Top 5 Smartphone Alternatives to Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in Canada

• “The Pixel 9 Pro XL sets new records for having the brightest screen around and has the longest battery life in a Pixel, but the minor camera and processing performance leaves more to be desired — especially when it's $100 more.”

• “The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the biggest and best Android smartphone on the market today. It offers an amazing user experience and is capable of matching the best smartphone cameras in the world, in any environment.”

• “Here’s the good news, though. The Pixel 9 Pro XL does it. Google went all-out for its ninth-generation flagship Pixel phone in ways I wasn’t expecting. Not everything is perfect, but the result is a phenomenal smartphone that’s well-made, powerful, and a joy to use.”

• “The short answer is yes — absolutely — and here’s why.”

• “For what it’s worth, though, Google’s Gemini-powered features are really good. Where many of them felt incomplete on the Pixel 8 Pro, like the artifact-laden Magic Editor, missing Zoom Enhance (which enjoyed a long-overdue launch on the same day as the Pixel 9 series), and...”

• “The 8 Pro did have some AI skills, like object removal and Best Take, but it was just the beginning. If its predecessor was just Google dipping its toe in the AI water, the 9 Pro XL is Google doing a full triple somersault with a pike off the top diving board into the AI...”

• “The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a finely crafted handset made with top-notch materials and thoughtful design. Its basic shape is similar to that of the iPhone and Galaxy phones, so it doesn't immediately stand out from the crowd.”

• “What I do appreciate about its AI features are the smaller, thoughtful integrations throughout the device. I love how the on-device Gemini adds a cinematic effect to the wallpaper and how the new Weather app offers a concise summary, helping me quickly prepare for the day...”

• “At various times during the three months, I relied on the 9 Pro XL as my primary entertainment device, using it to catch up on TV shows or watch YouTube. It didn’t let me down at all, offering about as immersive an experience as you can get on a smartphone.”

• “Google blocking an AI-made zero-day exploit sounds like a glimpse into the future”

• “Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. The good the bad and the ugly. (self.pixel_phones)”

• “For the Pixel 9 Pro, we talked in our review about the camera, size choice, battery life, display, design, and performance all being top notch. But again, you could argue for most phones that they are excellent in those categories too. So it does come down to the little things.”

• “The camera bar on the pixel 9 pro xl is smooth and simple. The phone has a soft matte finish. This gives it a nice feel and look. Out of all the phones in the Pixel line, the pixel 9 pro xl might be the best-looking one. You can pick from different colors for the pro xl.”

Loved16

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  New AI features that work well

  — Tom
• +

  Long battery life for a Pixel phone

  — Tom
• +

  First and foremost, I love the redesigned camera hump on the back of the phone because it’s much more pronounced than ever before.

  — Tom
• +

  Despite this, at least it’s still sporting the same matte glass surfaces as before to give them that always clean, smooth look.

  — Tom
• +

  During its Made by Google event, the company made an outrageous claim that the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch Super Actua display reaches a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. I didn’t think it was ever going to get close to that in our testing, but I was mistaken.

  — Tom
• +

  But it doesn’t end there either because this OLED panel looks marvelous with its rich color tones and wide viewing angles that barely show any distortion when I look at it from an angle.

  — Tom
• +

  Hands down, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the brightest screen we’ve ever tested — reaching a blinding peak of 2,469 nits, a substantial improvement over the 1,526 nits of the Pixel 8 Pro. And you know what?

  — Tom
• +

  The Pixel's wireless charging rate is also improved, maxing out at 23W when used with the second-generation Pixel Stand (or 12W with standard Qi chargers). For comparison, the Pixel 8 Pro can wirelessly charge at 18W using the second-generation Pixel Stand or 12W using Qi.

  — PCMag Canada
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  You'd think Google crammed a spotlight under the glass. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, a 600-nit improvement over the Pixel 8 Pro’s 2,400-nit peak.

  — PCMag Canada
• +

  These tools make the Pixel 9 Pro XL a true AI powerhouse, especially as apps like Gemini continue to evolve.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  Ask any reviewer or professional creator — the Pixel 9 Pro XL still has the best smartphone camera available in the U.S.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  The Tensor G4 might not lead benchmarks, but it powers through daily tasks and advanced AI workloads with ease.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  The Pixel 9 Pro XL is premium in hand, with a sleek matte finish and the iconic camera bar. It’s instantly recognizable and solidly built.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  Only power users who game for 8+ hours might drain it faster. But for everyone else, this battery is dependable and durable.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  You can even use facial recognition for banking apps — something most Android phones can’t offer.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
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  With 10-bit HDR video, cinematic blur, and next-gen stabilization, it rivals professional cameras in many everyday situations.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips

Criticised7

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  Only minor camera performance improvements

  — Tom
• −

  Frankly, I’m annoyed that we’re getting back-to-back price hikes because the Pixel 8 Pro launched at $100 more than its predecessor last year with its $999 starting cost. And now with the Pixel 9 Pro XL, it’s up by yet another $100 to a starting price of $1,099 in the US.

  — Tom
• −

  There’s a total of four colors at launch: obsidian, porcelain, hazel, and rose quartz. I do miss the bay option for my Pixel 8 Pro, but I do like the rose quartz color of my Pixel 9 Pro XL review unit because of its lighter tone.

  — Tom
• −

  Apart from the camera arrangement, the design of the Pixel 9 Pro XL makes it look eerily similar to the iPhone 14 Pro Max due to the polished metal trims that are now flat as opposed to contoured.

  — Tom
• −

  Unfortunately, running traditional benchmarks on the device presented some challenges. I was unable to install Geekbench 6 via the Google Play Store, and when I sideloaded the app, it crashed constantly and failed to run through an entire test.

  — PCMag Canada
• −

  The Pixel 9 Pro XL's 16GB of RAM gives me hope that Google will trickle down new Gemini features to other devices. I don't approve of companies artificially limiting older phones to protect the sales of newer hardware, and I expect Google to do the right thing.

  — Android Police
• −

  Performance and Thermal Stability: Daily use stays smooth, but Samsung and iPhone flagships deliver faster speeds and better sustained performance over time.

  — Boomset

• “With its new shape and simplified software, there are fewer reasons to reject the Xperia 1 VI and enjoy its variable telephoto camera, bright screen and enhanced connectivity over rivals.”

• “The Xperia 1 VI drops some AV features and feels a bit more generic than its predecessor, but we still find it to be thoroughly impressive as a portable movie and music player”

• “The Sony Xperia 1 VI is a lovely phone, but you had better buy into its specific style for the outlay to be worthwhile.”

• “The Xperia 1 VI is a technology showcase with its continuous zoom camera and macro performance. Sony has missed a trick by not readying pro video features for launch, but with an external monitor and recording functionality, an improved aspect ratio for photographs and 16:9...”

• “The Sony Xperia 1 VI is a flagship phone built for creators, blending top-tier performance with a long-lasting battery, a pro camera, and rare features like a headphone jack and expandable storage.”

• “However for these reasons it’s time for me to say goodbye to Xperia. For now at least. As much as I really enjoy using the Xperia 1 VI I can’t justify holding onto it if the camera features I want aren’t there. I will instead get a Mk.”

• “The Sony Xperia 1 VI offers a compelling combination of sleek design, smooth performance, and user-centric features. Its UI provides a clean and intuitive experience, while its speed ensures efficiency in multitasking.”

• “A feature which might be useful to those shooting with Sony Alpha cameras is that you can use the Xperia 1 VI as an external monitor – this could theoretically be enough to tip the purchasing decision in its favour if you’re toying between another smartphone and this if it’s...”

• “And the lower screen resolution is undoubtedly one of the reasons the battery lasts so long. It keeps going well into a second day, so that if you forget to charge overnight, you won’t panic too much—though you’ll need to go easy on the second day until you get home to the...”

• “Very bright screen (albeit only FHD)”

• “In running Sony UI, the Xperia 1 VI's Android 14 hardly differs from stock Android but it offers a practical extra, namely a dashboard. The dashboard allows users to quickly access frequently used phone settings such as display brightness, picture and audio mode or notifications.”

• “The new display's brightness is now 1.5x times brighter than the previous model, however, so it's not all bad news in this department, especially as the equally new Sunlight Vision feature makes it easier to use the device even in glaring environments.”

Loved20

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  Practical but unique design

  — Tom
• +

  Headphone jack and microSD support

  — Tom
• +

  Making use of its technical knowledge in other areas, Sony has given the Xperia a "Powered by Bravia" display set-up to offer AI-adjusted superior color and detail, even at full brightness through its Sunlight Vision feature.

  — Tom
• +

  Strong cameras with adjustable zoom lens

  — Tom
• +

  As for the various buttons and ports on the frame of this device, we have a USB-C charging socket on the bottom, as well as a combination power, lock and fingerprint scanner, textured camera shutter button and volume rocker on the right-hand side, and finally (drum roll...

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  Crisp picture with impressive contrast

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  New aspect ratio is better for daily use

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  Detailed sound through headphones

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  Unlike every other modern flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VI is loaded with traditional elements like a brilliant, spongy, and clicky two-stage camera button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, front-firing speakers, and a SIM card slot that can be removed with a fingernail – no...

  — Digital Camera World
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  The main design difference between the 1 VI and past Sony phones is the screen aspect ratio, which has gone from 21:9 to 19.5:9. This makes the phone a little wider, a little shorter, and a little bit better for typing, watching, gaming, and capturing or editing photos.

  — Digital Camera World
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  Unlike the i — Phone 15 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Xperia 1 VI isn't made of titanium, but its metal frame nevertheless feels robust and premium. Textured sides give it some grip, and the matte glass back (also textured) feels great.

  — Digital Camera World
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  Sony was the first smartphone maker to add IP68 water resistance to its phones, and the Xperia 1 VI carries forward flagship durability with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display and a Gorilla Glass Victus back panel.

  — Digital Camera World
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  Excellent performance and battery life

  — Digital Camera World
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  A big part of the appeal here is the handful of features that Sony’s Xperia 1 VI shares with much lower-end phones. There’s still a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD slot built into the SIM tray.

  — TechRadar
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  These will all seem smart moves to a good chunk of the phone-buying audience out for something a little different.

  — TechRadar
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  A lot of the typical Sony strengths and weaknesses are here too. The Sony Xperia 1 VI’s key charm is in the way it rejects several contemporary smartphone trends. It has a headphone jack. It has expandable memory.

  — TechRadar
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  ... as is the physical headphone jack

  — TechRadar
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  microSD slot is a welcome novelty

  — TechRadar
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  What I really liked as well was that Sony’s approach to smartphone photography was to provide less processing alongside that beautiful Sony colour science.

  — Medium
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  Slightly improved OS and security updates (3 OS updates, 4 Years security).

  — Whirlpool.net.au

Criticised19

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  The Xperia's screen still has noticeable bezels though, especially at the top where the selfie camera is housed.

  — Tom
• −

  This price puts the Xperia in line with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but the Sony phone is still £100 more expensive than the base models available from Samsung and Apple. Luckily Sony has provided lots of features to justify the high cost, as we'll get into now.

  — Tom
• −

  But since it's still expensive, offers limited updates and AI juice, and isn't even on sale in the U.S. this time around, it's still annoyingly hard to find a way to recommend this phone.

  — Tom
• −

  I just wish the Xperia 1 VI was available with more storage outside of Japan (where it tops out at 512GB). Sure, it’s one of the few phones that remains microSD-expandable (up to 1.5TB), but as far as fast internal storage goes, in the majority of markets, you’re limited to...

  — Android Authority
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  More expensive than most rivals

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  Let’s face it, the 4K display on the older Xperia 1 models was a costly addition, so dropping it from the lineup should subsequently drop the price, right? Wrong.

  — What Hi-Fi?
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  While that might not be the end of the world – after all many manufacturers are still upping their prices year on year – it’s also not good news by any means, as last year’s Xperia 1 V was already considered an expensive phone.

  — What Hi-Fi?
• −

  Loudspeakers lack weight and punch

  — What Hi-Fi?
• −

  Costing £1,299, which is roughly $1,650 or AU$2470, the Sony Xperia 1 VI is significantly more expensive than an iPhone 15 Pro Max with the same 256GB storage.

  — Digital Camera World
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  When it comes to hardware, the main camera and ultra-wide are identical to those of the Xperia 1 VI, though Sony has extended the continuous zoom range to an impressive 85-170mm.

  — Digital Camera World
• −

  Even the Xperia 1 VI's screen spec is more pared back than its predecessor, with a FullHD+ panel instead of the 4K display Xperia 1 series phones have become known for.

  — Digital Camera World
• −

  Ultra-wide isn't particularly ultra-wide

  — Digital Camera World
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  Ultra-wide/zoom cameras struggle with noise

  — Digital Camera World
• −

  No pro-grade video mode at launch

  — Digital Camera World
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  These include slower-than-ideal fast charging, camera processing that still lags a little behind the best for dynamic range optimization and night-time image processing. I also found the rear disappointingly prone to visible scratches, despite the use of high-end toughened glass.

  — TechRadar
• −

  The Sony Xperia 1 VI does cost a packet, though, and arguably isn’t hugely competitive considering some of the slightly less advanced parts.

  — TechRadar
• −

  Sub-30W charging is poor for this price

  — TechRadar
• −

  Design is prone to scratches

  — TechRadar
• −

  Photo samples time to show you how poor the telephoto is compared to the Pixel 6 Pro. Yes not the Pixel 8 Pro that I also have, the Pixel 6 Pro. A three year old device.

  — Medium

Buyer voices1

• “My Experience with the New Sony Xperia 1 VI: A Worthy Upgrade!Xperia 1 VI (self.SonyXperia)”

  Pratrax— reddit