Against rivals like the iQOO 15 Ultra, the Ultra trades a smaller battery for a more refined, ecosystem-friendly experience.
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The pricing starts at $1,299 for 256GB, climbing to $1,799 for 1TB.
If you’re coming from an S23 or S23 Ultra, this upgrade will feel substantial. If you already have an S25 Ultra, you can probably sit this one out.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
If you want to jump ship entirely, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max is one best option.
You get an A19 Pro chip that benchmarks well ahead of anything Apple’s shipped before, a redesigned triple 48MP camera system, and a new vapor chamber that keeps the phone cooler under pressure than past Pro Max models.
Apple also finally gave this generation a bigger battery.
Coming from an S23, the switch means relearning some habits — iOS handles things differently than One UI, and you’ll be starting your app library over if you’ve built up a Google Play history.
But if camera consistency and long-term software support matter more to you than customization, that trade-off tends to pay off.
Compared to competitors like the Find X9 Ultra, Apple trades a bit of raw hardware muscle for more consistent day-to-day performance, and that consistency is what a lot of switchers may be looking for.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts around $1,199 for 256GB.
It’s not cheap, but Apple tends to support these phones with updates for longer than most Android makers manage.
Pixel 10 Pro XL
If what you actually want out of an upgrade is smarter software rather than flashier hardware, look at the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Powered by Google’s Tensor G5 chip, it won’t top benchmark charts against Snapdragon-powered rivals. However, that has never been the point of owning a Pixel.
It’s AI, instead.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL arguably has the best AI tools in a phone, from call screening to editing photos with a few taps.
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Its 6.8-inch display is also excellent with 3300 nits peak brightness, and the camera continues Google’s reputation for producing natural, reliable shots without you having to think about settings.
