but the shape feels refined and intentional. Yes, the bezels are a bit thicker than the other two, but honestly, they didn’t bother me much in daily use.
What surprised me most is how comfortable it feels in hand. The slightly narrower aspect ratio makes it easier to hold, even though it’s one of the heavier phones here.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Powerful but Familiar
Samsung’s design is iconic at this point. The boxy shape, vertical camera layout, matte titanium frame it all screams “Ultra.”
That said, I’m personally starting to feel a bit bored of this design. It looks great, but it feels like Samsung has been playing it safe for years. This is the most refined Ultra yet, but it still feels like the same phone year after year.
On the plus side, the camera layout looks cleaner than the iPhone’s camera bar, and the phone feels solid and professional.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Fresh but Slippery
Apple definitely changed things up this year. The anodized aluminum unibody and horizontal camera bar give it a rugged, Apple Watch Ultra-inspired vibe.
It actually feels the best in hand out of the three thanks to its smooth edges, but it’s also very slippery. And while the design looks modern, I’m personally not a huge fan of seeing so many orange phones everywhere lately.
Still, credit where it’s due the iPhone looks different, and that’s refreshing.
Display Experience
All three phones have stunning OLED displays, but they shine in different ways.
Galaxy S25 Ultra: The Media King
Samsung takes the crown here.
The anti-reflective coating is excellent, especially outdoors. Combined with super thin bezels and a tiny punch-hole camera, it genuinely feels like holding a flat-screen TV in your pocket.
If you watch a lot of videos, browse social media, or just enjoy immersive content, this display is hard to beat. It feels the most “all-screen” of the three.
Pixel 10 Pro XL: Bright and Sharp
The Pixel’s display gets extremely bright, which makes it fantastic for outdoor use. Text also looks incredibly sharp even sharper than the iPhone in my eyes.
The downside is the thicker bezels and a slightly larger punch-hole camera. It doesn’t look as futuristic as the Samsung, but it’s still a very high-quality panel.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Accurate but Conservative
Apple’s display tuning is excellent, especially if you care about color accuracy. Scrolling is smooth thanks to ProMotion, and the bezels are nicely trimmed.
But Apple still hasn’t pushed resolution higher, and the Dynamic Island remains a visual distraction for me. It’s not bad it’s just unchanged.
Overall, Samsung wins for pure display quality, with Pixel and iPhone trading strengths.
Performance and Everyday Speed
When it comes to raw performance, there’s a clear order.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra feels the fastest overall, especially in graphics-heavy tasks and benchmarks. What’s impressive is that it’s already a year old and still outperforming newer devices.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is right behind it. Apple’s performance stability is excellent, especially under sustained load. It’s reliable and smooth no matter what you throw at it.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is noticeably behind in raw power. Some games don’t even run natively, and heavy tasks take longer. That said, day-to-day usage still feels smooth because Google optimizes the software well.
Interestingly, the Pixel has 16GB of RAM, more than the others, but that doesn’t fully make up for the weaker chipset.
Software Experience
This is where personal taste really comes into play.
Samsung One UI: Feature Heaven
Samsung gives you everything multitasking, pop-up windows, split screen, DeX, deep customization, and S Pen support.
It’s not minimalist, but if you’re paying flagship money and want all the features, this is the most entertaining phone long-term.
iOS: Simple and Appliance-Like
The iPhone feels like an appliance in the best way. You don’t think about it it just works.
Apps are polished, updates are fast, and everything feels predictable. If you want a phone that blends into your life without demanding attention, iOS does that beautifully.
Pixel UI: The Clean Google Experience
The Pixel feels like the Android version of an iPhone simple, smooth, and very optimized.
Where it really shines is Google integration. AI features, camera intelligence, and overall system behavior feel tightly connected to Google services. If you live inside Google apps, nothing beats the Pixel.
Camera Performance
This is one of the most interesting parts of the comparison.
Pixel 10 Pro XL: Photography Champion
For still photos, the Pixel is my favorite.
Its AI processing is incredible, especially when zooming. Images that initially look rough suddenly sharpen after processing, and it’s honestly impressive to watch happen.
Night photos, zoom shots, and general point-and-shoot photography are where the Pixel feels “smartest.”
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Versatility King
Samsung gives you the most tools.
Expert RAW, pro video modes, log recording, dual recording it’s all here. If you like tweaking settings and experimenting, this is the most flexible camera system.
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Video and Front Camera Winner
For video, the iPhone still leads.
Video quality, stabilization, social media optimization, and front-facing camera performance are excellent. Group selfies and family videos look consistently great with minimal effort.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life surprised me a bit.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max lasts the longest overall, with excellent standby time.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is very close behind and improves over time thanks to adaptive usage learning. For an Android phone, it’s impressively efficient.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra, while good enough for a full day, doesn’t compete with the other two here. It charges faster, but it doesn’t last as long.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Each phone has clear strengths:
- Pixel: Best photography, best Google integration, clean software
- Samsung: Best display, best performance, most features
- iPhone: Best video, best battery life, smooth ecosystem experience
And also clear compromises.
Who Each Phone Is For
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: For photographers, Google ecosystem users, and people who want smart features over raw power
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: For power users, multitaskers, and anyone who wants maximum control and versatility
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: For Apple ecosystem users, content creators, and people who value simplicity and battery life
Final Thoughts
After looking at all three, I honestly don’t think you can make a “wrong” choice here.
Each phone excels in its own way, and each one will make a certain type of user very happy. The key is being honest with yourself about how you actually use your phone.
Pick the one that matches your lifestyle, not just the one with the loudest specs.
