CompareFlagship · 2025
Phone vs Phone · Comparison
iPhone 16 Pro MaxvsGalaxy S25 Ultra
Side A
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Desert Titanium
From
$1,199
Side B
Samsung
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Titanium Silverblue
From
$1,299
VS
AI Verdictv3.2 · generated 18 May 2026
High confidence·14 spec categories·6 benchmarks·23 reviews
Winner overall
iPhone 16 Pro Max
The iPhone 16 Pro Max edges ahead on video, software longevity in practice, and sustained-load gaming. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the better hardware bet — more pixels, more pixels-per-photo, more battery — but verdicts get decided at the margins, and the margins favor Apple this year.
Spec score · 0–100
iPhone 16 Pro Max91
Galaxy S25 Ultra89
Verdict by use case
Winner
Galaxy S25 Ultra
A 200 MP main + dedicated periscope wins for reach, detail, and zoom flexibility.
Buy
iPhone 16 Pro Max if…
- You shoot Dolby Vision video or edit in Final Cut on the same device.
- You're deep in the Apple ecosystem (Watch, Mac, AirPods, iMessage).
- Sustained gaming performance matters more than peak benchmark scores.
Buy
Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- You want the best telephoto and zoom range on any phone.
- You use the S Pen for notes, markup, or precision editing.
- Faster charging and a larger battery are non-negotiable.
Verdict generated by SpecEagle AI from verified spec data, public benchmark datasets (Geekbench, AnTuTu, 3DMark), and 23 first-party reviews. Last updated 18 May 2026 · methodology
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Winner Tie
Attribute
A · iPhone 16 Pro Max
B · Galaxy S25 Ultra
Size
A6.9"
B6.9"
Resolution
A2868 × 1320
B3120 × 1440+19% pixels
Pixel density
A460 ppi
B505 ppiWinner
Refresh rate
A120 Hz LTPO
B120 Hz LTPO
Peak brightness
A2,000 nits
B2,600 nits+30%
Panel
ASuper Retina XDR
BDynamic AMOLED 2X
Always-on
AYes
BYes
Attribute
A · iPhone 16 Pro Max
B · Galaxy S25 Ultra
Main
A48 MP, f/1.78, OIS
B200 MP, f/1.7, OISWinner
Ultrawide
A48 MP, f/2.2, 120°
B50 MP, f/1.9, 120°Winner
Telephoto
A12 MP, 5× optical
B50 MP, 5× opticalWinner
Periscope
A—
B10 MP, 3× opticalWinner
Selfie
A12 MP, f/1.9Winner
B12 MP, f/2.2
Max video
A4K @ 120 fps Dolby VisionBetter HDR
B8K @ 30 fps
OIS / EIS
ASensor-shift OIS + cinematic stabilizationWinner
BOIS + Super Steady
Attribute
A · iPhone 16 Pro Max
B · Galaxy S25 Ultra
Chipset
AApple A18 Pro (3 nm)
BSnapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
CPU cores
A6 (2P + 4E)
B8 (2P + 6P)Winner
GPU
A6-core Apple GPU
BAdreno 830
RAM
A8 GB
B12 GBWinner
Storage tiers
A256 / 512 GB / 1 TB
B256 / 512 GB / 1 TB
AnTuTu v10
A1,752,000
B2,640,000+51%
Sustained perf.
A88%+19% thermal headroom
B74%
Attribute
A · iPhone 16 Pro Max
B · Galaxy S25 Ultra
Capacity
A4,685 mAh
B5,000 mAh+7%
Wired charging
A27 W USB-C
B45 W USB-C+67%
Wireless
A25 W MagSafeWinner
B15 W Qi2
Reverse wireless
A—
B4.5 WWinner
Video playback
A33 hWinner
B31 h
PCMark battery
A14h 32m
B16h 04m+10%
Benchmarks
Median of 12 runs · 25°C ambient · stock firmware
AnTuTu v10
Δ 50.7%
A
1,752,000
B
2,640,000
Geekbench 6 — Single
Δ 8.3%
A
3,402
B
3,120
Geekbench 6 — Multi
Δ 21.4%
A
8,420
B
10,220
3DMark Solar Bay
Δ 23.1%
A
70.2fps
B
86.4fps
DxOMark Camera
Δ 1.9%
A
158
B
161
Sources: Geekbench Browser, AnTuTu Database, UL Solutions, DxOMarkMethodology
Camera samples
Drag the slider · raw 100% crops
B · Galaxy S25 Ultra
A · iPhone 16 Pro Max
[Sample 01 · Low-light · ISO 3200 · 1/30s]
Price & where to buy
Side A · 90-day price
↓ $20iPhone 16 Pro Max
$1,179
vs MSRP $1,199
Side B · 90-day price
↓ $50Galaxy S25 Ultra
$1,249
vs MSRP $1,299
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