Choosing between premium smartphones can feel overwhelming, especially when both devices cost over $1,000. The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra represent two very different approaches to flagship phones. One focuses heavily on photography innovation, while the other delivers a well-rounded premium experience.
If you’re considering either of these devices, this comparison will help you understand which phone better matches your daily needs and priorities.
Design and Build: Two Completely Different Philosophies
Huawei’s Curved vs Samsung’s Flat Design
The Pura 80 Ultra embraces the curved design trend from a few years ago. Its quad-curved display wraps around the edges, creating a premium feel that many find comfortable to hold. However, this design choice makes the phone narrower but also contributes to its hefty 233.5-gram weight.
Samsung took the opposite approach with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The company moved away from curved screens, opting for a flatter, more rectangular design that feels modern and practical. At 218 grams, it’s noticeably lighter despite being slightly wider.
The Camera Bump Situation
Here’s where things get interesting. The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra sports one of the largest camera bumps ever seen on a smartphone. This massive protrusion nearly doubles the phone’s thickness in that area, making it wobble on flat surfaces. The Galaxy S25 Ultra uses individual camera cutouts that blend more seamlessly with the back panel.
Materials Matter
Samsung wins the premium materials battle. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium frame and anti-reflective screen coating that reduces glare significantly. Huawei uses aluminum for the frame and their second-generation Kunlun Glass for protection, but without the glare-reducing benefits.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra also includes the integrated S Pen stylus, which many power users find indispensable for productivity tasks and creative work.
Display Quality: Bright and Beautiful, But Different Approaches
Size and Resolution Differences
Both phones feature gorgeous OLED displays, but with subtle differences. The Pura 80 Ultra offers a 6.8-inch screen with 459 PPI pixel density, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra provides a slightly larger 6.9-inch display with sharper 498 PPI resolution.
Brightness Battle
Huawei claims 3,000 nits peak brightness compared to Samsung’s 2,600 nits. However, real-world testing shows the Galaxy S25 Ultra actually delivers better brightness performance where it matters most. The Samsung display also excels in dimming capabilities for comfortable nighttime use.
Both displays support 120Hz refresh rates and look stunning for media consumption, gaming, and daily use. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s anti-reflective coating gives it a significant advantage in bright outdoor conditions.
Performance: Where the Biggest Gap Emerges
Chipset Reality Check
This comparison reveals the biggest challenge facing Huawei today. The Pura 80 Ultra runs on the Kirin 9020 chipset built on outdated 7nm technology. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra powers ahead with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite on cutting-edge 3nm architecture.
The performance difference is dramatic. Samsung’s phone delivers nearly three times faster single-core performance and twice the multi-core speed. For demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or running multiple apps simultaneously, the Galaxy S25 Ultra simply outclasses its competitor.
Memory and Storage Options
Interestingly, Huawei provides more RAM at 16GB compared to Samsung’s 12GB. The Pura 80 Ultra comes in 512GB and 1TB storage variants, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers more flexibility with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options.
For most users, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 12GB RAM proves more than sufficient, while the efficient Snapdragon processor makes better use of available resources.
Camera Systems: Innovation Meets Practicality
Huawei’s Dual Periscope Innovation
The Pura 80 Ultra’s standout feature is its innovative dual periscope telephoto system. Using a clever prism mechanism, it switches between 3.7x and 10x optical zoom using a single sensor. This engineering achievement provides impressive zoom flexibility in a compact design.
The main camera features a large 1-inch sensor that captures excellent detail and light, even though the image processing sometimes over-saturates colors and boosts contrast more than necessary.
Samsung’s Proven Multi-Camera Setup
The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes a more traditional approach with separate cameras for different focal lengths. Its 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 5x periscope, and 10MP 3x telephoto create a versatile system that handles various shooting scenarios well.
Samsung’s image processing tends to produce more natural-looking photos with better dynamic range, though some might prefer Huawei’s more vibrant color rendition.
Real-World Photography Performance
Both phones excel at photography, but serve different preferences. The Pura 80 Ultra appeals to users who want dramatic, eye-catching images with punchy colors and high contrast. The Galaxy S25 Ultra suits those who prefer more natural, balanced photos that require less editing.
For video recording and computational photography features, Samsung’s established ecosystem and processing algorithms provide more consistent results across different lighting conditions.
Software Experience: The Make-or-Break Factor
Android vs EMUI Limitations
This represents the Pura 80 Ultra’s most significant weakness. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra runs the latest Android 15 with Samsung’s refined One UI 7 interface, the Huawei device remains stuck on EMUI 15 based on the outdated Android 12.
Samsung promises seven years of software updates, ensuring long-term security and feature improvements. Huawei’s update timeline remains unclear, and the software feels dated compared to modern Android experiences.
Google Services Gap
The absence of Google Play Services on the Pura 80 Ultra creates daily frustrations for most users. Popular apps like Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Pay either don’t work or require complicated workarounds. This limitation significantly impacts the phone’s practicality for mainstream users.
Battery Life and Charging: Speed vs Longevity
All-Day Performance
Both phones deliver solid all-day battery life, with the Pura 80 Ultra’s 5,170mAh battery and Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5,000mAh capacity performing similarly in real-world testing. The Samsung device shows better web browsing endurance, while Huawei excels at video playback.
Charging Speed Advantage
Huawei dominates the charging speed battle. The Pura 80 Ultra’s 100W wired charging fills the battery in just 39 minutes, compared to Samsung’s 69 minutes with 45W charging. The wireless charging difference is even more dramatic – 55 minutes for Huawei versus nearly two hours for Samsung.
If fast charging is a priority in your daily routine, the Pura 80 Ultra offers a significant advantage that could influence your decision.
Value Proposition: Price vs Practicality
Cost Considerations
At approximately $1,220, the Pura 80 Ultra costs similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra but delivers less overall value for most users. The camera innovation and fast charging don’t compensate for the software limitations and performance gaps.
Long-term Usability
The Galaxy S25 Ultra represents a safer long-term investment. With guaranteed software updates, full Google services integration, superior performance, and Samsung’s established ecosystem support, it maintains relevance longer.
Making Your Decision: Which Phone Fits Your Needs?
Choose the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra If:
- Photography is your absolute top priority
- You prefer vibrant, dramatic image processing
- Fast charging is essential for your lifestyle
- You don’t rely heavily on Google services
- You appreciate unique design and engineering innovation
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra If:
- You want the best overall smartphone experience
- Software updates and long-term support matter to you
- You need reliable performance for demanding tasks
- Google services integration is important
- You value the S Pen for productivity
- You prefer more natural photo processing
Final Thoughts: Innovation vs Practicality
The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra showcases impressive engineering and camera innovation that deserves recognition. However, for most users seeking a premium smartphone experience, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra provides better overall value, performance, and long-term usability.
While it’s disappointing that political and business factors limit Huawei’s software capabilities, the reality is that smartphones serve as our daily digital companions. The Galaxy S25 Ultra simply offers a more complete, frustration-free experience that most users will appreciate over time.
The choice ultimately depends on your priorities, but unless photography innovation outweighs all other considerations, the Galaxy S25 Ultra emerges as the more practical choice for premium smartphone buyers in 2025.