Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G comes out ahead 51/100 to 78/100 — a 27-point gap. The widest gap is in performance, where the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Apple iPhone 13 undercuts the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G by 405% ($256.99 vs $1,299), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G clearly outperforms the Apple iPhone 13 in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 220 vs 120), scoring 78 vs 51. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G is the recommended choice.
Picking Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G over Apple iPhone 13 means trading these off.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
| Spec | Apple iPhone 13 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5GW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1" | 6.9"✓ |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 pixels | — |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz✓ |
| Brightness | 1200nits | — |
| HDR |
Buy Apple iPhone 13 if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 13 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G if…
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G clearly outperforms the Apple iPhone 13 in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 220 vs 120), scoring 78 vs 51. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G is the recommended choice.
No, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G scores higher (78 vs 51).
Apple iPhone 13 is cheaper at $256.99 vs $1299 for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G.
Choose the Apple iPhone 13 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 3,227mAh for the Apple iPhone 13), which generally means longer use between charges.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has the larger display (6.9" vs 6.1").
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 11, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✗ Cons
| HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| — |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield | — |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| CPU | Hexa-core 3.23 GHz | — |
| GPU | Apple GPU 4-core | — |
| RAM | 4GB | 12GB✓ |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB✓ |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | — |
| Main Camera | 12MP | 200MP✓ |
| Aperture | f/1.6 | — |
| OIS | Sensor-shift OIS | — |
| Video | 4K@60fps | — |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 3227mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 20W | 45W✓ |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | — |
| OS | iOS 15 | Android 15 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | — |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | — |
| NFC | Yes (Apple Pay) | — |
| USB | Lightning | — |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Biometrics | Face ID | — |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm | — |
| Weight | 174g✓ | 218g |
| Colors | Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green | — |
| Price | 256.99$ | 1299$ |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has a higher-resolution main camera (200MP vs 12MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Apple iPhone 13 is lighter at 174g vs 218g.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has more RAM (12GB vs 4GB), which helps with multitasking.