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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are both large flagship phones, but neither is the right choice for everyone. Samsung offers more native telephoto options; a TechRadar review favored the S25 Ultra for default still-photo detail while finding the iPhone’s color more truthful. In Tom’s Guide’s web-browsing battery test, the phones finished just 10 minutes apart. Your preferred operating system, camera rendering, video workflow and actual local price matter more than any single spec or benchmark.
Camera: Samsung gives you more native zoom choices
The biggest hardware difference is the rear camera layout. Samsung’s 2025 specification sheet lists four S25 Ultra modules: a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto and 50MP 5x telephoto. The same sheet lists optical-quality 2x and 10x zoom, as well as digital Space Zoom up to 100x; Samsung warns that digital zoom can reduce image quality. The 100x figure is therefore not equivalent to optical zoom. Samsung’s specification sheet has the complete camera details.
AT&T’s comparison lists the iPhone 16 Pro Max with 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras and a 12MP 5x telephoto. It also describes macro photography using the ultra-wide camera. That gives the iPhone a 5x telephoto option, but not the S25 Ultra’s separate 3x and 5x telephoto modules. Megapixel counts and lens choices describe hardware, not image quality by themselves. See AT&T’s hardware comparison.
Still photos: detail versus color preference
In its camera comparison, TechRadar’s reviewer said the S25 Ultra generally captured more detail with default still-photo settings, while the iPhone handled color more truthfully in that review. Treat this as an attributed reviewer judgment, not a universal result: scene, lighting, settings and each phone’s processing can change what you prefer. Read TechRadar’s camera comparison.
#1 Best Overall
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
If you take photos across different distances, Samsung’s separate 3x and 5x telephotos give you more native focal-length options to choose from. If you are deciding based on portrait rendering, macro results, indoor images or low light, compare samples made in the modes and settings you actually use; the available findings do not establish a single winner across those situations.
Video: choose by workflow, not an unsupported winner
The available comparisons do not establish a controlled video winner. Consider how each phone’s recording and editing experience fits your routine: where you edit clips, how you share them and which phone’s operating system your other devices and apps support. Check current regional product specifications for the recording modes and formats you need before buying.
Rank #2
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Battery: one web-browsing test was nearly tied
Tom’s Guide reported 14 hours 27 minutes for the Galaxy S25 Ultra and 14 hours 17 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro Max in its web-browsing battery test. That is a 10-minute gap in that specific test, not a promise that Samsung will last longer in your day. The result applies to the test’s workload and conditions; everyday endurance varies with what you do on the phone and the network environment. Tom’s Guide’s battery-life coverage reports the test results.
Samsung lists a typical 5,000mAh battery capacity for the S25 Ultra and cautions that actual battery life varies with network environment and use. Capacity is not a direct runtime comparison: battery life also depends on the display, chip, software and workload. Samsung’s claim of up to 31 hours of video playback describes a different measure from Tom’s Guide’s web-browsing test, so those figures should not be treated as interchangeable. See the Samsung specification sheet and GSMArena’s comparison.
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Rank #3
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Performance: the benchmark result is not the whole experience
Samsung identifies the S25 Ultra’s processor as Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy; AT&T lists Apple’s A18 Pro for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Android Central’s early 2025 comparison reported an iPhone advantage of about 10% in Geekbench 6. That result describes one benchmark comparison, not proof that the iPhone is faster in every app, sustained workload or game. Android Central’s comparison provides the benchmark context.
For everyday use, consider the work you actually do—such as gaming, editing or running demanding apps—alongside the operating system and services you already use. A synthetic benchmark does not settle questions about sustained performance, thermals or how a particular app feels, and the cited result does not establish a universal performance winner.
Rank #4
- Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
- Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
- 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
- Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).
Which phone should you buy?
| If your priority is… | What the comparison supports |
|---|---|
| More native telephoto options | The S25 Ultra has separate 3x and 5x telephoto cameras; the iPhone’s listed configuration has one 5x telephoto. |
| Default still-photo detail or color | TechRadar’s review favored S25 Ultra detail and iPhone color in its comparison. Treat that as a reviewer’s preference in the tested settings, not a universal verdict. |
| Battery-life evidence | Tom’s Guide’s web-browsing test was close: 14:27 for Samsung and 14:17 for Apple. |
| Benchmark result | Android Central’s early Geekbench 6 comparison reported about a 10% iPhone advantage; it does not decide performance across all workloads. |
| Video winner | A controlled result establishing a categorical winner is not available in the comparisons cited here. |
Start with your platform preference: switching between Android and iOS can affect how your apps, services and other devices fit together. Then decide whether Samsung’s additional telephoto flexibility or the iPhone’s reviewed color rendering better matches your photography preferences. Finally, compare the same storage tier and device condition in your market, including current sale prices and carrier terms. Samsung’s US page displayed a $1,299.99 starting price before trade-in when observed; prices and promotions change, and that figure is not a matched current-price comparison with the iPhone. Check Samsung’s US product page and local retailers for current availability and pricing.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
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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