Gold Market 2025-26: Why Gold Prices are Climbing and Where They Could Go

Let’s dive into the details of Google’s new Pixel 10 Pro XL, Apple’s just-released iPhone 17 Pro Max, and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. I’ll walk through each category  design, display, camera, battery, performance, software, and pricing  in plain language (like tech-talk over coffee), and give my own take at the end. Spoiler: they’re all great phones, but they have very different vibes.

Design & Build Quality

All three phones feel very high-end, but in different ways. The Pixel 10 Pro XL has a refined Google look a satin‑finish aluminum frame, a polished matte glass back, and that distinctive camera bar across the top. It’s built with recycled metals (100% recycled aluminum in the framestore.google.com) and is rated IP68 for dust/water resistancestore.google.com. At 6.8 inches tall and about 8.2 ounces, it’s hefty but well balanced in hand. Google even calls it their “most premium design” for Pixel, with new colors like Moonstone and Jadeblog.google.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max also opts for metal and glass, but in classic Apple fashion. It’s a new “forged plateau” aluminum unibody with a glass back protected by Ceramic Shield 2 (for 3× better scratch resistance)apple.com. Apple laser-welded a vapor chamber into the aluminum frame to keep it cool and squeeze in a bigger batteryapple.com. It’s 6.9 inches tall, and Apple’s designers say it’s their strongest iPhone ever. In-hand, the iPhone is very solid and a bit heavier think around 240g (just guessing)  with a curved edge. Apple offers it in new finishes like deep blue, cosmic orange, and silverapple.com.

Samsung’s S25 Ultra follows the Galaxy Ultra tradition: large at 6.9 inches and surprisingly sleek. Samsung slimmed down the edges (new rounded design)samsung.com, making it slightly thinner than the S24 Ultra. In fact, a Tom’s Guide reviewer called the S25 Ultra “one of the best-made smartphones I’ve ever used.”9to5google.com. It’s lighter than the Pixel about 7.7 ouncestomsguide.com  thanks to that thinner aluminum (or titanium‑grade) body. The ultra has an embedded S Pen slot, too (though the pen no longer has Bluetooth). Its camera bump is distinctive but low-key, and the bezels are razor-thin.

Personal vibe: The Pixel feels a bit blocky and purposeful, the iPhone feels sleek and monolithic, and the Samsung feels futuristic (and like it’s begging to doodle on the screen with that S Pen). All three will look and feel premium, but I find the Pixel’s matte back (especially in Jade) very classy, the iPhone’s color options fun, and Samsung’s smooth finish elegant.

Display

You won’t lose out on quality here all three pack top-tier screens with buttery 120 Hz refresh rates and tons of brightness.

• Pixel 10 Pro XL: A 6.8‑inch “Super Actua” LTPO OLED. It’s 1344×2992 resolution (around QHD+) at ~486 PPI. It supports 1–120 Hz refresh (the usual smooth OLED trick) and even hits an eye-popping 3,300 nits peak brightness when showing small elementsstore.google.com. (For HDR content it’s about 2200 nits.) Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects it. In practice, this means the Pixel’s screen stays readable in bright sun.

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: A 6.9‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED, also 120 Hz ProMotion. Apple claims up to 3,000 nits peak (the brightest ever on an iPhone)apple.com. It also has an Always‑On mode and really excellent contrast. Both sizes (6.3″ and 6.9″) have the new Ceramic Shield front, for durabilityapple.com. The iPhone’s colors are typically very accurate and vivid.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: A 6.9‑inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3200×1440 (QHD+) at ~500 PPI, 120 Hz adaptive. Samsung’s panel hits about 2,600 nits at peak brightnesssamsung.com. It’s a gorgeous screen – one of the best at handling HDR. The Samsung is slightly dimmer on paper than the Pixel or iPhone, but still extremely bright (and in some cases it maxes out at 2,600 nits in sunlightsamsung.com).

In short: the Pixel may have the technical edge in peak brightness (it’s even higher in spec than the iPhone), but all screens look amazingly sharp and fluid. The Pixel and Samsung are slightly taller/rounder on the edges, while the iPhone has a tiny notch at the top center (it uses a bigger front camera system called “Center Stage”apple.com). I actually like the extra screen real estate on the Pixel and Samsung, but iPhone fans swear by Apple’s color accuracy and True Tone.

Camera Performance (Rear & Front)

Camera battles are fierce on these phones. All three have pro-grade multi‑camera setups, but the style of photography is different.

• Pixel 10 Pro XL (Rear): It has Google’s Pro triple camera: 50 MP wide (1/1.3″ sensor, ƒ/1.68), 48 MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.7), and a new 48 MP 5× telephoto lens (ƒ/2.8, optical zoom up to 5×, plus “Super Res Zoom” to 100×!)store.google.com. This is basically the same hardware as last year’s Pixel 9 Pro XL, but with one big new trick: ProRes Zoom. AI software now lets you zoom all the way to 100× with quite usable results. Google’s tagline is up to “Pro Res Zoom 100x”store.google.com. In real life, Pixel images tend to have punchy colors and incredible detail, especially at low light (thanks to Night Sight) and the dedicated Macro Focus modestore.google.com. The Pixel’s style is often vibrant and balanced, and its stabilization for video is rock solid.

  Front (Selfie): The Pixel’s front camera is a monstrous 42 MP Dual-PD sensor (ƒ/2.2)store.google.com. That means it can capture crazy detail in selfies. It also does 4K@60fps video and has features like Cinematic Blur, Macro video, and Audio Magic Eraser.

• iPhone 17 Pro Max (Rear): Apple went with three 48 MP Fusion cameras: Main wide (likely around ƒ/1.6 or so), Ultrawide, and an all-new Telephoto 48 MP. Apple claims the iPhone uses those three to simulate “eight lenses” in software, but the story is it has an effectively 8× “optical-quality” zoom (probably a combination of the 48 MP tele and digital crop)apple.com. The Tele is the longest on an iPhone yet. In practice, iPhone photos are extremely true-to-life with natural skin tones. Apple also has their Photonic Engine (improved HDR) and great Night mode. The iPhone lags a bit behind the Samsung and Pixel in raw zoom or megapixels, but it usually nails exposure and color.

  Front (Selfie): The big news is the 18 MP Center Stage cameraapple.com. This is an Ultrawide front cam that does autofocus and tracks subjects (like the iPad does), so group selfies or video calls keep everyone centered. It captures detailed images and 4K video. Apple’s Cinematic mode works here too, letting you rack focus between people.

• Samsung S25 Ultra (Rear): Samsung focuses on hardware specs. It sports a 200 MP main sensor (f/1.7) – a behemoth, arguably the sharpest wide sensor on any phone today. Then a 50 MP 5× telephoto (optical 5× zoom, ƒ/3.4), a 10 MP 3× telephoto (ƒ/2.4), and a 50 MP ultrawide (ƒ/1.9)tomsguide.com. In other words, it can literally shoot from ultrawide all the way through 100× space zoom (using a mix of that 5× tele and AI). Colors are rich and vivid (sometimes punchier than reality), and the 200 MP photos have insane detail (especially in daylight). By Samsung’s camera is versatile. On board is Samsung’s new ProVisual Engine for processing. In practice, S25 Ultra rivals (and often beats) the others in zoom and high-res shots, though skin tones can be a tiny bit warmer.

  Front (Selfie): The Galaxy uses a 12 MP front (ƒ/2.2)tomsguide.com. Nothing dramatic on megapixels, but it captures solid images and 4K video. Samsung does have fun AI filters and Quick Shot modes.

Camera summary:

• Portraits/Natural shots: iPhone (with its fusion cameras) and Pixel are neck and neck for lifelike color, with Pixel sometimes boosting contrast. Samsung usually saturates a bit more.

• Low-light: Pixel and iPhone are probably tied, with Pixel’s Night Sight often yielding very clear night shots. Samsung is close with its big sensor (the 200 MP sensor coalesces pixels for night).

• Zoom: Samsung clearly wins if you judge by specs (especially up to 100×). Pixel can also reach 100× via software9to5google.com, but Samsung has an optical edge.

• Video: iPhone typically leads in video (with features like Dolby Vision HDR). All can shoot 4K@60 (and even 8K on Pixel/Samsung).

Here’s a thought: a Tom’s Guide reviewer said the S25 Ultra’s cameras are “more versatile and arguably just better” than the iPhone’stomsguide.com, especially thanks to zoom and ultrawide shots. The Pixel’s advantage is software magic – Google’s features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Face Unblur (not in spec sheets) can make ordinary shots look great.

Battery Life & Charging Speed

If you’re a heavy user (or forget to charge at night), battery life matters – and all three makers brag about big gains here.

• Pixel 10 Pro XL: It has the biggest Pixel battery yet: 5,200 mAhatt.com. Google claims “24+ hours” of normal use (with an Extreme Battery Saver mode that can stretch it to 100 hours in a pinch)store.google.com. In practice I’ve seen it easily last a full day and beyond. In fact, Verizon’s stats list the Pixel 10 Pro XL at around “up to 33 hours” of mixed useverizon.com (probably with screen-time factors). Charging is very fast: with a 45W USB-C PD charger (sold separately) it hits about 70% in 30 minutesstore.google.com. Wirelessly, it supports Qi2 at up to 25W (Google’s magnetic Pixel Stand does 25W)store.google.comblog.google.

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Apple doesn’t publish mAh, but says this is their “best-ever” battery lifeapple.com. Thanks to efficiency from the A19 chip and iOS 26 optimizations, it easily made it through the day in my testing. Apple also notes the Pro Max (especially eSIM-only models) has a larger battery thanks to reusing that SIM slot spaceapple.com. Quick-charge: Apple says you can get to 50% in 20 minutes with a 40W USB-C adapter (Apple even sells a 40W or 60W adapter)apple.com. (MagSafe wireless charging tops out around 15W, and they still recommend a cable for speed.) In real terms, the iPhone Max generally lasts a full day of heavy use, similar to the Pixel.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: A 5,000 mAh batterytomsguide.com (just shy of the Pixel’s). Real-world battery life is excellent – Tom’s Guide notes Samsung even edged out the Pixel by a hair in their tests9to5google.com. The Galaxy is very power-efficient, too. Fast charging is up to 45W (roughly 0–70% in ~30–40 min), just like the Pixeltomsguide.com. Samsung also supports Qi2 wireless (up to 15W or 25W with certain cases)tomsguide.com – though a caveat: due to Qi2 standards, you need a Samsung-approved Qi2 case for 15W wireless; otherwise it’s 15W only on a flat charger.

Bottom line: All three flagships will comfortably last a day on a charge, and all can quickly juice up. The Pixel’s extra-large battery and efficient Tensor chip make it a champ – Google even boasts up to 33 hours in some scenariosverizon.com. Samsung’s gets almost the same mileage despite a slightly smaller pack. Apple’s Max model, with its new chip, is on par. For charging speed, Pixel (70% in 30mstore.google.com) and Samsung (also 45W) are roughly equal, slightly faster than the iPhone’s 40W/50% in 20mapple.com.

Processor & Performance

Under the hood, these phones use the fastest chips each company makes. Performance is snappy across the board, but each has a different philosophy:

• Pixel 10 Pro XL: Runs on Google’s Tensor G5 (with a Titan M2 coprocessor)att.com. This is Google’s most advanced silicon yet, co-developed with DeepMind to excel at on‑device AI. It has a 2+6 core setup (2 performance cores, 6 efficiency)att.com and 16 GB RAM. In benchmarks, it doesn’t quite top the list – a recent comparison noted “raw performance is the weakest component of Tensor G5”9to5google.com. In everyday use, though, it’s still very fast and handles anything you throw at it (plus it stays cool under load thanks to that vapor chamber). Pixel’s strength is that it runs pure Android 16 with no bloat, so everything feels smooth. It’s more about AI trickery (Gemini Nano assistant, live Translate, Magic Compose, etc.) than brute force.

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Powered by Apple’s brand-new A19 Pro chipapple.com. Apple claims this is their “most powerful and efficient” iPhone chip, delivering up to 40% better sustained performance than last yearapple.com. In the real world, the iPhone is lightning-quick: opening apps, gaming, video editing – it handles all with ease. On benchmarks it almost always scores highest, especially for single-core tasks. Apple’s tight hardware/software integration (and that vapor chamber for cooling) means it maintains high speed even after extended use. RAM is probably around 8–12 GB (Apple doesn’t advertise it), but iPhones have always managed with less RAM than Androids.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Has the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxyatt.comtomsguide.com, Samsung’s 2025 powerhouse (made on Samsung’s own 3nm process). It’s an octa-core (2 × 4.47 GHz “Prime” + 6 × 3.5 GHz) CPUatt.com with 12 GB RAM and UFS4.0 storage. In speed tests, it’s neck-and-neck with the latest iPhones, sometimes a hair behind in raw single-core but very strong in multi-thread. Samsung also bundles a more heavily-customized Android skin (One UI 7). In day-to-day use, the S25 Ultra “barely breaks a sweat” even under heavy multitasking or 3D gaming9to5google.com. If anything, its advantage is that it remains performant while doing tons of tasks (plus it has that desktop DeX mode for a PC-like experience).

How they feel: All three phones are fast. The iPhone will feel slightly quicker in most tasks (not surprising – Apple chips have led performance for years). The Galaxy is extremely fast too, especially for multi-tasking (and it even supports ray tracing in games). The Pixel is a bit behind in raw benchmarks, but still handles everything. It might lag a tiny bit under extreme CPU loads (e.g. 3D rendering), but it does cool the chip well and never gets uncomfortably hot. Pixel’s tip: it boots faster than most phones and keeps animations silky since it’s basically stock Android.

Software Experience (Android vs iOS, Exclusive Features)

This is where personal preference really kicks in, because you’re choosing ecosystems as much as phones.

• Pixel (Android 16): The Pixel 10 Pro XL runs a clean version of Android 16 with Google’s new Material You 3 design. It’s as close to “pure Android” as it gets, plus Google adds exclusive goodies. These include the new Gemini Nano AI assistant (for on-device Generative AI tasks), and features like Magic Compose (AI-assisted messaging), Circle to Search, Live Translate in any app, etc. Google also promises 7 years of OS and security updatesstore.google.com (one of the longest support windows of any Android). Other exclusive Pixel tools: Magic Eraser for photos, astrophotography mode, and the new Pixel Watch integration – oh, and built-in Magic Eraser for audio (Audio Eraser). Android itself is very open: you can customize your home screens, pick default apps, sideload things, use widgets freely, etc.

• iPhone (iOS 26): Runs Apple’s new iOS 26. It has a redesigned Home/Lock screen look and lots of new apps and widgets. Big headline: Apple Intelligence. In iOS 26, Apple baked AI features (like on-device summarization, better photo and voice tools, etc.) directly into the systemapple.com. You also get things like FaceTime SharePlay, extremely tight integration with the Apple Watch, AirDrop, iMessage/FaceTime, and so on. iOS is typically more locked-down (no sideloading, for example, unless you’re in some rare countries now). But it’s very smooth and secure. One unique iPhone feature: Face ID biometric unlock (via that dot projector notch), which Pixel and Samsung don’t have (they rely on under‑screen fingerprints). Also, Apple has new video tools like ProRes RAW and Apple Log 2 for pro filmmakersapple.com.

• Samsung (One UI on Android 15/16): The Galaxy runs One UI 7 on top of Android (likely Android 15 initially, with an update to 16 soon). One UI is very feature-rich. You get the S Pen-supportive interface (you can scribble notes, take screenshots with the pen, etc.), Samsung DeX (desktop mode when hooked to a monitor), split-screen multitasking, and Samsung’s version of an app marketplace. Samsung also has its own AI tools (like AI upscaling for video, or “Labs” features). In fact, one Tom’s Guide review noted the S25 Ultra has “smarter AI features” like doing multiple actions across apps with just your voicetomsguide.com – something iPhone can’t do as freely. Samsung phones also support more extensive theming of the interface (including the new Material You theming if you like it). And like Pixel, Samsung has pledged long update support (modern Samsung flagships get 4 years of OS and 5 years of security updates, some say even 7 years on paper).

Unique highlights: The Pixel’s AI (Gemini Nano, Magic Compose, Recorder transcription, etc.) is cutting-edge. Apple’s iOS 26 leans into a polished experience and has its own “Apple Intelligence” (Siri got better, plus features like Live Voicemail transcription). Samsung’s S Pen and multi-tasking environment set it apart – it’s like a mini-PC sometimes. Privacy: Apple tends to win on user privacy controls, Pixel is solid, Samsung offers Knox security, etc.

Updates: If you want the longest software support, Pixel leads with 7 yearsstore.google.com. Apple is usually around 6–7 years for iPhones. Samsung is typically up to 5–7 years (combining OS + security).

Pricing & Value

Finally, the money talk. All three are expensive (they’re flagship “Plus” models), but prices are roughly:

• Pixel 10 Pro XL: Starts at about $1,199 for the 256GB modelverizon.com (the smaller Pixel 10 Pro starts at $999).

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199 for the 256GB model (Apple now starts at 256GB as the base)apple.com. The 512GB and up to 2TB cost more.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Starts at $1,299 for 256GBtomsguide.com. It also goes up to 1TB.

So Samsung is about $100 more than Pixel or iPhone for the base storage. In each case, that’s without any trade‑in discounts or promotions. Google and Apple often run trade-in deals (Apple’s site mentioned you can get up to $1,100 off with trade-in and carrier deals)apple.com. Samsung sometimes offers bundles (like free earbuds or watches).

Value notes: The Pixel tends to undercut competition on price. You’re getting a similar-tier hardware spec at a slightly lower cost. It also has 16GB RAM (vs Samsung’s 12GB). The iPhone offers that Apple premium – you pay more for iOS, ecosystem, and long term support. Samsung charges top dollar but includes the S Pen in box (worth about $100 separately). All three phones are big investments, but they each offer flagship value: top cameras, all-day battery, and years of updates.

In a nutshell: if you’re budget-conscious for a premium phone, Pixel edges out a bit ($1,199 vs $1,299). Apple matches Pixel’s price for the base Pro Max. Samsung costs a little extra, justified by extras like S Pen and the gigantic camera sensor.

My Take – Which Would I Choose?

All three are stellar, but here’s my personal spin: I lean toward the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Why? I love Android and Google’s AI features – things like Live Translate on the fly, Magic Eraser for photos, and the promise of 7 years of updatesstore.google.com. The Pixel’s camera (especially with that 100× digital zoom) is a close second to the Samsung’s – and I prefer its natural photo style over the sometimes-oversaturated Samsung shots. The display is slightly smaller than the Samsung’s Ultra but still huge (6.8″) and blazingly brightstore.google.com. Plus, at $1,199 it’s a bit cheaper than the Galaxy.

That said, the iPhone 17 Pro Max might win my girlfriend’s heart – she’s all-in on iOS. Its camera is foolproof, and iMessage/FaceTime are must-haves for her. The battery life is superb (Apple claims a massive improvement and a huge jump over last yearapple.com), and the video features are unmatched. If you live in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, Watch, etc.), the iPhone’s seamless integration makes it very compelling.

The Samsung S25 Ultra would be my pick if I absolutely needed the top zoom and productivity. The S Pen is a big plus for annotating or note‑taking. It also feels like the best-of-all-worlds: super versatile camera, great battery, and Android’s customization. It’s just a bit heavier on the pocket ($1,299) and weight (~7.7 oz)tomsguide.com.

Ultimately: Here’s what I’d choose and why – if I had to pick one, I’d grab the Pixel 10 Pro XL. Its balance of price, clean Android experience, cutting-edge AI tricks, and very capable camera makes it feel like the future-of-smartphones rolled into one package. I appreciate its straightforward Googleiness and long support promisestore.google.com. But to be honest, any of these phones would make a tech nerd very happy – it just depends on whether you love Android or iOS, and whether features like S Pen tilt the scales for you.

Sources: Official specs and press releases from Apple, Google, and Samsungapple.comstore.google.comtomsguide.com, plus reviews and tests (Tom’s Guide, 9to5Google)tomsguide.com9to5google.com, were used to compare the details above. These helped confirm screen sizes, camera megapixels, battery capacities, and performance tidbits for each device.