Apple iPhone 16vsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the overall winner, taking 4 of 5 categories — performance is its standout. It costs USD 1,299 — USD 500 more than the Apple iPhone 16. Pay the premium if performance is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Performance — led by performance score (2,200,000 pts).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Camera — led by telephoto lens (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra takes Battery — led by battery (5,000 mAh).
- Apple iPhone 16 takes Price — led by price (799 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 16 if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 if you want a lower price — 799 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 1,400,000 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 more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a bigger screen — 6.9 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a sharper screen — 505 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- 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 true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 94 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want a better camera — 146 pts vs 142 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 3,561 mAh.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 20 W.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 16
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
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.
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 lens
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video quality
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera quality
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
Choose Apple iPhone 16 if price matters most. It costs USD 799, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if performance matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 16
- A18 speed
- Camera Control button
- Strong resale value
- 60 Hz display
- Slow 20 W charging
- No telephoto lens
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