Samsung S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which should you buy?
Explore the key differences between these two flagships.
Instead of just picking a phone based on looks, it makes sense to compare what’s under the hood—because at the end of the day, it’s all about performance, features, and how well it fits into your daily life.
Samsung has finally dropped its much-anticipated flagship for 2025—the Galaxy S25 Ultra—and as expected, it’s packed with upgrades. With a smarter AI-powered camera, the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a sleek new design, it’s got everyone talking.
But how does it really stack up against Apple’s 2024 flagship– iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has already made waves with its A18 Pro chip, top-tier camera improvements, and deep iOS integration? Here in this guide, we will compare the two across different metrics to help you see which one comes out on top.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Design & Display
At first glance, both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max exude premium craftsmanship. They feature titanium frames, making them more durable and lightweight compared to their predecessors. Additionally, both phones house 6.9-inch displays with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations.
However, Samsung brings a new signature curved-corner design, giving the S25 Ultra a more immersive feel. It boasts a QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, making outdoor visibility a breeze. Plus, the inclusion of Corning Gorilla Armor 2 offers better scratch resistance. The S25 Ultra also retains the beloved S Pen for those who enjoy sketching and note-taking.
On the other hand, Apple keeps its flat-edged design with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which many users appreciate for its solid grip. Its Super Retina XDR OLED display delivers vibrant colours and deep blacks, with ProMotion technology ensuring an adaptive refresh rate for power efficiency. While it may not match Samsung’s QHD+ resolution, Apple’s colour calibration and true-tone technology make for a consistently stunning display.
Camera
Both phones feature a periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, allowing users to get closer to their subjects without losing quality.
Samsung, however, goes all out with its camera hardware, featuring a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope lens, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. This combination ensures exceptional clarity, whether you're taking wide landscapes or zooming in on distant objects. Moreover, Samsung integrates Galaxy AI for advanced computational photography, enhancing low-light shots and refining portrait mode with greater accuracy.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48-megapixel fusion, 48-megapixel ultrawide, and 12-megapixel 5x telephoto lens. Its fusion sensor technology combines multiple exposures for ultra-detailed shots, while its deep fusion and smart HDR capabilities ensure superior color accuracy.
Performance (Chip & AI)
When it comes to performance, Apple has exceptional single-core performance, making the iPhone 16 Pro Max a powerhouse for intensive tasks like video editing and gaming. The A18 Pro, combined with MetalFX upscaling, delivers console-quality gaming without breaking a sweat. Apple’s AI-driven Siri enhancements and Intelligence also take voice interactions to a new level, offering real-time translations and predictive text like never before.
Meanwhile, Samsung excels in multi-core performance and multitasking with the S25 Ultra equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. This combination, along with Galaxy AI, allows for advanced on-device processing for various tasks, including real-time transcription, AI-assisted photography, and productivity enhancements. Additionally, the S25 Ultra features Samsung DeX, which turns your phone into a desktop-like experience when connected to a monitor.
Battery & Charging
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra holds the edge in fast charging, supporting a 5,000mAh battery, and 45W wired charging that can juice up the device to 50% in just 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Apple remains conservative with a slightly smaller 4,685mAh battery with 20W wired charging and 25W MagSafe wireless charging, making it slower in comparison.
Software & Ecosystem
When it comes to software, both flagships are heavily AI-driven, offering smarter user experiences. Samsung’s Android 15 One UI 7 introduces enhanced multitasking, an upgraded DeX mode, and seamless cross-device functionality across Samsung tablets and PCs. Plus, Samsung now matches Apple’s 7-year software update policy, ensuring longevity.
Apple’s iOS 18, on the other hand, refines customization with more flexible home screen layouts, improved iMessage features like RCS messaging for better Android compatibility, and AI-driven enhancements to Siri.
Price & Value
Both phones have similar storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 for the 256GB model and goes up to $1,699 for 1TB. Pre-orders come with enticing perks like free Galaxy Buds 3 and a one-year subscription to Samsung Care+.
In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is slightly cheaper at $1,199 for the base 256GB model, maxing out at $1,599 for 1TB. Apple doesn’t throw in freebies but offers trade-in deals to offset the cost.
Conclusion
Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max stand at the pinnacle of smartphone innovation. If you prioritize an advanced camera system, faster charging, and productivity features like the S Pen and DeX, the S25 Ultra is the better pick.
However, if you value seamless software integration, top-tier video recording, and superior single-core performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max remains the king of the Apple ecosystem.
At the end of the day, the decision comes down to personal preference.
Kelechi Edeh
