The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium design with a revamped rounded style, offering a fresh yet premium look. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro Max sticks to a flat titanium design, maintaining Apple's signature aesthetic. Those who prefer a sleek, curved feel might lean towards Samsung, while Apple users will appreciate the brand's consistent design approach.
Display
Both devices sport a 6.9-inch display, but the technologies differ:
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Dynamic AMOLED 2X with an anti-reflective coating, offering a variable refresh rate from 1-120Hz.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, also featuring a 1-120Hz refresh rate.
Samsung's anti-reflective coating could be a game-changer for outdoor visibility, while Apple's display remains one of the most colour-accurate in the industry.
Camera system
For photography enthusiasts, here's how both phones stack up:
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Quad-camera setup with a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide lens, plus two telephoto cameras (50MP 5x, 10MP 3x).
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Triple-camera system with a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide lens, plus one telephoto camera (12MP 5x).
Samsung takes the edge in sheer megapixels, especially with its high-resolution 200MP main sensor, but Apple's cameras are known for their computational photography and colour accuracy.
Performance
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm).
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Runs on Apple's A18 Pro chip (3nm).
Both processors are cutting-edge, but Apple's in-house chips tend to excel in raw performance and efficiency, especially when paired with iOS optimisations. However, the Snapdragon chip provides robust AI-powered enhancements and gaming capabilities.
Memory & software
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 12GB RAM | One UI 7, Android 15 with Galaxy AI.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8GB RAM | iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence.
Samsung offers more RAM, which could be beneficial for multitasking, but Apple's tight hardware-software integration ensures smooth performance despite the lower RAM count.
S Pen & customisation
Galaxy S25 Ultra: Includes S Pen stylus for precise input and note-taking.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: No stylus support.
Apple compensates with a Dedicated Camera Control button and a customisable Action Button, while Samsung does not offer extra customisable buttons.
For users who love stylus functionality, Samsung takes the edge here.
Battery & charging
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685mAh battery, 25W wired charging, 25W Qi2 MagSafe wireless charging.
Samsung packs a bigger battery and faster wired charging, whereas Apple focuses on improved wireless charging speeds with MagSafe technology.
Final Verdict: Which one to choose?
If you want the best camera resolution, stylus support, and larger battery, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the better option. However, if you've been a consistent Apple user, switching to a Samsung can prove to be tough due to Apple's better ecosystem integration.
It is same to assume that once you own an iPhone, you look at purchasing a MacBook, an iMac, an iPad, an Apple Watch, and the list goes on. So if you're used to the optimisation, switching to another operating system will naturally turn out to be tougher.
Ultimately, the choice comes down to whether you prefer Android's flexibility or Apple's seamless ecosystem. Either way, both smartphones are top-tier contenders in 2025.