Compare between Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max: examining their flagship phones' similarities and differences.
The smartphone market is abuzz with the latest offerings from two titans of the industry - the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both devices are flagship models, boasting premium features and sleek designs.
Design
Both smartphones share a similar premium build, with glass backs and titanium sides. They also feature USB-C ports and dual speakers. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra includes an additional telephoto camera sensor, and the design elements, such as antenna lines and button placements, are similar [3].
Screen
The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a brighter display than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, contributing to better outdoor visibility. Both phones feature high-quality 6.9-inch screens, but Samsung's screen is noted for superior brightness [1][3].
Camera
The S25 Ultra sports a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide (upgraded from 12MP), 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP front shooter. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, features a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 48-megapixel fusion, and 12-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical zoom. The S25 Ultra's camera excels in ultra-wide and zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out in macro photography [1][2].
Performance and AI
The S25 Ultra is praised for its blazing performance, long battery life, and superior AI features with deep Google Gemini integration and cross-app actions that currently outpace Apple's AI features [1].
Price
Both models are positioned in the premium price range for flagship smartphones, but exact comparisons require up-to-date pricing from official retailers.
Additional Features
The Galaxy S25 Ultra's screen offers a superb sense of depth, and its speakers produce crisp and detailed audio with good clarity and a solid stereo effect [5]. The iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers a sound that is more refined than before, with warm, smooth, and dynamic audio [6]. The iPhone 16 Pro Max also boasts a capacitive Camera Control button that can open the camera app, take photos, record videos, and provide a preview and access to functions like zoom and switching between lenses [7]. The S25 Ultra's screen colours are vivid without tipping into oversaturation when set to Natural mode [5]. The iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen is bright and offers a balanced, sharp image that looks stunning regardless of the content [6].
Weight
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra weighs 218g, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 227g [8]. The S25 Ultra's screen has a max brightness of 2600 nits and a new ProScaler feature for upscaling lower-resolution content. The iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen has a max brightness of 2000 nits and is equipped for 4K at 120Hz [1][6]. Dolby Atmos support on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra brings a greater sense of immersion when watching compatible content [5].
In conclusion, the Galaxy S25 Ultra tends to excel in display brightness, camera versatility (especially in ultra-wide and zoom), AI capabilities, and battery life, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max offers strong camera performance in macro photography and a polished software ecosystem [1][2][3]. For a feature-by-feature choice, preferences around AI tools, camera use cases, and ecosystem integration will likely be decisive factors.
- To enjoy the crisp and detailed audio of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, connect the smartphone to a hi-fi speaker for optimal sound streaming.
- If you're an avid news enthusiast, both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max provide excellent display screens for reviewing headlines and watching news clips from your favorite gadgets or smartphones.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a brighter display, ideal for outdoor viewing, making it perfect for previewing your photographs under direct sunlight.
- The stereo speakers of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, paired with Dolby Atmos support, make it an excellent choice for enjoying immersive sound in movies and music on the go.
- When comparing the flagship smartphones, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max stands out with its polished software ecosystem, which seamlessly integrates with other iDevices and apps, offering a smoother user experience.
- If you're looking to make a purchase decision based on camera specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra excels in ultra-wide and zoom capabilities, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max performs better in macro photography.
