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The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the larger, higher-resolution advertised display, S Pen support and more listed rear-camera zoom options. The iPhone 15 Pro Max runs iOS, supports Apple’s listed ProRes and Dolby Vision video workflows, and offers USB 3 transfers over USB-C. Neither specification sheet proves which phone takes better photos or performs faster. The price comparison also needs a date caveat: Samsung’s US listing is current to October 7, 2026, while Apple’s $1,199 figure is the iPhone’s 2023 US launch price—not its current market price.
At a glance: what differs most?
| Feature | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED; 2796 × 1290; adaptive refresh up to 120Hz | 6.9-inch full rectangle (6.8 inches accounting for rounded corners on Samsung’s UK listing); 3120 × 1440; up to 120Hz |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP 2x telephoto option, 12MP 5x telephoto | 200MP, 50MP, 50MP and 10MP cameras; 3x and 5x optical zoom |
| Processor and platform | A17 Pro; iOS | Octa-core processor; Android; S Pen support |
| Listed weight | 221g | 218g |
| Manufacturer battery claim | Up to 29 hours video playback | Up to 31 hours video playback |
| Charging port | USB-C; USB 3 transfer up to 10Gb/s with a suitable USB 3 cable | USB Type-C |
Specifications come from Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max technical specifications and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra specifications for India, unless otherwise noted. Regional models and measurement conventions can differ. Screen size, megapixels, processor clock speeds and manufacturer battery estimates are not substitutes for controlled comparisons of image quality, performance or endurance.
Which display and phone size are better for you?
Samsung lists a 6.9-inch display measured as a full rectangle; its UK specifications give 6.8 inches when rounded corners are accounted for. It is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 3120 × 1440 resolution and a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Apple lists a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2796 × 1290, 460 pixels per inch, with adaptive ProMotion refresh rates up to 120Hz. The Samsung screen is larger by the manufacturers’ advertised diagonal figures and has more listed pixels, but those numbers alone do not establish brightness, color accuracy or readability.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Apple lists dimensions of 159.9 × 76.7 × 8.25mm and weight of 221g. Samsung India lists 162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2mm and 218g. On those measurements, the S25 Ultra is taller and wider, while weighing 3g less. Check the exact regional model if dimensions or weight are deciding factors.
#1 Best Overall
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
How do the cameras and video features compare?
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple lists a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP 2x telephoto option enabled by the quad-pixel sensor, and a 12MP 5x telephoto with a tetraprism design. Its listed zoom range is 5x optical zoom in and 10x optical zoom range, with digital zoom up to 25x. For video, Apple lists Dolby Vision HDR recording up to 4K at 60 frames per second and ProRes up to 4K at 60 frames per second with external recording.
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung lists 200MP, 50MP, 50MP and 10MP rear cameras, with 3x and 5x optical zoom, optical-quality zoom at 2x and 10x, and digital zoom up to 100x. Its specifications list UHD 8K video recording at 30 frames per second.
Rank #2
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
These are different sets of advertised focal-length and recording options, not evidence that one phone consistently produces better photos or video. Choose based on the zoom ranges and video workflows you expect to use; megapixel counts and maximum digital zoom figures do not by themselves describe image quality.
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The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses Apple’s A17 Pro, which Apple specifies as a six-core CPU, six-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, and runs iOS. Samsung lists Android and an octa-core processor for the S25 Ultra; its India specification page gives CPU speeds of up to 4.47GHz and 3.5GHz. Samsung also lists S Pen support, which makes its stylus input a distinguishing feature for readers who want to write or draw on the phone.
Rank #3
- Premium Display and Design: 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology and Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back and customizable Action button
- Advanced Interaction and Performance: Dynamic Island provides a new way to interact with iPhone. Powered by A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU for enhanced performance
- Professional Camera System: Pro camera system featuring 48MP Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses. Super-high-resolution photos at 24MP and 48MP. Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Safety and Emergency Features: Emergency SOS via satellite for remote communication. Crash Detection technology for automatic emergency response. Roadside Assistance via satellite when you need help
- Extended Battery and Connectivity: Up to 29 hours video playback for all-day entertainment. USB-C port supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Secure Face ID authentication
Those specifications do not provide a comparable benchmark or establish which device is faster in everyday use. Your existing dependence on iOS or Android, and whether you want S Pen input, are more grounded ways to choose between them than comparing the listed chip figures alone. The cited specifications also do not establish update support for every regional model or how difficult switching platforms will be.
What do the battery and charging specifications say?
Apple lists up to 29 hours of video playback and up to 25 hours of streamed video playback for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung lists a 5000mAh typical battery capacity and up to 31 hours of video playback for the S25 Ultra. Apple cautions that battery results depend on network configuration and many other factors. The two manufacturers’ methods are not established as directly comparable, so the listed two-hour difference is not a head-to-head battery-test result.
Rank #4
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Both phones use USB-C. Apple lists USB 3 data transfer up to 10Gb/s when paired with a USB 3 cable, plus DisplayPort support. Apple says the iPhone can charge to around 50% in around 30 minutes using a 20W-or-higher adapter; its adapter is sold separately. Samsung’s US purchase page says the S25 Ultra package does not include a charger. Check the package and compatible adapter for the country and seller you are buying from.
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What is the price difference?
A reliable current price difference cannot be calculated from the sourced figures because they are from different dates and price bases. Samsung’s US unlocked product page displayed the following storage prices when accessed on October 7, 2026. It says taxes and shipping are excluded, and promotions or trade-in offers may change.
Best Value
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
| Phone and storage | Sourced US price | What the price represents |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro Max, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB | $1,199 starting price | Apple’s September 2023 US launch price; historical MSRP, not a current street price |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra, 256GB | $1,299.99 | Samsung US listing accessed October 7, 2026 |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra, 512GB | $1,419.99 | Samsung US listing accessed October 7, 2026 |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra, 1TB | $1,659.99 | Samsung US listing accessed October 7, 2026 |
Samsung’s prices are from its US Galaxy S25 Ultra purchase page; Apple’s historical figure comes from its September 2023 iPhone 15 Pro announcement. Although the S25 Ultra’s listed 256GB price is $100.99 above Apple’s $1,199 launch price, that arithmetic is not a current price difference: the iPhone figure is historical, and it does not establish today’s new, refurbished or used price. To compare what you would pay now, use offers from the same country, for the same storage capacity and condition, and account for promotions, trade-ins, taxes and shipping.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if
- You want Samsung’s larger advertised display and its listed 3120 × 1440 resolution.
- S Pen support matters to how you plan to use your phone.
- You want the specific 3x and 5x optical zoom options or Samsung’s listed 8K video mode.
- You prefer Android and the phone’s current local price works for your budget.
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max if
- You want to stay with iOS or use Apple’s listed camera and software workflow.
- ProRes recording, including external recording, or Dolby Vision HDR video is relevant to your work.
- USB 3 transfer up to 10Gb/s with a suitable cable and DisplayPort support are useful to you.
- You prefer Apple’s camera options, including its listed 5x optical telephoto, and can find a suitable current offer.
These are feature-based fits, not tested overall winners. Before buying, compare local prices at the same storage capacity and condition, and check the regional model and included accessories.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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