Apple iPhone 16 Pro MaxvsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — display is its standout. It costs USD 1,299 — USD 100 more than the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max. Pay the premium if display is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Display — led by pixel density (505 ppi).
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max takes Camera — led by camera score (151 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Battery — led by charging speed (45 W).
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max takes Price — led by price (1,199 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want better video quality — 98 pts vs 96 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want a better camera — 151 pts vs 146 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want a lower price — 1,199 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,200,000 pts vs 1,700,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 505 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,600 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,685 mAh.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 25 W.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
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Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if camera matters most. It costs USD 1,199, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Best-in-class video
- Large 6.9-inch display
- Excellent battery life
- Very expensive
- Heavy
- Slow 25 W charging
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Class-leading performance
- 200 MP main camera with dual telephoto
- S Pen built in
- Very expensive
- Heavy at 218 g
- 45 W charging trails rivals