Going head-to-head, the two luxury phones share a lot of attributes, and we’re not just talking about their wallet-draining prices.
Price: which phone offers the best value for money?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra costs slightly more than the iPhone 16 Pro Max to start, but extra storage is pricier on Apple’s flagship
Samsung
Let’s start with the price. At £1,249, the S25 Ultra costs slightly more than the £1,200 iPhone 16 Pro Max for the standard 256GB model. But, pile on more storage, and things start to change.
The 512GB iPhone costs £1,399, compared to Samsung’s £1,349, and the 1TB iPhone hits a whopping £1,599 versus £1,549 for the Samsung. In both cases, Apple’s flagship will set you back £50 more.
In summary, if you’re eyeing extra storage, Samsung offers better value, but Apple’s starting price remains more competitive.
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Apple’s A18 Pro
The iPhone 16 Pro (left) and Pro Max (right) pictured next to each other
Apple
As far as performance goes, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max have some notable differences under the hood.
Benchmark tests reveal that Apple’s A18 Pro chip takes the lead in single-core CPU performance, making it brisker for tasks that require one processing core – like opening apps or browsing the web.
However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 Ultra outshines its rival in multi-core performance, where tasks like video editing or gaming require several cores working in tandem.
On the graphics front, Samsung’s Snapdragon chip has a clear advantage. Its GPU delivers smoother frame rates in graphic-intensive tests, making it better suited for demanding games and apps.
Power efficiency is another area of competition, with both chips offering improvements, though the Snapdragon 8 Elite shows stronger performance per watt in some scenarios. While Apple still excels at single-core performance, Samsung’s upgrades mean the gap has narrowed, especially for users who prioritise multitasking or gaming.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 ultra in titanium blue
Samsung
When it comes to everyday use, though, casual users are unlikely to notice these differences. Ultimately, both phones deliver top-tier speed and responsiveness. Both chips also support advanced features like ray-tracing, a technology that makes game graphics look more realistic by simulating how light behaves in the real world – a bonus for mobile gamers.
Camera: which phone takes better photos and videos?
Specs-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a powerhouse camera setup with a 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide lens, and dual telephoto snappers: a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom along with a 50-megapixel 5x optical zoom camera.
In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. That’s three cameras versus Samsung’s four, for those keeping count.
The iPhone also boasts 4K 120FPS video recording and supports advanced formats like ProRes, Dolby Vision, and Spatial Video.
Samsung’s phone has four cameras on the back versus three on the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung
Those features look great on paper, but how do they hold up in daily use? A slew of tech YouTubers have put the two phones to the test to give us a better idea of their specialities.
YouTube channel Max Tech found that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra performs better in daylight, with more dynamic range and accurate colours than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, the iPhone still holds its own with consistent, vibrant shots.
On the other hand, YouTuber SuperSaf highlighted the iPhone’s advantage in low light, with cleaner images and less noise, while the S25 Ultra shines in night mode, providing more detail and sharper shots in dark settings.
He also noted that the S25 Ultra’s 3x optical zoom delivers superior portrait shots, and its zoom performs better in good light. The iPhone can’t match it in this area, but wins for its stable video recording and superior cinematic mode, offering sharper, more detailed footage.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra excels with features like AI image editing, 8K video, and a dedicated telephoto lens. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro Max impresses with its cinematic video, low-light performance, and stable recording, making it the better choice for filmmakers.
Battery life: which phone lasts longer on a single charge?
Phone makers talk a big talk about their beastly batteries that last an age on a single charge. But, it’s only when you start using them regularly that you notice just how well they cope under real-life conditions, when you’re switching between power-hogging video apps and the latest games.
Thankfully, YouTubers have also performed battery drainage tests on the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max to see just how long survive out of the box. One of the most popular videos comes from Xeetechcare, who tested the two big guns alongside Vivo’s flagship model.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a titanium frame like the S25 Ultra and comes in four colours.
Apple
Which came out on top? The iPhone 16 Pro Max ranked first in this battery drain test, despite having the smallest battery capacity of the three phones at 4,685 mAH. Apple’s phone clocked in at around 11 hours and 30 minutes, likely due to the efficiency of its A18 Pro chip.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra came in second place, with its 5,000 mAh battery lasting for 10 hours and 58 minutes.
Still, others have noted more impressive durations: It ran for 17 hours and 15 minutes in a separate battery test, compared to 16 hours and 45 minutes for the S24 Ultra. This represents a modest three per cent increase in battery life.
Software: which phone’s AI is smarter?
If you’re a diehard Android or iOS fan, you can skip this part. For anyone on the fence, beyond their built-in operating systems, both the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max pack powerful AI features that run on large language models akin to ChatGPT.
There is some overlap here, too, as both systems can scrub unwanted objects or people from photos (and even generate new images from text descriptions or doodles), rewrite text in different styles, and summarise messages.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 now shows AI-powered notifications and daily briefings
Samsung
But, the S25 series takes things up a notch. Inside the Ultra is a dedicated core that is designed to power your very own AI assistant by learning from your daily activity. Once it figures out how you tick, it can essentially complete tasks that require multiple steps using either its AI helpers (Google’s Gemini or Bixby) or the Now Brief functionality.
The latter essentially serves up daily schedules and to-dos with extra info sprinkled on top, like weather updates and upcoming travel plans. These AI-powered summaries are delivered morning, noon, and night to help you get things done.
Google’s Gemini can now also talk to other apps, from Google Maps to Spotify. For instance, it can find your favourite sports team’s fixtures for the season and add them to the calendar, so you never miss a match. Or, it could help locate a gluten-free restaurant and email directions to your dinner date.
Even more impressive is its ability to automate your routines. For instance, if it detects that you regularly stream music while driving, it can automatically connect to your car’s Bluetooth, saving you the hassle of doing it manually.
Or, it could sync with other Samsung smart devices: it might notice that your sleep quality changes with room temperature and suggest automatically adjusting the thermostat at bedtime.
