A How-To Geek writer reviewed Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL, then returned to a Galaxy S25+. The reasons say a lot about what to weigh before buying a phone.
After reviewing Google's new Pixel 11 Pro XL, a writer at How-To Geek went back to his older Samsung Galaxy S25+ and says nothing is likely to move him to Apple or Google. It is an opinion piece, not a test result. Still, his reasons are a useful checklist for anyone shopping for a phone.
His case is not that Samsung wins in every category. He admits the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra may not have the best video recording or the biggest battery. His point is that it is near the top across the board. He lists strong hardware, good screens, consistent cameras, fairly fast charging, solid battery life and a long list of features.
One big selling point is Samsung's promise of 7 years of Android updates. That means a Galaxy can stay current for a long time. The writer also leans on habit. He has used Samsung's One UI, the look and feel Samsung puts on top of Android, for nearly 15 years. He says settings stay in familiar places, even when you upgrade to a new phone in 2 to 3 years.
When Samsung changes something, he says, the change is usually optional. He points to choices such as 3-button navigation instead of swipe gestures, split notifications, launcher changes and physical button customization.
The writer's favorite example is Good Lock, a Samsung tool that lets owners change the lock screen, icons, notifications, navigation bar, multitasking and more. He says it goes much further than other phones do out of the box.
He also claims that people who switch from Samsung to a Pixel tend to miss the same things:
Camera quality often dominates phone talk. This piece suggests three other questions. How long will the phone get updates? Will the settings feel familiar? How much can you adjust it to fit your habits? Those matter more the longer you plan to keep a phone.
The writer says he could still switch someday. He is waiting for what he calls an aha moment from the Pixel line. He also mentions rumors that Samsung may rename One UI to Galaxy OS, but says the experience would stay the same. Nothing about a rename is confirmed in the article.
Before buying a phone, compare update length, how familiar the settings feel and how much you can customize, not just the camera.
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