We are specialists in quality batteries. We have batteries, chargers and accessories for everything you can think of. Low prices, big inventory, expert advice. Find your battery here!
The company is offering a few updates and tips for navigating a travel-filled summer.
(Image credit: Google)
What you need to know
Google highlighted a series of updates for AI and apps that might help users travel this summer.
AI Overviews will soon help users build itineraries for traveling to new places with activities that can span several days.
The company also detailed trending international and domestic places users have been searching for in Flights in 2025.
Get ready for the weekend with a few updates for Google’s AI and apps that will prepare you for a summer full of traveling.
In a press release, the company detailed the start of these updates forits AI Overviews in Search. Google says “starting this week,” users can begin receiving “trip ideas” for cities, as well as “distinct” regions and entire countries. To get started, Google gives the following example: “create an itinerary for Costa Rica with a focus on nature.”
The company’s AI software in Search will return a map for users to browse. Additionally, you’ll find photos and reviews from others who’ve visited the area and engaged in activities similar to what you’re interested in. The AI Overview will also break down what activities it thinks you could partake in throughout your stay in a given region/country.
This feature will soon rollout for English-based user queries in the U.S. on mobile and desktop. What’s more, Google says users can export their AI-generated itinerary to share with others — which could be helpful if you’re traveling with people.
Alternatively, Google says you could even leverage Gemini for some travel plan assistance. Users can ask the AI model for cheap hotels or “affordable activities” to do in a given country and see what it returns. Moreover, it highlights the ability toutilize its Gems feature, which lets users tailor Gemini to their specific needs.
With a place in mind, the company says users will soon find the ability to “track prices”for hotelsafter finding a plane through Google Flights. A new option to track prices for your chosen destination and planned stay will soon appear. Google recommends users tap the “price-tracking toggle” within the search filters in Hotels to receive email notifications if/when things change.
Hotel price tracking is said to begin rolling out “globally this week” on mobile and desktop.
Once you’ve arrived, Google Maps might be your best friend in that wonderous new place if you’ve been doing a bit of research. The post highlights a new Maps feature called “screenshot.” If enabled, Maps will leverage its Gemini capabilities to scour through your saved screenshots so you can review and save any useful ones into a comprehensive list. That list of places can then be shared with others with whom you may be traveling.
This new Gemini-backed screenshot feature in Maps is rolling out “this week” in the U.S. for iOS users first. Google says Android support is “coming soon.”
Lastly, the company highlights Google Lens’ usefulness when out in the world. If you spot a landmark or cool piece of artwork, users can open the app, point at it, and submit a query about it. Google says users shouldreceive an AI Overviewpacked with information about it, with links to more should you be curious. AI Overviews in Lens is also expanding to more languages, such as Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish “in most countries where AI Overviews is available.”
Elsewhere, Google is trying to help folks decide where they might travel this year with a glimpse into some trending destinations in 2025. When looking internationally, many trends in Google Flights lean toward the Island of Curacao, Osaka (Japan), St. Lucia (Caribbean Island), Tokyo, and more. However, domestically, folks are interested in going to San Juan, Puerto Rico the most, followed by Billings, Montana.
Hopping into Google Search shows people are looking for information on “island vacation outfits” and “wide leg linen pants.”
While that Billings, Montana result might be a shock after Puerto Rico, Google says it could be because users are interested in “easy access” to the outdoors. Montana is trending alongside Juneau, Alaska, and Bangor, Maine. What’s more, users are searching for “cabins” as part of a romantic getaway this year, too.
As a side note, Google’s analytics show people are looking for ways to get the most space out of their bags while traveling. “Vacuum bags” and “compression packing cubes” have topped the charts recently.
Search results won’t appear in chronological order anymore.
What you need to know
Gmail is rolling out a new, upgraded version of mail search that can prioritize “most relevant” results.
Users can still manually sort “most recent” results to get the list in chronological order.
The feature is rolling out now for personal Google accounts, and will eventually come to business accounts in the future.
Google is upgrading Gmail’s search smarts with AI to prioritize relevant results over recent keyword hits, it announced in ablog post, March 20. While the old version of search in Gmail showed the most recent keyword results in emails, the upgraded version will “now factor in elements like recency, most-clicked emails and frequent contacts.”
The AI-powered search feature is arriving inGmailas “Most relevant” results. Users can now toggle between “Most relevant” and “Most recent,” depending on the situation. Previously, Gmail defaulted to showing “Most recent” search results, and that was the only option available.
“With this update, the emails you’re looking for are far more likely to be at the top of your search results — saving you valuable time and helping you find important information more easily,” the company explains in the blog post.
You can see an example of how Gmail search results are changing in the graphic below, which shows the old results on the left and the new ones on the right.
The new version of search is rolling out worldwide in Gmail’s web client, as well as the iOS and Android mobile apps. The feature will begin exclusive to personal Google accounts, though the company says it will expand upgraded Gmail search to business accounts “in the future.”
Google has been steadily upgrading Gmail with artificial intelligence to make it easier to use, and more secure. At the end of last year, Gmail became equipped witha new AI model designed to thwart phishing scams in emails. This addition following similar scam-stopping AI features being added toGoogle MessagesandGoogle Phone.
Time will tell whether users prefer the new version of Gmail search over the old one. For people who constantly have to scroll to find old emails, “Most relevant” results may be more helpful. For others, switching back to “Most recent” could be a better option.
Better GPU performance for Tensor and no satellites for the 9a
The Google Pixel 9(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Pixel models from the Pixel 6 onwards are achieving improved benchmark results
This is likely down do newer GPU drivers being added in recent software updates
In less positive news, the Pixel 6a lacks satellite communication features
There’s both good and bad Pixel news today, but the good news will affect more people than the bad, so let’s start there.
Reddit usersare finding that Pixel phones with Tensor chipsets (meaning everything from theGoogle Pixel 6onwards) are achieving much higher GPU scores on Geekbench 6 than they did at launch. This is widely being attributed to the Android 16 beta, butAndroid Authorityreports seeing similarly upgraded performance onAndroid 15.
So chances are you don’t need to grab a beta version of Android to see improvements, but rather that recent stable software updates have massively boosted GPU performance.
The exact boost varies depending on model, but Android Authority claims itsPixel 6aunit saw a nearly 23% GPU performance increase, while elsewhere there are reports of a 62% improvement for thePixel 7a, a 31% improvement for thePixel 8, and even a 32% improvement for the recentGoogle Pixel 9.
Android Authority speculates thatGoogleachieved this through including newer GPU drivers in recent Android updates, as while all recent Pixels use anArmMali GPU, they don’t always ship with the latest available GPU driver version.
How much impact these performance improvements will have in the real world remains to be seen, but they’re nice to see, and could help extend the lifespan of older Pixel models.
Now for the bad news, and this relates specifically to the newGoogle Pixel 9a, which we’ve learned doesn’t support Satellite SOS. Google confirmed as much toAndroid Authority, and this is a feature found on other Google Pixel 9 models which allows you to contact emergency services in areas without Wi-Fi or cell signal.
So it’s a potentially life-saving tool, and while Google didn’t say why it’s absent here, it’s likely because the Pixel 9a uses an older Exynos Modem 5300, rather than the 5400 used by the rest of the Pixel 9 series.
While this is a feature that you’ll hopefully never need to use, it would be reassuring to have, and this isn’t the only omission in the Pixel 9a, as we also recently learned thatit lacks several AI toolsoffered by the rest of the Pixel 9 line.
In fact, this phone has had a slightly troubled launch, with not just these omissions emerging, but also a delay in sales of the phone while Google investigatesa “component quality issue”.
Still, the silver lining there is that this delay allowed time for these omissions to be uncovered, so you might think twice about buying the Google Pixel 9a. Certainly, we’d wait until we’ve had a chance to put it through a full review before purchasing one.
A German retailer and a UAE classifieds site have listed the Pixel 9a for sale
Specs and images were also included
These listings suggest the phone will be launching imminently
TheGoogle Pixel 9amust be one of the most heavily leaked phones in recent memory, as along with leaked specs and images we recently saw detailedhands-on Pixel 9a videos– and now the phone has popped up for sale in two different places.
As spotted byGSMArena, the phone was listed on a now-removed page on the website of German retailerTechnomarkt. The listing included pictures, a starting price of 549 euros (roughly $600 / £460 / AU$940), and a fairly detailed specs list.
According to the listing, theGooglePixel 9a will come in Gray, Rose, Black, and Violet shades, will have Gorilla Glass 3 protection, and will have either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
It apparently has a 6.3-inch FHD+OLEDscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, and it’s said to have a Tensor G4 chipset like the rest of thePixel 9line, 8GB of RAM, a 5,100mAh battery, a 48MP main camera, and a 13MP ultra-wide camera, all of which are details we’ve heard before.
(Image credit: Dubizzle)
The other listing is less revealing, and takes the form ofa classifieds postin the UAE. This then isn’t an official store; rather it’s an individual who’s selling a Pixel 9a for AED 2,350 (around $640 / £490 / AU$1,000), but the listing does include pictures of the box.
The fact that both of these listings exist suggests the Google Pixel 9a will launch very soon. Indeed, the German listing stated that the phone would be delivered in around 10-14 days.
We don’t know for sure when the Pixel 9a will be announced, but leaks suggestwe could see it as soon as tomorrow(March 19), in which case we should know all the official details soon – although with the Pixel 9a having been so extensively leaked, we don’t expect to learn much that we haven’t already heard.
Google’s Find My is nearly a year old, but it has been quickly gaining new features in that short time.
Now, the ability to track friends and family via the Find My app is starting to roll out to Android users, which Googleannouncedin early March for Pixel phones. Other Android devices will get to use it in the future.
google
As with most Google features, it didn’t immediately land on Android devices and instead was rolled out over the last few weeks.
The Find My app now has two categories at the bottom of the screen labeled “Devices” and “People” (still in beta, apparently).
Tap on the people tab to see a map and a button called “+ New Share.” The map will show you the live locations of people who are sharing with you. The New Share button lets you send your location for various times including one hour, today only, a custom duration, or until you turn it off.
You can share your location via a link or select individuals to send your area, including Apple device owners.
This option already works similarly in theGoogle Mapsapp, and from what we can tell, Google isn’t removing that feature from the Maps app.
If you didn’t know this existed in Google Maps, you can find it by clicking your profile icon in Maps. It should be the fourth option down called “Location Sharing.”
Like the new People tab in the Find My app, you can share your location for selected times. The interface looks the same across the two apps once you click on location sharing.
People you share your location with in Google Maps can always find your Name and photo, the device’s recent location even when Google apps aren’t being used, the device’s battery power and if it’s charging and arrival and departure time if they add a Location Sharing notification.
Google
I think the sharing is easier to do in the Find My app and faster than through Google apps. Plus, it’s combined with the device search, which makes sense to be in the same place on your phone.
That said, using the feature asked me to turn off the power-saving mode. It’ll take some testing, but we’ll need to watch how power-hungry the mode is, especially on older devices.
Tracking your Android devices is more manageable if you haven’t used the Find My network. Google offers the Find My Device feature but requires a network connection and a turned-on device.
The newer Find My network accesses a network of Android devices andBluetoothto track phones, tablets or earbuds that may not be connected to a network.
A transformation is underway for Gboard users on Android as Google begins rolling out a redesigned layout for the keyboard. This update introduces circle and pill-shaped keys for a selected group of beta testers, moving away from the traditional rounded rectangle keys. The individual letter keys will be circular, while the space bar and other key functions will adopt a pill shape to enhance usability and visual appeal.
This redesign is part of the latest Gboard beta (version 15.1), which is currently in early phases and has not yet been widely released to all users in the testing program.
Recent changes have also been implemented in the Gboard toolbars, including a refined shortcut button for easier access to essential features. The updated Dynamic Color theme has been streamlined to align more closely with Android’s material design principles, providing users with a fresh interface.
These adjustments are designed to refresh the keyboard’s appearance and improve user engagement. However, not everyone is liking the changes.
For example, folks on Reddit call the most recent changes “awful” and “annoying.” One user said: “The graphic designer in me is just hurt looking at this. Atrocious, atrocious typography.” Over on X, comments about the newly shaped keys are nearly identical: people don’t like it.
Google has not yet announced when the keyboard changes will be available to general Android users or if there will be an option to revert to the old design.
Gboard on Android was originally released in December 2016. It followed a May 2016 release on iOS.
Last year the phone case maker Clicks introduced theClicks for iPhone keyboard. It brought tactile typing back to smartphones in a Blackberry-esque case.
Now, Clicks is bringing that Blackberry flavor over to Android. The iPhone 16 version provided more screen real estate and keyboard shortcuts with Clicks promising a similar experience for several newer Android phones including theGoogle Pixel 9,Pixel 9 Pro,Samsung Galaxy S25,andMotorola Razr Plus 2024.
“Clicks gives the Android community more choice over how to type, navigate and take action with a smart accessory that’s as fun as it is functional,” Michael Fisher, Clicks co-founder said in a press release.
The keyboard has a Gemini key for AI features, backlighting and a Clicks app for customization. You should be able to charge via USB-C or normal wireless charging with no hiccups, all pluses over the original design.
We took a look at theiPhone version of the keyboard caselast year and found that it took some time to find a rhythm in typing with a keyboard on your phone after so many years away from our Palm Treo Pros and BlackBerry Bold 9000s.
Phones editor John Velasco wrote, “I can see how the physicality of using a keyboard could appeal to people who have never experienced it before. There’s certainly room for improvement in making the next version better, but it’s a good start and the best option for a portrait style keyboard for any phone for that matter.”
It should be noted that outside of the Razr devices which can fold down, the keyboard does make your phone much longer. We don’t have specs for these new cases but the iPhone 16 version is 7.41-inches tall, adding nearly 2-inches to the height of the standard iPhone.
Presumably, you’ll get similar dimensions on the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 which are 6.09 and 5.78-inches tall, respectively. For those who are already annoyed with how big phones have gotten in recent years, this won’t allay those concerns.
Starting February 25, all four versions of the Android Clicks case will be available for pre-order with an entry price of $99. However, after March 21, the price rises to $139, the same as the iPhone version.
There are, however, different ship dates. The Pixel 9 variants start shipping at the end of April. The Razr Plus and Razr follow in “late May” and the Galaxy S25 won’t launch until June of this year.
Google is getting rid of shoddy SMS authentication
Google is removing SMS messages as an authentication option
It will be replaced with on-screen QR codes
Removing SMS authentication reduces the risk of phishing and fraud
Googleis officially moving away from using SMS messages in its Gmail account two-factorauthenticator.
Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer toldForbes, “we want to move away from sending SMS messages for authentication” to “reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse.”
SMS authentication codes can be easily intercepted by hackers simply by porting your phone number to a new device – just one of the many security issues plaguing SMS messages for authentication.
Google will instead introduce on-screen QR codes that will have to be scanned with your chosen authentication device in order to verify that it is actually you trying to log in. This potentially adds an extra layer of biometric security for those who use a facial recognition or fingerprint scan to access their device or applications.
QR codes will also solve two other concerns related to SMS authentication methods. The first being that QR codes are more phishing resistant, as there will no longer be a security code to share with an attacker. The second being the authentication will no longer be reliant on the phone service provider’s abuse and fraud protections.
Authentication will still be reliant on the user having access to their mobile device, but removes a significant amount of the risk of abuse. For Google, it is also a win, as it cuts down on threat actors being able to run ‘traffic pumping’ campaigns.
In these campaigns, criminals will abuse online service providers to generate a huge amount of SMS messages to phone numbers they control, allowing them to generate revenue through access charges and intercarrier compensation.
In the future, Google hopes to move to a fully passkey supported authenticator system, but the move from passwords to passkeys hasn’t been as fast as Google had hoped, despite their best efforts to convince users to make the switch.
Samsung has finally brought its Ultra design into line with the rest of the Galaxy series, with sharp results. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is extremely powerful and long-lasting, with some of the most advanced AI applications yet.
For
Unified design that doesn’t skimp on Ultra appeal
Biggest screen of the lineup
Powerful AI
Excellent battery life
Against
Generative AI doesn’t always deliver
Samsung still shies away from total photo-reality
Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Pixel 9 Pro is a classy-looking, pleasingly compact flagship phone that doesn’t compromise despite its diminutive stature. It takes fabulous pictures, features some of the crispest AI-enhanced software on the market, and has a brilliantly crisp and accurate screen.
For
Fantastic Pixel redesign with premium materials and finish
Excellent cameras rival the best camera phones
AI tricks are unique and creative without crossing lines
Against
Performance lags significantly behind other flagship phones
Some AI tricks feel a bit fake when you use them
Price is high compared to high-performance rivals
TheSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultrais a compromise-free flagship smartphone, but what happens if you want something a little smaller? TheSamsung Galaxy S25is a great phone, but it’s no Galaxy S25 Ultra Mini.
Thankfully,Googlemakes the closest thing you’re going to get to such a device in the form of theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro. For the first time ever, Google has crammed all of its best features into a relatively compact form factor, with virtually no compromises. That’s the sales pitch, anyway.
So, does the Google Pixel 9 Pro actually match up to theSamsungGalaxy S25 Ultra? Is it really as simple a case of choosing your preferred screen size? We’ve reviewed both phones, awarding them a stellar 4.5 out of 5 score in ourSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra reviewandGoogle Pixel 9 Pro review, respectively. But to declare a winner, we’re going to have to break things down into a point-by-point comparison.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: price and availability
Samsung’s latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, arrived on February 3, 2025. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro landed in shops a little earlier on September 9, 2024.
Pricing for the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts from $1,299 for 256GB of storage, while the 512GB model costs $1,419. The top 1TB model costs $1,659. It’s a lot more expensive than the Pixel 9 Pro whichever way you cut it.
Google’s phone starts from $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 for 128GB of storage, moving up to $1,099 for 256GB, and $1,219 for 512GB. US customers alone get the option of a 1TB model for $1,449.
Comparing like-for-like storage options, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a not-inconsiderable $200 more expensive. First blood, Google.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: design
Samsung has switched up its design language with the Galaxy S25 Ultra to bring it more in line with the rest of the Galaxy range. It’s all flat edges now, albeit with much pointier corners than the regular Galaxy S25.
Google has also taken things a turn for the flatter with the Pixel 9 Pro, though it looks more like the standard Galaxy S25 than the Ultra – and thus, inevitably, a lot more like an iPhone.
Both look and feel like the premium devices they are, though the Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly the higher-end piece of kit. Its frame is made of titanium rather than the Pixel 9 Pro’s aluminum. Both phones are IP68 certified, so are similarly water and dust-resistant.
From the rear, the Pixel 9 Pro is arguably the more interesting phone of the two. It all comes down to Google’s classy camera module, which stands loud and proud, and covers most of the width of the phone. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s discrete camera lenses simply don’t have the same wow factor.
Of course, the biggest difference here relates to the size of these two phones. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is huge, measuring 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm and weighing a hefty 218g. The Pixel 9 Pro is much more pocketable, measuring 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm and weighing 199g.
Samsung’s phone gets an additional point of interest in the form of an integrated S Pen stylus housed in the bottom edge of the phone. Samsung may have robbed it of Bluetooth connectivity this year, but it still offers an input method that the Pixel 9 Pro (along with most other phones) wholly lacks.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: display
That difference in size informs the size of the two displays on offer here. The Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a vast 6.9-inch AMOLED display, while the Pixel 9 Pro has a much smaller 6.3-inch variant.
Both are LTPO panels, so can adjust between 1 and 120Hz refresh rates depending on the task at hand. The Galaxy S25 Ultra technically packs in more pixels – 1440 x 3120 vs 1280 x 2856 – but the difference in size means that the pixel density is similar.
Indeed, you’ll need to dive into the settings to activate the full QHD+ resolution on the Samsung phone in the first place, which feels like a weird decision.
Where the Pixel 9 Pro wins points is for its superior brightness. It can attain a 3000 nits peak inHDRcontent, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra only hits 2600 nits. Both are strong, but Google’s phone takes the edge on sunnier days.
There’s also the fact that the Pixel 9 Pro’s display is a little more natural-looking, while Samsung has ramped up the vibrant colors with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s certainly a look, but it’s not the most technically accurate out there.
Both phones employ ultrasonic fingerprint sensors underneath their displays, which are fast and secure. Our reviewer did encounter more read errors with the Samsung than the Google, but these things tend to vary from person to person.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: cameras
Both of these phones take phenomenal pictures, and are right up near the top of the camera phone tree – albeit for different reasons.
Samsung continues to be the zoom king, having equipped the Galaxy S25 Ultra with two telephoto cameras – one 10MP 3x and one 50MP 5x periscope camera. The Pixel 9 Pro, by contrast, only has the one 48MP 5x unit.
This means that the Galaxy S25 Ultra takes sharper pictures across a wider range of focal lengths, including those hybrid shots that crop in on the sensors for a deeper zoom. It also benefits from a 200MP main sensor that captures more detail than the Pixel 9 Pro’s 50MP main sensor.
Both manufacturers offer a heavily processed look, but Samsung’s color science is perhaps a little less natural and more over-saturated than Google’s. Expect bluer-than-blue skies and super-green leaves.
It’s tough to choose which phone takes better nighttime images. Both Samsung and Google have a strong low-light algorithm game.
Both phones also employ powerful AI features to help you make some creepily effective AI adjustments, including removing background objects and even inserting elements that weren’t there in the first place. It might not be pure photography, but it sure is impressive.
Google’s phone wins out with a phenomenal 42MP selfie camera, which is arguably the best in the business. It also takes the W on video recording, especially with a Video Boost mode that improves sharpness, exposure, and stability at the small cost of longer processing times.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: performance and software
There are two elements to this section: performance and software. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra clearly wins the first one, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro mops up with the second.
Taking performance first, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s blazing Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It’s already faster than pretty much any other mobile processor on the market – including fromApple– and this is a slightly overclocked version of that chip too.
In the opposite corner, the Pixel 9 Pro is one of the weakest-performing flagship phones on the market. It would be unfair to label Google’s home-brewed Tensor G4 chip a dud, but it seems to be more than a generation behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite when you take a look at the usual CPU and GPU benchmark numbers. Last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra handily beats it, let alone the current model.
Google would argue that this is an outdated way to view performance these days, and that its AI performance is where it’s at. It’s certainly true that the Pixel 9 Pro runs some very clever AI tools, and the phone’s 16GB of RAM makes the 12GB of the Galaxy S25 Ultra seem stingy to that end.
There’s no getting away from the fact that the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels much snappier in the hands, however. The Pixel 9 Pro isn’t slow, but there were definitely moments when it stuttered and paused during our review period, such as when we had multiple apps running together. We had no such issues with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
This could be particularly problematic going forward. Both manufacturers offer generous seven-year software update promises, but only the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels as if it might be sufficiently snappy to still be running well towards the end of its lifespan.
However, when it comes to the experience of actually using that software, the Pixel 9 Pro wins hands down. Google’s stock UI is simply much cleaner and less cluttered than Samsung’s. There’s no duplicate web browser, virtual assistant, or payment app, and the app tray and notification center are both far more intuitive.
Both Samsung and Google go big on AI, and indeed Samsung has adopted many of Google’s tricks, including making Gemini its primary assistant. We’ll go with Google’s more cohesive implementation, but the truth is both phones have a similarly sporadic hit rate when it comes to AI software.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: battery
You’d expect the larger phone to feature superior stamina, and that tallies with our experience. Not only does the Galaxy S25 Ultra have a larger 5,000mAh battery (vs 4,700mAh in the Pixel 9 Pro), but it also has the more efficient processor of the two.
Both phones will last a full day of fairly heavy usage without making you sweat, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra scored much better in our Future Labs tests. While Samsung’s phone lasted more than 17 hours, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted about four hours less.
This isn’t a criticism of the Pixel. It holds up to its fellow small flagships pretty well. It’s just in a different class to the hulking Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Neither phone is hugely impressive when it comes time to recharge times. The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports 45W charging, while the Pixel 9 Pro supports 27W. While the Samsung phone is quoted as being able to get from empty to 65% in 30 minutes, the Pixel 9 Pro will only get to 55% in the same time. It’s not a hugely significant difference, but it’s a win for Samsung nonetheless.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports 15W Qi wireless charging to the Pixel 9 Pro’s 12W, though Google wins the wireless round by supporting a faster bespoke wireless solution of 21W, provided you invest in the Pixel Stand.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro are two of our favorite phones, and they’re also sufficiently different to make a straight-up winner very tough to call.
If you’re a media hound who likes your screens large and your battery life epic, the massive Galaxy S25 Ultra is clearly the best pick. Elsewhere, its S Pen function makes it uniquely suited to scrawling notes and ideas.
For those after a more compact phone, whether due to having small hands or tiny pockets, the Pixel 9 Pro is for you. It gives you a largely compromise-free flagship experience in a much smaller bundle, and it costs less to boot.
The tit-for-tat continues: Samsung’s phone is much faster, and thus arguably a little more future-proof. Conversely, Google’s software is much cleaner and nicer to use, and buying a Pixel means you’re signing up for the latest and greatest AI features as they arrive. Google makes both the hardware and the software here, which counts for a lot – just ask Apple fans.
Ultimately, you’re not going to be sorry with whichever of these two phones you buy. You just need to make sure you put some thought into what you really value in a smartphone before you make your choice.
The Chromecast with Google TV had a good run(Image credit: Google)
Google has stopped selling the Chromecast with Google TV
The gadget made its debut in September 2020
An upgrade is available in the form of the Google TV Streamer
Four-and-a-half years after making its debut, theChromecast with Google TVis no longer being sold byGoogle– joining products likeGoogle Daydreamand theNexus Q(remember that?) in the hardware section of the Google graveyard.
The disappearance of the gadget from the official Google Store was noted by9to5Googleand others, with both the4Kand HD versions no longer available. The HD model launched in 2022, two years after the original.
While you might still be able to hunt one down through third-party resellers, the future is very much theGoogle TV Streamerunveiled in August 2024. That’s now the default Google TV device, yours for $99.
However, as a long-time user of the Chromecast with Google TV (4K edition), there’s no way I’m going to swap the old device for the new one right now. In fact, I’ll probably stick with my current streaming dongle until it stops working, which could still be several years off at this point.
The Google TV Streamer is the future(Image credit: Google)
The Chromecast with Google TV was a significant upgrade to traditional Chromecasts when it made its debut. Before it arrived, Chromecasting was quick and easy enough, but everything had to be controlled on a phone, tablet, or laptop.
With the Chromecast with Google TV, you have a chunky little remote – even more straightforward to use, with its tactile, physical buttons and scroll pad. There’s on-board storage too, and a software interface, making it a truly standalone device.
The Google TV Streamer is by no means bulky, but it needs a flat surface to sit on, whereas my Chromecast with Google TV just dangles out of an HDMI port. The new gadget is more expensive too, packing in more storage that I’m never going to use.
Both the old and new streaming devices make use of Google TV – one of the best and most versatile TV software platforms – so there’s no upgrade there. In an ideal world, I’d love a Chromecast with Google TV, 2025 edition (if anyone from Google is reading), but my current streaming gadget continues to do a fine job.
