I compared the best Samsung Galaxy and iPhone models in 2025: The winner is not so clear

A quick scan through the list of best phones of ZDNET, and two names are usually at the top of the list – Samsung and Apple. This is no exception with our most recent pics, as the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max take the top two spots. This list will change soon, however, Apple is expected to unveil a successor that is the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Also: Should you buy iPhone 16 or iPhone 17? How to decide which model to buy

16 Pro Max and S25 Ultra are both the most impressive phones of their brand, each handset packed with premium features and high-end glasses, and both are the largest in their lineups. They also offer a lot of AIs, such as it or not.

If you are already closed in a specific ecosystem, then the option here is simple. But if you are on the fence or you are considering switching sides, then you have a decision. Fortunately, there is a difference between these two devices that you can make an option. What should you know here?

Specifications

If you should buy Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra …

1. You want a better (more versatile) camera system

Samsung regularly tops our list of best phone cameras, and S25 Ultra is no different. It brings back to the 200MP main sensor of S24 Ultra, a lens that is easily up easily in the 48MP lens (especially in zoom) of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but also perhaps even as the best phone camera lens also went down as the camera lens. Other lenses are mostly comparable, but the fact that Samsung adds a complete additional lens, gives it even more edge.

Also: Best Samsung phone to buy in 2025

If you are a photo enthusiastic, S25 Ultra also allows for more manual controls that approach a DSLR while apple focuses on ease of use (especially with the latest iOS 26 updates), and large sensors mean better photos in low light. In addition, Galaxy has more AI-operated enrichments like generative edit. 16 Pro Max’s camera is not bad in any way, and you will be able to get a lot of great pictures, but if the camera is the main appeal and you have to Best of all, you would like to choose S25 Ultra.

2. You want a smooth, light phone

It is easy to forget that your phone is something that you are taking in your hand Very. If you want your phone to be slightly less, then you want S25 Ultra. The dimensions of these two devices are very close to each other, and both are on the heavy and large side of the phone in general, but the S25 ultra is slightly thin, more narrow and slightly lighter.

16 Pro is a heavy phone, which is coming in 227 grams compared to 218 of S25 Ultra. It is also heavier than Pixel 9 Pro XL.

3. All of you are in AI

Apple Intelligence comes with some major promises, but some of the best features are not yet available. The Galaxy AI already had a strong prasad, but recently unpacked events have kept even more on the table. The Galaxy AI and a UI 8 are having many new features, and they will be widely available on Samsung’s latest handsets.

Also: 5 Blotware apps you should remove from your Samsung phone ASAP

Personal data engine is a highlight, essentially an LLM that learns that you use your phone and act as an assistant that estimates your requirements. Multi-app commands are also on the way, which means you can do such things, such as “find a nearby vegetarian, pet-friendly restaurants and read them to Elison” or “Find the game of cubs of the next month and add them to my calendar.”

Apple Intelligence is increasing, and possibly presenting similar characteristics, but for now, Samsung has a clear edge. If you want to exploit the latest AI, go with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

If you should buy iPhone 16 Pro Max if …

1. Speed and liquidity cases

Both these phones have the best chips available – Galaxy with Snapdragon 8 Elite and iPhone with A18 Pro. Any of these chips is sufficient to handle most processing, and both perform quite equally equally. In benchmark testsThe S25 Ultra has 12GB RAM compared to the 16 Pro Max’s 8GB, but 8GB is sufficient for most functions. Unless you are doing some heavy lifting, you probably will not notice additional memory.

Also: We tested the iPhone 16 Pro camera system, and it is extremely low – with a tragic defect

The reason for Apple to win here is that a large part of the app performance comes down how developers customize them. Since Apple’s chip is only apple device (Snapdragon 8 Elite Power with more with many phones) and developers are designed for iOS platforms, especially, so a good chance apps will run more smoothly. This means that overall, 16 Pro Max will have a performance edge.

2. You want to save money, even if you are buying in retail

It is not very often that we use “apples” and “saving money” in a single sentence, but here it is. Samsung Galaxy S25 between Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the latter is cheaper than about $ 100. It is not considering the sale of the latter market that you can find on the iPhone, which is now out for about four months, vs. newly released S25 Ultra.

Of course, it is either less than 10% of the device, but this is a rare case when Apple is a cheaper option. For two phones with very similar glasses, if it comes down to money, go with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

3. You plan to keep your device for a while and then sell it

This iPhone 16 is not specific to Pro Max, but as a general rule, iPhones keep their value more than any other phone. If you are the type of person who trades for every year or two years, then perhaps there will be not much difference here.

But if you make a long hold on your phone or you want to sell your phone yourself while upgrading, then when time comes the time it comes, you will get more for your iPhone 16 Pro Max. A few years ago, data from a popular cell phone trade-in site showed that over a period of three years, the flagship fell twice as the Android device iPhone.

Options to consider