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Samsung’s latest premium device, Galaxy S25 Ultramay have much in common with him ANCESTORbut how does it compare to apple’s top phone, iPhone 16 Pro Max?
For starters, you’ll be paying a pretty steep price for both phones, with the S25 Ultra starting at $1,300, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199. But you’ll also get some of the best phone cameras on the market, spacious displays and bigger batteries.
Here’s a breakdown of how the specs stack up on each phone.
Check this out: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro MAX: Spec Breakdown
A picture of the cameras
If you’re reaching for the top-of-the-line device in Samsung or Apple’s lineups, there’s a strong chance you’re drawn to the cameras, which tend to be the star of the show.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 200-megapixel ultrawide, 50-megapixel (new for this year’s device), 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lenses.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a combined 48-megapixel, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 12-megapixel 5X telephoto lens.
Both phones feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.
When it comes to video, the S25 Ultra can capture 8K content at 30 frames per second (and 4K video at 120fps), while the iPhone can capture 4K content at up to 120fps as well as 1080p space video at 30fps.
Stay tuned to CNET’s full review of the S25 Ultra to see how the camera performs in different conditions. (Meanwhile, you can see how The iPhone 16 Pro Max camera compared to last year’s S24 Ultra.)
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium frame, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Display and build
Another thing you will get with both the phones is a wide screen. The S25 Ultra has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a pixel density of 501 pixels per inch, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, with 460 ppi. Both phones have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and always on display.
Something else these phones have in common is their titanium frames, helping to make the big devices lighter. They also have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The S25 Ultra features glass covered with Gorilla Glass armor, while the iPhone has a ceramic shield front – both of which are sought after for their durability.
Yes, the S25 Ultra comes with an S Pen, although it doesn’t have all the Bluetooth connectivity features included in last year’s S24 Ultra S Pen.
Storage, processors and battery life
Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max come in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options. The S25 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM, and while Apple doesn’t list RAM on its iPhones, an executive basically confirmed in an interview that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is equipped with 8GB, according to 9to5mac. They don’t have expandable storage either, so you’ll have to use cloud storage once you’ve maxed out your local space.
The S25 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite For the Galaxy Chip, while the iPhone packs a A18 for chip.
The S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, and while Apple doesn’t disclose battery capacity on its phones, it has said the iPhone 16 Pro Max has up to 33 hours of video playback. Both devices feature USB-C ports, and no headphone jack.
The S25 Ultra arrives with Android 15 With a Samsung-Guaranteed seven years of Android and Security updates, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max works iOS 18. (Apple doesn’t guarantee a specific number of years of updates, but typically supports phones for five or more years.)
Check out the specs chart below for more details on each phone.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size, technology, resolution, refresh rate | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adapter | 6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR Display; 2,868×1,320 pixels |
| Pixel density | 501 PPI | 460 PPI |
| proportions | 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches | 6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm | 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 218 g (7.69 oz.) | 227 g (7.99 oz.) |
| Mobile software | Android 15 | iOS 18 |
| Camera | 200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 48-megapixel (combination), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 5x telephoto |
| Front camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 8 k | 4K up to 120fps; Space video in 1080p at 30fps |
| maker | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | A18 for |
| RAM + Storage | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | ANY | not |
| BATTERIES | 5,000 mAh; 45W wired charging (Charger not included) | Up to 33 hours of video playback; up to 29 hours of video playback (streamed); 20W Wired charging; Magsafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 to 15W |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under the show | None (Face ID) |
| connective | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone shirt | ANY | not |
| Special features | Titanium frame, 2,600 nits peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5g (mmwave); IP68 Water and dust resistance; Wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; Built-in pen; UWB for finding other devices; Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Glass covered with gorilla glass armor | The intelligence of the apple; Action button; Camera control button; 4x Audio Mics; The dynamic island; 1 to 2,000 nit display brightness range; IP68 Resistance |
| American pricing starts at | 1,300 dollars | $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB) |
| UK pricing starts at | £1,249 | £1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB) |
| Australia pricing starts at | AU$2,149 | AU$2,149 (256GB), AU$2,499 (512GB), AU$2,849 (1TB) |
