OnePlus Nord 3vsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 1,299 — USD 900 more than the OnePlus Nord 3. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Performance — led by performance score (2,200,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Display — led by peak brightness (2,600 nits).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Price — led by price (399 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want faster charging — 80 W vs 45 W.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a lower price — 399 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,200,000 pts vs 1,000,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.9 in vs 6.74 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 505 ppi vs 450 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,600 nits vs 1,450 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 90 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a better camera — 146 pts vs 125 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
At a glance
- OnePlus Nord 3
- 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?
OnePlus Nord 3
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if price matters most. It costs USD 399, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
OnePlus Nord 3
- Dimensity 9000
- 80 W charging
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Average cameras
- No wireless charging
- Software quirks
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