Samsung and Apple are fierce competitors, each providing the finest smartphone experience in their respective ecosystems. So when one of them releases a new flagship phone, comparisons are bound to be made. The same was true when last year’s S24 Ultra outperformed Apple’s new Pro Max in multimedia and productivity. But can Samsung keep up its winning streak with the new Galaxy S25 Ultra? Let’s discuss in this comparison of the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Specifications
Before we move on to the detailed comparison, let’s take a look at how the Galaxy S25 Ultra stacks up against the iPhone 19 Pro Max in terms of raw specs.
Specs Galaxy S25 Ultra iPhone 16 Pro Max Dimensions 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm Weight 218 grams 227 grams Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) Apple A18 Pro (3nm) RAM + Storage 12GB LPDDR5X + 1TB UFS 4.0 8GB LPDDR5 + 1TB NVMe Display 6.9-inch QHD+ (1440 x 3120 pixels) 2X Dynamic LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 2600 nits, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 6.9-inch FHD+ (1320 x 2868 pixels) Super Retina XDR display OLED, 120Hz, 2000 nits, Ceramic Shield Rear Camera 200MP primary + 50MP periscope + 10MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide 48MP primary + 48MP ultra-wide + 12MP telephoto Front Camera 12MP 12MP Video Up to 8K at 30FPS Up to 4K at 120FPS Dual SIM Yes; Supports eSIM Yes; Supports eSIM Connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC Port USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2 USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2 Battery 5000mAh 4685mAh IP Rating IP68 IP68 Software One UI 7 based on Android 15 iOS 18
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Build and Design
Design-wise, I feel both Samsung and Apple have found a comfortable look for their phones, and they don’t wish to stray away from it. That is why, they carry the same 3-year-old design with only minor changes to speak of.
In the case of the S25 Ultra, the company has gone for more rounded corners compared to the sharp ones in the S24 Ultra. They also shredded off some thickness, as the phone is only 8.2mm in width. This puts it on par with the iPhone’s 8.3mm. The loss in width also helped remove excess heft as the new Ultra weighs only 218 grams, beating the iPhone which is 227 grams.
These uber-premium smartphones use a titanium frame sandwiched between glass slabs on both ends. Samsung offers Gorilla Glass Armor 2 protection to safeguard its high-end charms. Apple resorts to a Ceramic guard for the same, but it only protects the front. However, both of them feature IP 68 certification for some level of dust and water resistance.
Samsung and Apple have also included their own hardware-based trick into their devices. The Galaxy S5 Ultra houses the iconic S-Pen stylus which has become a mainstay of the series. The iPhone 16 Pro Max includes a capacitive camera control button sitting on the right side. We have extensively talked about it before, and the best implementation is a personal preference.
But if you ask me, I’d say that the S-Pen is better than having a dedicated camera button. Not to forget that it can also behave as one if needed. The satisfaction of writing on a large touch screen, or using it to browse through the UI, makes it such a useful addition.
Display And Cameras
Turning the phones to the front, we are met with massive, high-resolution panels. The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel. The 16 Pro Max also features the same size Super Retina XDR OLED screen. They both have a 120Hz refresh rate that can go as low as 1Hz thanks to the LTPO technology included on the two devices.
However, the S25 Ultra can touch 2600 nits of high brightness, but the iPhone only goes up to 2000 nits. So you can expect better screen visibility when you decide to take your phone out on a bright, sunny day. Samsung also takes the lead in display resolution with its sharper 1440p panel compared to the 1320p of the iPhone.
In the camera department, both phones bring their A-game. Starting with the S25 Ultra, which has a four-lens camera array at the back with a 200MP f/1.7 main snapper, a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50 MP 5x periscope, and another 50MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degrees field of view. The iPhone hits back with a 48MP f/1.8 main shooter, a 12MP 5x telephoto, and another 48MP ultrawide camera. The front has a 12MP selfie snapper on both smartphones.
Now which one clicks the better photos is debatable, but for videos iPhone would be the preferred option for many. It has sensor-shift OIS to record stable videos, with 4K 120FPS support to capture crisp slow-motion shots. It can also shoot in Dolby Vision HDR, Spatial 3D, and ProRes. The S25 Ultra can also do 4K 120FPS and even 8K 30FPS. It records 10-bit HDR footage by default now, but Apple’s video chops are still ever so slightly better.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Hardware
Last year in our S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max comparison, the latest Apple flagship came out on top thanks to its 3nm hexa core A18 Pro processor. This blew the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 right off of the water. The phone could breeze through any tasks that you through at it, and capable of playing console titles like the latest Resident Evil, and Assassin’s Creed games.
But this year, Samsung has come prepared. The Galaxy S25 Ultra features Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This 3nm octa-core processor features the company’s in-house Oryon cores, clocked at 4.47 GHz. This makes it 44% faster than the 8 Gen 3 and leaves Apple’s A18 Pro far behind in our testing and comparison of the two.
As for storage, the iPhone 16 Pro Max only has an 8GB RAM variant with storage options starting from 256GB, and topping at 1TB. Apple uses NVMe memory type, similar to what we see in desktop SSDs, for quick data transfer speeds. The Samsung S25 Ultra comes in a 12GB RAM option in the U.S. with similar 256/512/1TB of UFS 4.0 storage configurations.
Software and AI Features
In terms of software, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has Samsung’s all-new One UI 7 skin based on the latest Android 15 update. This new update brings several new design changes and features, which we have discussed in detail separately. But the highlight is the Now bar. It’s a pill-shaped bar that sits on the lock screen and displays ongoing tasks. Think of it as Samsung’s take on Apple’s Dynamic island. But I do hope that Samsung adds further third-party app support in later updates.
Meanwhile, Apple packaged their iPhone with the iOS 18 update. This also brings several improvements and customizations to iOS’ restricted interface. A couple of years back, I could easily make the case that if you want a more personalized experience, then go with Samsung. But iOS 18 allows for more tweaks and changes most people will ever use on their devices.
Though, AI is a different story. Both the premium flagship takes charge of their respective brands’ AI promises. The S25 Ultra with its Galaxy AI and the iPhone 16 Pro Max with its Apple Intelligence. Both bring some helpful generative additions to the UI, but how do they fair is up to your usage. I will say though that the Gemini AI voice assistant on Samsung is far better than Apple’s new Siri.
Since we are on that topic, Samsung offers 7 years of major software updates for this top-of-the-line device. So your brand new S25 Ultra will still be receiving updates in 2032. Apple doesn’t give a year count, but you can expect to receive at least five years of updates on the 16 Pro Max.
Battery, Charging and Connectivity
Now let’s talk about battery life. The Samsung S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh capacity battery compared to the iPhone’s 4685mAh. These are the same specs as last year, and going by that device, we can expect 7 and a half to 9 hours of screen on time. Apple has also done tremendous optimization on its end, which is why the iPhone pulls out similar screen-on-time despite the smaller battery.
In terms of charging, you can top up the device with 45 Watts wired speeds on Samsung and 25Watts on Apple. The Galaxy S25 Ultra takes about 30 minutes to charge 65% and 1 hour 15 minutes to refill its massive tank. The iPhone 16 Pro Max can also juice up 50% in half an hour, but you will have to wait for an hour and 50 minutes to touch the hundred mark.
They also have wireless charging support, with the S25 Ultra supporting a maximum of 25 watts of charging and the iPhone being able to do only 15 watts. Though the Galaxy S25 Ultra is Qi 2 ready this year, so if you buy a supported magnetic case for the phone then you will be able to use all MagSafe accessories with the phone.
Given these two are the best phones there is, you’ll find all the latest connectivity standards present here. They have Wi-Fi 7, NFC, USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2 ports for fast data transfers, and Nano SIM support. Though the S25 Ultra includes the newer Bluetooth 5.4 compared to 5.3 on the iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Conclusion
This year, Samsung has bumped up the price of their phones this time by $100. So the base variant of the Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 compared to the $1,199 of the 16 Pro Max. This is $100 more than Apple’s best, which makes it a difficult decision for the users. Plus, iPhone has had some time to simmer down on the pricing, so you can find the Pro Max for cheap in discounts and sales.
However, I feel Samsung does offer a much better value for what it’s worth. The customizable interface, large screen with the handy S Pen, larger battery, and up to 7 years of guaranteed software support means that you will be able to enjoy your S25 Ultra longer than the iPhone.
So it all comes down to your personal preference. Whether you wish to invest this much amount on something you are already familiar with or daring enough to try something new.
