Are 2024–25 Flagships Still Worth Buying in 2026? 5 Phones Compared

Last-Gen Flagships Compared: Which Smartphones Are Worth Buying in 2026?

Samsung, Apple, Google, vivo, and OnePlus all launched some heavy hitters in 2024 and 2025: the Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Pixel 9 Pro XL, vivo X200 Pro, and OnePlus 13. Now, with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series on shelves and the iPhone 18 series out in the wild, last year's flagships are dropping in price. If you’re thinking about picking one up, here’s a quick rundown to help you find the right fit.

Quick Comparison

Galaxy S25 Ultra: Huge 6.9-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging. Camera’s stacked: 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, and two telephoto lenses (5x and 3x).

iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9-inch OLED, 120Hz, Apple’s A18 Pro chip, 4,685mAh battery, lasts up to 33 hours video according to Apple. Camera setup: 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, and 12MP 5x telephoto.

Pixel 9 Pro XL: 6.8-inch Super Actua display, Tensor G4 chip with 16GB RAM, 5,060mAh battery (37W wired, 23W wireless charging). Cameras: 50MP main and 48MP 5x telephoto.

vivo X200 Pro: 6.78-inch display, 4,500 nits brightness, Dimensity 9400 chip (3nm), 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired/30W wireless charging. Cameras: 50MP main, a wild 200MP periscope, and 50MP ultrawide.

OnePlus 13: 6.82-inch QHD+, super-bright at 4,500 nits, Snapdragon 8 Elite, 6,000mAh battery, and the fastest charging—100W wired, 50W wireless. Three 50MP cameras including a 3x periscope.

Prices jump around, so you’ll want to check what retailers are asking locally. When these hit the market: iPhone 16 Pro Max was $1,199, OnePlus 13 started at $899, vivo X200 Pro was RM 4,699 (about $1,050), and in Bangladesh, the OnePlus 13 was ৳103,899. Local prices may vary.

Galaxy S25 Ultra

If productivity tops your list, S25 Ultra is hard to beat. It’s sturdy (titanium frame, IP68), comes with its signature stylus, and is still the only one here with both 3x and 5x telephoto lenses.

Good for: People who crave a stylus and like getting stuff done on their phone.

Downside: Charging is slower than what you get from vivo or OnePlus.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple’s big upgrade brings a titanium frame, a dedicated camera button, and it shoots 4K video at 120fps with Dolby Vision. The phone is lighter than you’d expect (227g), but charging is glacial: wired tops out at 20W, MagSafe at 25W, Qi2 at 15W.

Good for: Video creators and die-hard Apple folks.

Downside: Pricey, and that slow charging is tough to overlook.

Pixel 9 Pro XL

This one lasts the longest on a charge—about 70% longer than the Pixel 8 Pro. Display is vivid, and Google’s always-on AI tools shine through in the camera software. But the Tensor G4 isn’t built for hardcore gaming and can throttle under stress. Annoyingly, no charger in the box.

Good for: Photography fans and people who love Google’s AI stuff.

Downside: Weak for serious gamers and charging speeds lag behind the Chinese brands.

vivo X200 Pro

vivo doubles down on camera hardware—a 200MP periscope lens with 3.7x optical zoom using Zeiss optics, plus IP68/IP69 water resistance. Selfie camera gets an upgrade, too. It’s not the lightest (223–228g, 8.5mm thick), and in Europe you get a smaller battery (5,200mAh) and just four years of Android updates. Accessories outside Asia can be tough to track down.

Good for: Those who want killer zoom and travel a lot (especially for concerts and events).

Downside: Limited updates, battery tradeoff in Europe, and hard to find extras outside Asia.

OnePlus 13

This is the speed demon—fastest processor, fastest charging, and a beefy 6,000mAh battery. The 100W wired/50W wireless combo means you’re never hanging around near a socket (US version caps at 80W wired, for the record). Water resistance is top-tier. Runs OxygenOS 15.

Good for: Gamers, travelers, anyone who hates waiting to charge.

Downside: Only 4 years of OS updates and regional differences in software policy.

Which phone fits you best?

- For a stylus and productivity features: Galaxy S25 Ultra.

- For video, and if you’re locked into the Apple ecosystem: iPhone 16 Pro Max.

- For the latest in AI-powered photography: Pixel 9 Pro XL.

- For zoom photography and travel: vivo X200 Pro.

- For speed, charging, and value: OnePlus 13.

If you want longer-term software updates, you’ll want to check out even newer phones like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Sources: Manufacturer websites and launch details.