Discover the Top 10 Alternatives to the iPhone Big Screen Newer Than iPhone 14 Plus in Canada for 2026

• “For me, that’s what has happened with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra after testing it for a couple of weeks. Even though I know I should be impressed by its new slate of Galaxy AI features, overclocked chipset, and flexible cameras, I can’t help but think that Samsung’s most...”

• “The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes AI on phones to the next level with the ability to perform actions across multiple apps at once. It also delivers a superior camera experience along with crisp HDR video, plus fantastic Snapdragon 8 Elite performance and super long battery life.”

• “The Samsung S25 Ultra deftly manages to meld the consistent Galaxy S series aesthetic with all that made previous Ultras notable, including the S Pen.”

• “When I wake the phone, I'm greeted with the new Now Bar at the bottom of the lock screen. I like the carousel interface, which shows a shortcut to my Now Brief and information from other background apps like directions from Google Maps or the live score of an NBA game.”

• “The newest iteration of Samsung’s flagship smartphone builds on the success of previous generations. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra brings the AI photography features of the S24 Ultra, with a modest redesign of the outer body, as well as a slight improvement to one of the four...”

• “The S25 Ultra has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display glass, which is its most secure biometric authentication method. The sensor works quickly and consistently. Face unlock is available, too, but it isn't secure enough for sensitive applications such as banking.”

• “On the topic of cameras, I've yet to properly test the photographic potential of the S25 Ultra. But from the Galaxy S25 Ultra photo comparisons I and my colleagues have already taken, this is looking like one it'll be another entry on our best camera phones guide from Samsung.”

• “Samsung is often criticized for slow hardware innovation, but my experience with the S25 Ultra shows that there is more to a great phone than just specs alone.”

• “The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s design is instantly recognizable as a Samsung flagship, with a refined aesthetic that blends familiarity with subtle upgrades.”

• “Since the S25 Ultra’s 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, an upgrade from the 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor in the S24 Ultra, is the major hardware change for this year’s best Galaxy phone cameras, I thought I’d try to see how much more detail it provides with street art.”

• “The phone itself makes a strong first impression. At 218g and 8.2mm thick, it strikes a balance between solid and refined. The titanium frame and Gorilla Armor 2 glass scream durability, while the matte Titanium Black finish keeps fingerprints at bay.”

• “Whether you’re exploring expansive open-world games or engaging in fast-paced multiplayer matches, the S25 Ultra delivers lag-free, immersive gameplay that meets the expectations of even the most demanding gamers.”

Loved8

• +

  Unified design that doesn't skimp on Ultra appeal

  — TechRadar
• +

  Biggest screen of the lineup

  — TechRadar
• +

  Somehow, Samsung has managed this slimmer, lighter, and squarer makeover without losing space for the S Pen, which alone is an achievement worth celebrating.

  — TechRadar
• +

  That tracking might sound scary if Samsung hadn’t worked closely with silicon partner Qualcomm to ensure that the Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy has a silicon core that's devoted to your Personal Data Engine, and if it weren't for Samsung’s liberal use of its Knox...

  — TechRadar
• +

  Impressive AI agent upgrades

  — Tom
• +

  Bigger and brighter display

  — Tom
• +

  Great Snapdragon 8 Elite performance

  — Tom
• +

  Very long battery life

  — Tom

Criticised8

• −

  Generative AI doesn't always deliver

  — TechRadar
• −

  Samsung still shies away from total photo-reality

  — TechRadar
• −

  No Qi2 magnets built in

  — Tom
• −

  Now Brief feature underwhelms

  — Tom
• −

  S Pen loses Bluetooth

  — Tom
• −

  Samsung did cut some corners with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The S Pen no longer has Bluetooth. And the newly added Qi2 charging support forces you to buy a compatible case. No magnets here.

  — Tom
• −

  As I wrote last year, other Android phones have moved well past 45W. The RedMagic 10 Pro supports up to 100W charging and comes with an 80W charger in the box. It took just 36 minutes to achieve a full charge.

  — PCMag Canada
• −

  As usual, there's an S Pen included, and an integrated slot to house it in. Somewhat controversially, Samsung has removed the Bluetooth functions from the S Pen this year, so you can't use it as a remote camera button or to control a slideshow—according to Samsung, the...

  — Lifehacker

Buyer voices2

• “Nice 8.5 last week and now a security update”

  — eu.community.samsung.com

• “S25+ still hasn't receive oneUI 8.5 update”

  — eu.community.samsung.com

• “Bursting with clever AI-infused software, the promise of software updates for many years to come and a camera and screen that thoroughly impress, the Google Pixel 8 Pro does a fantastic job at offering prospective buyers something a little different.”

• “The Google Pixel 8 Pro isn’t a perfect Android phone, but it’s absolutely the closest Google has ever gotten to making one — and I love it.”

• “ReviewGoogle Pixel 8 Pro Review: Genuinely Impressed! (youtube.com)”

• “If Google had simply released a generic smartphone with the Pixel 8 Pro’s cameras, display and design, it would have had a simple winner, capable of making an argument against not-quite-flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.”

• “I often tell people that it’s difficult to assess a phone’s worth after using it for a couple of weeks. Instead, you really get to understand a phone’s worth when you use it for a much longer period.”

• “Super Res Zoom at 30x works well as long as you've got a tripod or a very steady hand, but subjects shot at the 5x optical range are surprisingly sharp.”

• “I can now access my banking apps using Face Unlock, which has made paying for things while on the go easier and quicker. This is possible thanks to Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor chip, which uses machine learning advancements that meet Android's highest biometrics class.”

• “And don’t forget that most other Android phones don’t offer Face Unlock with this level of security. Aside from some outliers that still include that extra camera hardware (such as the HONOR Magic 6 Pro), Class 3 support is something you’ll only get with the Pixel 8 and...”

Loved20

• +

  Premium materials and matte finish refresh the Pixel design

  — TechRadar
• +

  Call screening is natural and very useful

  — TechRadar
• +

  Incredible seven-year commitment from Google for major updates

  — TechRadar
• +

  I also need to praise Google for the stunning Bay blue color you’ll see throughout this review. It’s a gorgeous baby blue shade that’s warm and calming in a way that’s difficult to describe.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Beyond the better refresh rate and brightness, everything else about the Pixel 8 Pro’s screen is excellent. The display is plenty sharp, colors look fantastic, and — unlike the Pixel 7 Pro — all of the display bezels are perfectly symmetrical.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Those are a lot of numbers, and in practice, they translate to the Google Pixel 8 Pro taking exceptional photographs.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  The 50MP primary camera on the Pixel 8 Pro is outstanding. It shouldn’t be surprising in 2023 that a Google Pixel device takes great photos, and the Pixel 8 Pro ensures that won’t be changing any time soon.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  Whether I’m taking pictures of my dog in broad daylight or capturing the ambiance of a dimly lit bar, the Google Pixel 8 Pro makes me confident that I’ll end up with a photo I’m happy with. And the best part is how effortless it is to get these great-looking shots.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  The Pixel 8 Pro also performs strongly with its 5x telephoto camera. No, it’s not a 10x optical zoom like you get on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but the quality of the sensor is outstanding.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  While it would have been great to see Google increase the optical zoom range, I think the upgraded light sensitivity easily makes up for it. Photos from the telephoto camera look fantastic.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  People often say that Pixel phones are more about software than hardware, but the Pixel 8 Pro apparently didn’t get that memo. The Google Pixel 8 Pro has some of the best smartphone hardware I’ve used all year.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  These changes don’t sound like much on paper, but by holding the Pixel 8 Pro side by side with the Pixel 7 Pro, you can really feel the difference a year has made for Google’s hardware team.

  — Digital Trends
• +

  2. Best Take is...well, the best.

  — Google
• +

  3. It's got a friendly look and feel.

  — Google
• +

  4. It’s screen protector-friendly.

  — Google
• +

  5. Video and photo modes are easier to access.

  — Google
• +

  6. It has more aesthetic options.

  — Google
• +

  7. Face Unlock gets me to my money.

  — Google
• +

  8. I can get a preview of an article.

  — Google
• +

  1. I love the simple setup.

  — Google

Criticised10

• −

  No one really big standout new feature

  — PhoneArena
• −

  AI tricks/gimmicks like Magic Editor, Best Take, and Audio Magic Eraser

  — PhoneArena
• −

  In a similar move to recent phones from Apple and Samsung, Google has tweaked an existing design for the Pixel Pro 8 rather than completely reinventing it. Google has been using this look since the Pixel 6, and while it felt modern before it is starting to get a little stale.

  — Trusted Reviews
• −

  Images taken with the 50MP and 48MP sensors are quad-binned to produce 12.5MP and 12MP images, respectively, but you can shoot full-resolution images if you wish. A little lens distortion is visible when using the ultra-wide camera, but that's expected.

  — PCMag Canada
• −

  Android settings and features are confusing and hard to find

  — TechRadar
• −

  Some AI features feel a bit creepy and impersonal

  — TechRadar
• −

  Cameras don’t beat the iPhone 15 Pro without editing help

  — TechRadar
• −

  This is a decidedly Android phone, for better but mostly, these days, for worse. It can be a confusing mess. You’re faced with setup screens that never seem to go away for good, notifications that never seem to disappear, and Settings menus that are layered deep enough to...

  — TechRadar
• −

  It’s a slippery phone, though, often sliding off flat surfaces and taking a tumble. The basic black version I’ve been testing has none of the Bay blue version’s character and is rather boring to look at; plus, I don’t like the way the flat screen looks and how the sharper...

  — Digital Trends
• −

  The Pixel 8 Pro is very good, but the price increase over the Pixel 7 Pro is now beginning to hurt it.

  — Digital Trends

Buyer voices3

• “GeneralPixel 8 Pro review - What no ones tells you from an iPhone perspective: (self.GooglePixel)”

  AbdelilahOuchani— reddit

• “Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Genuinely Impressed! (self.GooglePixel)”

  Goku-Sun— reddit

• “What is your experience with Pixel 8/8 pro? (self.GooglePixel)”

  Moggot— reddit

• “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

• +

  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
• +

  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
• +

  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
• +

  The Tensor G4 might not lead benchmarks, but it powers through daily tasks and advanced AI workloads with ease.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
• +

  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
• +

  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
• +

  You can even use facial recognition for banking apps — something most Android phones can’t offer.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips
• +

  With 10-bit HDR video, cinematic blur, and next-gen stabilization, it rivals professional cameras in many everyday situations.

  — Digital Tech & Productivity Tips

Criticised7

• −

  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