Quick answerBoth are flagship titans, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max edges ahead for ecosystem polish and video prowess, while the S25 Ultra wins on versatility and the S Pen stylus no one else offers.
Starting Price
$1,299 (256 GB)
$1,199 (256 GB)
Processor
Snapdragon 8 Elite (4 nm)
Apple A18 Pro (3 nm)
Display
6.9" LTPO AMOLED, 1-120 Hz, 2600 nits
6.9" LTPO OLED, 1-120 Hz, 2000 nits
Main Camera
200 MP wide, f/1.7
48 MP wide, f/1.78
Optical Zoom
5x periscope telephoto
5x periscope telephoto
Video Recording
8K @ 30 fps, 4K @ 120 fps
4K @ 120 fps, Apple Log, ProRes
Battery Capacity
5,000 mAh
4,685 mAh
Charging Speed
45W wired, 15W wireless
27W wired, 25W MagSafe
Stylus
Built-in S Pen included
None
Storage Options
256 GB – 1 TB (no microSD)
256 GB – 1 TB (no microSD)
Software Updates
7 years OS + security updates
~6-7 years (Apple's track record)
Worth knowing
- The S25 Ultra's 200 MP sensor can capture insane detail, but iPhone's computational photography often produces more pleasing out-of-the-box shots.
- Apple's A18 Pro chip consistently beats Snapdragon 8 Elite in single-core benchmarks and GPU efficiency.
- Samsung's Galaxy AI features are impressive but require a Samsung/Google account; Apple Intelligence keeps more processing on-device.
- The S25 Ultra dropped the boxy titanium corners of its predecessor for a more rounded, pocket-friendly feel — a subtle but welcomed change.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max supports ProRes video recording directly to an external SSD, making it a legit filmmaker's tool.
The S25 Ultra's S Pen has zero Bluetooth functionality this generation — Samsung quietly axed Air Actions, so it's basically a very fancy, very expensive toothpick that also lets you write things.
If you wantYou live in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, AirPods)
Seamless Handoff, AirDrop, iMessage, and Continuity features make the iPhone feel like a superpower in Apple's world.
→ Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max If you wantYou want maximum display real estate and a stylus for notes or sketches
The S25 Ultra's massive AMOLED display and built-in S Pen are unmatched for productivity and creativity on Android.
→ Pick Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra If you wantYou shoot a lot of video, especially professional or cinematic content
ProRes, Apple Log, and camera-to-SSD recording make the iPhone 16 Pro Max the go-to for serious video work.
→ Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max If you wantYou want the best raw specs and charging speed for the money
More RAM, faster wired charging, higher-res camera sensor, and brighter display — the S25 Ultra packs a lot of firepower.
→ Pick Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.