Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra scores 8.7 in our rating, and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max scores 8.6. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra leads in display, performance and software support, while the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is ahead in camera, battery and value for money. At launch in the US, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max cost $100.99 less ($1,199 vs $1,299.99). The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the newer phone, announced Jan 22, 2025.
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Key differences
Why choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Bigger battery 5,000 mAh vs 4,685 mAh
- Brighter screen 2,600 nits vs 2,000 nits
- Newer model Jan 22, 2025 vs Sep 9, 2024
- More RAM 12 GB / 16 GB vs 8 GB
- Lighter 218 g vs 227 g
- Thinner 8.2 mm vs 8.25 mm
Why choose the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Lower launch price $1,199 vs $1,299.99
- Faster wireless charging 25 W vs 15 W
- Satellite messaging
- Secure 3D face unlock
PhoneRanked scores
Calculated from specs, relative to phones from the same year and price range. How we rate phones
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Overall
8.7
8.6
Display
8.4
8.2
Performance
8.5
8.2
Camera
8.6
8.8
Battery
6.2
7.0
Design
8.8
8.7
Software support
9.2
7.4
Value for money
5.5
5.7
Display
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Size
6.9 inches
6.9 inches
Type
OLED, Dynamic AMOLED 2X
OLED, Super Retina XDR
Resolution
1440 × 3120 px
1320 × 2868 px
Pixel density
498 ppi
460 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
120 Hz
Adaptive refresh
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Peak brightness
2,600 nits
2,000 nits
HDR
HDR10, HDR10+
HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Protection
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Ceramic Shield (latest generation)
Performance
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Process
3 nm
3 nm
GPU
Adreno 830
Apple 6-core GPU
RAM
12 GB / 16 GB
8 GB
Storage
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB
Storage type
UFS 4.0
—
microSD slot
✕ No
✕ No
Cameras
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Main camera
200 MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3"
48 MP, f/1.78
Optical stabilization
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Ultrawide
50 MP
48 MP
Telephoto
50 MP, 5× optical, periscope
12 MP, 5× optical, periscope
Optical zoom
5×
5×
Rear cameras
4
3
Rear video
8K@30
4K@120
Front camera
12 MP
12 MP
Battery and charging
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Capacity
5,000 mAh
4,685 mAh
Battery type
Li-Ion
Li-Ion
Wired charging
45 W
—
Wireless charging
15 W
25 W
Reverse wireless
✓ Yes
✕ No
Charger in box
✕ No
✕ No
Design and build
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Dimensions
162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm
163 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm
Thickness
8.2 mm
8.25 mm
Weight
218 g
227 g
Form factor
Bar
Bar
Frame
Titanium
Titanium
Back
Glass
Glass
Water resistance
IP68
IP68
Fingerprint
Under-display ultrasonic
None
3D face unlock
✕ No
✓ Yes
SIM
—
eSIM only
Colors
Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Pinkgold
Black Titanium, Desert Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium
Connectivity and features
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth
5.4
5.3
USB
USB-C 3.x
USB-C 3.x
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
3.5 mm jack
✕ No
✕ No
Stereo speakers
✓ Yes
—
Satellite
✕ No
✓ Yes
IR blaster
✕ No
✕ No
Software
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
OS at launch
Android 15
iOS 18
Interface
One UI 7
—
OS updates
7 years
—
Security updates
7 years
5 years
Launch and price
Spec
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Announced
Jan 22, 2025
Sep 9, 2024
Released
Feb 7, 2025
Sep 20, 2024
Status
Released
Discontinued
US launch price
$1,299.99
$1,199
Green marks the stronger value in a row. Specs come from official manufacturer data, cross-checked with established tech media; each phone page lists its sources. Report an error
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