The battle between Samsung and Apple for smartphone supremacy continues with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both devices represent the pinnacle of their respective brands, boasting top-tier hardware, AI-driven features, and significant camera advancements. But which one is better? The answer depends on what you’re looking for in a smartphone – whether it’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, camera innovations, or software experience.
1. Design and Display
The Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max take different approaches to design. Samsung continues to refine its boxy yet premium look, while Apple sticks to its polished, rounded titanium frame. The S25 Ultra features Corning Gorilla Armor 2, an ultra-durable, scratch-resistant material, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max uses Ceramic Shield, known for its toughness. Both are IP68-rated, ensuring water and dust resistance.
When it comes to displays, Samsung has traditionally led the industry, and the S25 Ultra further cements its dominance. It features a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and an impressive 2600 nits peak brightness. Apple, on the other hand, has improved its Super Retina XDR display, making the 6.9-inch ProMotion panel on the iPhone 16 Pro Max slightly bigger than its predecessor. However, Apple’s display tops out at 2000 nits peak outdoor brightness, giving Samsung the advantage in sunlight visibility.
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2. Performance and AI Features
Both flagship smartphones run on custom AI-optimized chipsets, making them some of the most powerful devices ever released. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip.
While the A18 Pro boasts a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for on-device machine learning and AI tasks, Samsung has integrated Galaxy AI, a set of advanced AI-driven features. AI plays a major role in both ecosystems, but Samsung’s approach seems more immediate and intuitive. The Gemini-powered AI assistant, built into the Galaxy S25 Ultra, supports context-aware app navigation, real-time translations, and generative photo editing tools. Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence, the company’s answer to AI integration, is still rolling out, and its full suite of features won’t be available until later in 2025.
Samsung’s Now Brief feature, which curates personalized updates for users, and its cross-app AI actions, like summarizing notes and executing tasks with natural language, make the S25 Ultra feel like the smarter phone at launch. Apple’s AI tools are impressive, particularly in writing assistance and Genmoji (AI-generated emojis), but they don’t match the range of Samsung’s capabilities just yet.
3. Who Wins the Photography Battle?
Apple and Samsung have different philosophies when it comes to mobile photography. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max continues to rely on a triple-lens system with a 48MP main sensor, a 120mm 5x telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide sensor. The iPhone’s strength lies in its color accuracy, ProRes video capabilities, and enhanced computational photography. With 4K120 recording, spatial video capture, and improved image processing for night shots, it remains a top choice for videographers.
Samsung, however, pushes the hardware boundary further. The Galaxy S25 Ultra introduces a new 50MP ultrawide sensor, replacing last year’s 12MP shooter, giving it a notable edge in landscape and macro photography. It retains the 200MP primary sensor, which delivers incredible detail and AI-assisted zoom capabilities. Samsung’s 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens is a direct rival to Apple’s 5x zoom, but with AI-powered enhancements like Galaxy Log for professional color grading and Audio Eraser for noise isolation, Samsung offers more versatility for content creators.
4. Battery Life and Charging
Apple claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best battery life ever in an iPhone, with up to 33 hours of video playback. The efficiency of the A18 Pro chip, combined with Apple’s software optimizations, ensures long endurance. Samsung, on the other hand, packs a 5000mAh battery, which has been standard for Ultra models in recent years. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency improvements and Samsung’s power-saving optimizations should make it competitive, but Apple’s iOS ecosystem still gives it an edge in battery life.
When it comes to charging, Samsung wins on speed. The S25 Ultra supports 45W fast wired charging, while Apple remains limited to 30W wired charging. Both support Qi wireless charging, but Samsung also includes Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to charge other devices like Galaxy Buds or a smartwatch by placing them on the back of the phone.
5. Software and Longevity
Samsung’s One UI 7, based on Android 15, is now more refined than ever, and it promises seven years of OS updates and security patches, matching Apple’s long-standing support policy. Apple’s iOS 18 brings new AI-driven features, deeper customization options, and an improved Control Center, but it remains less flexible than Android when it comes to user personalization.
However, iPhones still benefit from longer-lasting software performance, meaning an iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely remain smooth even years down the line. Samsung has improved its long-term performance with better memory management and heat dissipation, thanks to its 40% larger vapor chamber, but iPhones traditionally age better.
6. Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,299 for the 12GB + 256GB model, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB. Samsung offers a 1TB model with 16GB RAM in some regions.
Apple devices tend to hold their resale value better, but Samsung’s frequent trade-in deals and pre-order bonuses often make the Galaxy S series a better deal at launch.
7. Which One Should You Buy?
Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (our hands-on) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max depends on your preferences and priorities. If you’re an Apple ecosystem user, with AirPods, a Mac, or an iPad, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a natural fit. Its long software support, color-accurate cameras, and seamless iOS experience make it the best choice for iPhone fans.
However, if you want the most advanced AI features, a more versatile camera system, and a bigger battery with faster charging, the Galaxy S25 Ultra takes the crown. Its AI-powered software enhancements, higher resolution camera, and superior display technology make it the more futuristic device.
For AI-driven users, photographers, and those who want cutting-edge Android features, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the better pick. But for iOS users who value ecosystem integration, longevity, and video recording quality, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is still a powerhouse.
Both devices represent the best of what Samsung and Apple have to offer, and neither will disappoint. But in 2025, Samsung’s aggressive push into AI, camera improvements, and display innovation gives the Galaxy S25 Ultra a slight edge over Apple’s latest flagship.
You must also read our article on who should avoid buying the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
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