Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Which Delivers the Best Performance?

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: two great (and large!) phones, but you’ve got only one pocket. The iPhone vs Galaxy is a duel that is nearly an annual event. You need performance, speed, long battery life, and maybe a few jealous side eyes when you pull it out to snap a photo of brunch. So which phone is right for you? Let’s get into the features that matter most.

Specs & Design

‘Treat yourself’ energy only. From the first peel to the last sticker, both phones bring that “oh wow” moment, the kind that makes you want to keep the packaging like a weirdo. (Same.)

Dimensions & Build Quality

Both phones look and feel premium. Titanium frames, polished details, the vibes are luxurious. They are both pleasantly light for their size.

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Materials: titanium on both, tough front glass on each

In hand: solid, pocketable, no slippery soap bar vibes

Finish: clean lines, tight fit, very giftable

Display: Bright enough that you can actually see it when outside

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Samsung nudged the Galaxy S25 Ultra display a touch larger, with super thin bezels and a tiny pinhole selfie camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max screen is gorgeous, smooth, and color accurate. The S25 Ultra adds a low-glare coating that cuts reflections, so you spend less time squinting in sunlight and more time reading your group chat.

These two phones are basically twins when it comes to their dimensions - not close enough to swap cases - but close enough in size that they feel the same in your bag. The Samsung is a bit lighter and the tiniest bit thinner. The iPhone feels dense in a premium way, like a nice watch or a fancy chocolate bar that you refuse to share.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm. Weight: 218 g
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0 × 77.6 × 8.25 mm. Weight: about 227 g

Translation: both are beautiful and feel about the same in hand, the S25 Ultra is easier to see when the sun decides to be dramatic.

Buttons and controls

Here is where the personalities split.

Galaxy S25 Ultra has two physical buttons: power and a single volume rocker. Clean, simple, easy muscle memory.

iPhone 16 Pro Max has five total buttons, including separate volume up and down, plus extras for quick actions and camera control. More shortcuts, more to press, more to customize.

Those who prefer minimal hardware with fewer things to fumble will love the S25 Ultra that keeps it tidy. But if you want more instant controls at your fingertips, the iPhone gives you extra toys to map and tweak.

Design Features

Both phones carry an IP68 rating, which is tech speak for “relax, everyday messes are covered.” Think rain, sink splashes, a quick rescue from the tub, and plenty of dusty pockets. It is a nice baseline for clumsy moments and real life.

The first number is 6, which means dust does not get in. Beach bag crumbs, pocket lint, and glitter from that last craft explosion meet a firm nope.

The second number is 8, which means the phone can handle being underwater in lab tests. Freshwater, controlled depth, limited time. Great for accidents, not a scuba hobby.

Screen protection tells its own story. Galaxy S25 Ultra uses Gorilla Armor 2 with glare reduction, so you see more screen and less mirror in bright light. iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Ceramic Shield, Apple’s tough front glass that feels sleek and polished.

Both fronts are built to stand up against daily wear and tear. Keys, coins, and the occasional drop on bathroom tile are part of the job, not an instant disaster. Physics still wins if the angle is unlucky, so a good case and a little care go a long way.

Colors:

Color-wise, both phones show up dressed for the spotlight. 

Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, plus a few extras if you like to match your phone to your coffee order.

iPhone 16 Pro Max plays it cool with Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium, the kind of palette that whispers premium without trying too hard.

Look closely at the borders, and you will spot the family resemblance, just with different jawlines. Each phone keeps the bezels slim. Samsung leans squared and note-like, which reads modern and tidy. iPhone softens the edges, curving into your palm with a gentle roll that feels friendly.

In hand, the S25 Ultra feels like a sketchbook that can also call your mom. The iPhone feels more like a camera that also texts your group chat.

Display Features

Both screens are huge at 6.9 inches, sharp, and easy on the eyes. The Galaxy S25 Ultra feels a touch more all-screen, thanks to its tiny pinhole selfie camera and whisper-thin bezels. The iPhone 16 Pro Max keeps things clean with the Dynamic Island up top, which many people like for alerts and live activities.

Outdoors is where the S25 Ultra flexes. Its low-glare glass cuts reflections, so you do not see your face staring back at you every time the sun shows up. The iPhone gets very bright and looks great in daylight, but the Samsung often needs fewer brightness bumps to stay readable on a patio, at a park, or in a rideshare with the roof open.

Both phones ramp to 120 Hz when you scroll or game, then ease back to save battery when you pause. The result is smooth motion without battery anxiety. You will notice it most in long feeds, quick camera pans, and fast-moving games.

Color has a different vibe on each phone. Samsung leans punchy with deep blacks, which makes movies and photos pop. Apple goes for natural tones that look true to life, with HDR highlights that feel controlled instead of shouty. Neither is wrong. It is more like picking your favorite photo filter and sticking with it.

Always-on displays are useful on both. Time, widgets, and notifications show at a glance, so you can sneak a peek in meetings, movie nights, or during that “one more episode” spiral. It is a small thing that adds up to fewer wake-ups and a calmer battery graph.

Glass feel is a personal thing. The S25 Ultra’s anti-reflective layer gives the surface a softer, satin vibe that resists smudges. The iPhone keeps that classic glossy glide. If reflections bother you, Samsung will feel like a quality-of-life upgrade. If you love that smooth glass slide, the iPhone will make you happy.

Late-night scrolling is gentler on both phones. Each manages brightness and flicker to reduce eye strain, so your 1 a.m. “just checking one thing” does not feel like staring into a stadium spotlight.

If you want the easiest screen to read outside and a look that screams all-screen, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is your friend. If you want color that stays true, glossy glass, and Apple’s polished HDR, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a joy. Either way, your photos, games, and texts will look great, and your thumbs will get a very fancy stage.

Performance Power

Under the hood, both phones are little showboats. 

Galaxy S25 Ultra runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, plus on-device AI tricks for photos, voice, and editing. iPhone 16 Pro Max brings the A18 Pro, known for razor-sharp single core speed and quick, smooth graphics.

In daily use, everything just goes. Apps snap open, heavy photo edits feel breezy, and games cruise at high frame rates without that “give me a second” stutter. 

Apple usually wins short, punchy tasks thanks to that single core muscle. Samsung fights back in the long haul, keeping performance steady during extended play sessions, which is code for marathon boss fights without the hand warmer effect.

The takeaway is simple. If your day is lots of quick jumps between apps and creative tools, iPhone feels instant. If you grind through long gaming runs or sustained workloads, Galaxy stays cool and consistent. Different flavors of fast, both ready for bragging rights.

Storage Options

Think of RAM as your phone’s short-term memory. It keeps apps ready and makes everything feel snappy when you jump between camera, maps, and fifteen group chats. Storage is the long-term storage unit for your photos, videos, downloads, and the podcast backlog you swear you;ll catch up on.

Galaxy S25 Ultra ships with 12 GB of RAM and, in some regions, goes up to 16 GB. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max carries 8 GB of RAM. 

Both feel fast, but extra RAM on the Galaxy gives more headroom for heavy multitasking, big game sessions, and editing stacks without closing background apps.

Storage for both phones comes in 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB options.

If you’re soft-launching a videography side hustle, stack RAW photos, or keep a hundred apps open because “you might need them,” 512 GB or 1 TB makes sense. A more casual user who lives in the cloud can stay at 256 GB and spend the savings elsewhere toward a great case, an extra charger for your bag, or snacks.

Battery & Charging

Galaxy S25 Ultra hits up to 45 W with a cable, and does Qi2 wireless up to 15 W. It can even top up your earbuds with reverse wireless in a coffee line.

iPhone 16 Pro Max focuses on smart efficiency, jumps to about half in roughly 30 minutes with a 20 W or higher charger, and supports MagSafe and Qi2 wireless up to 25 W.

In day-to-day life, both make it from sunrise to bedtime for most people. Maps, social feeds, a few photos, and that “quick” gaming break that turns into a chapter all fit without panic charging. 

Samsung takes the win for peak wired speed, and that pocket-to-earbuds power share is handy when your case blinks red. Apple’s quicker Qi2 wireless shines if you love magnetic chargers, tidy desks, and a clean snap on and off at home or work.

Camera Technology

On the back camera, Galaxy S25 Ultra goes all in. You get a 200 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope at 5×, and a 10 MP telephoto at 3×. 

iPhone 16 Pro Max keeps it tight with a 48 MP main, a 48 MP ultrawide, and a long-reach periscope, plus a pro video toolkit that means business.

The photo vibe is easy to spot. Samsung’s huge 200 MP sensor pulls crisp detail and gives you room to crop without fear. The dual telephoto setup delivers clean 3× and 5×, which feels made for moon shots, stadium seats, and school recitals from six rows back - who knew we needed to be here an hour early to get a decent spot?

iPhone plays it cool with natural color, consistent exposure, and autofocus that locks on like a pro. It’s the friend who never blinks in group photos, the one you trust when you have one chance to nail it.

Video is where the iPhone flexes. ProRes, Log profiles, and external SSD support make it a pocket studio that plugs right into creator workflows. Samsung answers with 8K options, a creator mode, and smart AI assists for sharpening, noise cleanup, and framing, so your clips look polished without a timeline marathon.

Up front, Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a 12 MP selfie camera with reliable HDR and flattering skin tones. iPhone 16 Pro Max brings a sharp front camera that leans natural and looks great in video calls.

For vlogging and calls, iPhone gets the nod thanks to its pro features and deep accessory lane. For social-ready clips with quick edits, captions, and painless sharing to a Windows laptop, Samsung makes it easy and fun.

Connectivity & Other Features

Both phones speak Wi-Fi 7, which is the fast lane for downloads, streaming, and cloud backups. Galaxy adds Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio, and iPhone lists Bluetooth 5.3 with second-generation Ultra Wideband. 

Translation: your headphones stay steady, your trackers are easier to find, and nearby devices connect with less fuss and more speed.

Security feels natural on each. Galaxy gives you an ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the screen, plus face unlock for quick peeks. iPhone leans on Face ID, which is still lightning fast and works nicely for payments and password fills. 

If you are wearing gloves at the ice rink, the Galaxy fingerprint wins. If your hands are full of coffee, keys, and ambition, the iPhone face scan feels like magic.

Software and updates:

Galaxy S25 Ultra ships with One UI on Android 15, plus a promised seven years of OS and security updates. That is a long runway for new features, camera tweaks, and peace of mind when you finally hit update on a Tuesday.

iPhone 16 Pro Max arrives with iOS 18 and the usual Apple marathon on software support. iPhones routinely get major updates for many years, with new features landing alongside security fixes and the occasional surprise perk.

If you plan to keep your phone well past its second birthday, both paths look friendly. Pick the ecosystem you like living in, then enjoy the steady stream of upgrades.

Special extras:

Galaxy S25 Ultra brings its party trick in frame. The S Pen pops out for quick notes, signatures, and “I had an idea” sketches, and the glare-cutting glass keeps the screen easy to read in bright light. Galaxy AI lends a hand with camera tweaks and productivity boosts, so little chores feel lighter and creative moments move faster.

iPhone 16 Pro Max leans into fast access and tight timing. The Camera Control button jumps straight into capture, the Action button is your customizable shortcut, and everything plays nicely with Apple Watch, AirPods, iPad, and Mac. It feels like a well-rehearsed cast, ready on cue.

Ecosystem quick take: if your life is iCloud, AirDrop, and iMessage, iPhone clicks into place like Lego. If you roll with Windows laptops, Google services, or you like to sketch during meetings to look thoughtful, Galaxy fits like a glove (that one you’re wearing on the ice rink).

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Compared

*Apple does not publish RAM; widely reported spec is 8 GB.

Who Should Choose Which?

You already know both phones are fast and fancy, so this part is about fit, not bragging rights. Think daily habits, not hype.

Choose Galaxy S25 Ultra if you:

• Want the most flexible zoom for travel, sports, pets that never sit still, and show-off skyline shots.
• Like a large screen with reduced reflections for outdoor use.
• Want fast cable charging, plus a tap-and-top-up spot for your earbuds.
• Plan to keep your phone for a long time and value a seven year update promise.
• Love the S Pen for notes, signatures, and doodles that totally count as work.

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Choose iPhone 16 Pro Max if you:

• Shoot a lot of video and want ProRes, Log profiles, and easy editing in Final Cut Pro.
• Live on magnetic chargers and want speedy Qi2 wireless.
• Rely on Apple Watch, AirPods, iPad, and Mac for a smooth daily flow.
• Care about resale value and long support, which Apple has delivered for many generations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better camera, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max?

For zoom flexibility and pixel-packed daylight detail, Galaxy S25 Ultra takes the lead. For pro video tools, consistent color, and a creator-friendly workflow, iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out. Pick based on your priority, still photos with reach or advanced video production.

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How do battery life and charging speeds compare?

Both last a full day for most users. Galaxy S25 Ultra offers 45 W wired and reverse wireless charging. iPhone 16 Pro Max reaches about half a charge in around 30 minutes with a proper adapter and supports faster Qi2 wireless up to 25 W.

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Will Galaxy S25 Ultra get more Android updates than iPhone 16 Pro Max gets iOS updates?

Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates for the S25 Ultra. Apple does not publish a fixed number, though iPhones generally receive many years of iOS updates. In short, both are safe long-term picks.

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How do the displays compare for brightness, refresh rate, and outdoor visibility?

Each phone hits up to 120 Hz and brings excellent HDR. The S25 Ultra’s anti-glare glass helps outside. The iPhone’s color tuning is excellent, and HDR content looks outstanding.

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Which has the better camera again?

Short answer, both. Long answer, Galaxy for zoom range and huge detail, iPhone for pro video tools and polished footage right out of the camera.

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