iQOO 13vsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
iQOO 13 wins
Verdict
iQOO 13 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
iQOO 13 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — display is its standout. At USD 599, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- iQOO 13 takes Performance — led by performance score (2,300,000 pts).
- iQOO 13 takes Display — led by refresh rate (144 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Camera — led by camera score (146 pts).
- iQOO 13 takes Battery — led by charging speed (120 W).
- iQOO 13 takes Price — led by price (599 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose iQOO 13 if you want…
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,300,000 pts vs 2,200,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want a sharper screen — 510 ppi vs 505 ppi.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want smoother scrolling — 144 Hz vs 120 Hz.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,000 nits vs 2,600 nits.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want longer battery life — 6,000 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want faster charging — 120 W vs 45 W.
- Choose iQOO 13 if you want a lower price — 599 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.9 in vs 6.82 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 93 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a better camera — 146 pts vs 132 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
At a glance
- iQOO 13
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
iQOO 13
Choose iQOO 13 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 599, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if camera matters most. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
iQOO 13
- Elite chipset
- 144 Hz display
- 120 W charging
- Average cameras
- Software bloat
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Class-leading performance
- 200 MP main camera with dual telephoto
- S Pen built in
- Very expensive
- Heavy at 218 g
- 45 W charging trails rivals