Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G
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AI Matrix
Powered by Claude AISamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G clearly outperforms the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max in the smartphones category, especially in camera (200MP vs 48MP), scoring 78 vs 60. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G is the recommended choice.
5 Reasons Why Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G Is Better
- 1.Larger battery: 5,000mAh vs 4,685mAh (+7%)
- 2.More RAM: 12GB vs 8GB — better multitasking
- 3.Higher-res main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- 4.Faster charging: 45W vs 27W
- 5.Lighter: 218g vs 227g
What are you giving up?
Picking Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G over Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max means trading these off.
You give up
- −$100 cheaper ($1199 vs $1299)
You gain
- +9g lighter (218g vs 227g)
- +Larger battery: 5,000mAh vs 4,685mAh
- +More RAM: 12GB vs 8GB
- +Higher-res camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- +Faster charging: 45W vs 27W
Spec Comparison
Apple iPhone 16 Pro MaxSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G
Score Breakdown
Apple iPhone 16 Pro MaxSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G
21
Price10% weight
14Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Winner
86
Performance35% weight
100Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G Winner
38
Camera20% weight
97Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G Winner
67
Battery20% weight
75Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G Winner
57
Display10% weight
57Tie
19
Design5% weight
27Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G Winner
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.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
✓ Pros
- ●Lower price: $1199 vs $1299
- ●Better value for money
- ●Water resistant (IP68)
✗ Cons
- ●Smaller battery: 4,685mAh vs 5,000mAh
- ●Less RAM: 8GB vs 12GB
- ●Slower chip: 197 vs 220 benchmark
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G
Winner✓ Pros
- ●Bigger battery: 5,000mAh vs 4,685mAh
- ●More RAM: 12GB vs 8GB
- ●Higher-res camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- ●Faster charging: 45W vs 27W
✗ Cons
- ●Higher price: $1299 vs $1199
- ●Higher price relative to value
Spec Comparison
| Spec | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5GW |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9" | 6.9" |
| Display Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB✓ |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 200MP✓ |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery | 4685mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 27W | 45W✓ |
| OS | iOS 18 | Android 15 |
| NFC | Yes | — |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Weight | 227g | 218g✓ |
| Price | 1199$ | 1299$ |
Who Should Buy
Buy Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 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.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G — FAQ
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G: which is better?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G clearly outperforms the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max in the smartphones category, especially in camera (200MP vs 48MP), scoring 78 vs 60. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G is the recommended choice.
Is Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max better than Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
No, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G scores higher (77 vs 71).
Which is cheaper, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max is cheaper at $1199 vs $1299 for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G.
Who should buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max?
Choose the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
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.
Which has better battery life, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 4,685mAh for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max), which generally means longer use between charges.
Which has a better camera, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has a higher-resolution main camera (200MP vs 48MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Which is lighter, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G is lighter at 218g vs 227g.
Which has more RAM, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G?
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G has more RAM (12GB vs 8GB), which helps with multitasking.
Related Comparisons
Full Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review →Full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G review →All Apple Smartphones →All Samsung Smartphones →
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: April 25, 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.