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Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Camera, Battery and All Specs Compared

Here's how Samsung's and Apple's high-end (and highly priced) devices stack up.

Headshot of Abrar Al-Heeti
Headshot of Abrar Al-Heeti
Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, autonomous cars, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
Abrar Al-Heeti
3 min read
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Samsung's latest premium device, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, may have a lot in common with its predecessor, but how does it compare to Apple's highest-end phone, the iPhone 16 Pro Max?

For starters, you'll be paying a fairly steep price for both phones, with the S25 Ultra starting at $1,300, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199. But you'll also be getting some of the best phone cameras on the market, spacious displays and bigger batteries.

Here's a breakdown of how the specs on each phone compare.  

Watch this: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: Spec Breakdown

A snapshot of the cameras

If you're reaching for the most high-end device in Samsung's or Apple's lineups, there's a strong chance you're drawn to the cameras, which tend to be the star of the show. 

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 200-megapixel wide, 50-megapixel ultrawide (new to this year's device), 10-megapixel 3x telephoto and 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens.  

Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel fusion, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 12-megapixel 5x telephoto lens.

Both phones feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.

When it comes to video, the S25 Ultra can capture 8K content at 30 frames per second (and 4K video at 120fps), while the iPhone can capture 4K content up to 120fps, as well as 1080p spatial video at 30fps.

Stay tuned to CNET's full review of the S25 Ultra to see how the camera performs under various conditions. (In the meantime, you can check out how the iPhone 16 Pro Max's camera compared to last year's S24 Ultra.) 

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium frame, similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

James Martin/CNET

Display and build

Another thing you'll get with both phones is a spacious display. The S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a pixel density of 501 pixels per inch, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, with 460 ppi. Both phones have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and an Always On display.

Something else these phones have in common is their titanium frames, helping to make the hefty devices more lightweight. They also have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The S25 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass, while the iPhone has a Ceramic Shield front -- which have both been touted for their durability. 

And yes, the S25 Ultra comes with an S Pen stylus, though it doesn't have all the Bluetooth connectivity features included in last year's S24 Ultra S Pen.

Check Out the iPhone 16 Pro Max's Cameras, Display and Colors

See all photos

Storage, processors and battery life

Both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max come in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options. The S25 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM, and while Apple doesn't list the RAM in its iPhones, an executive essentially confirmed in an interview that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is equipped with 8GB, according to 9to5Mac. Neither have expandable storage, so you'll need to use cloud storage once you've maxed out local space.

The S25 Ultra is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, while the iPhone packs an A18 Pro chip.

The S25 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, and while Apple doesn't disclose battery capacity on its phones, it has said that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has up to 33 hours of video playback. Both devices feature USB-C ports, and no headphone jack.

The S25 Ultra arrives with Android 15 with a Samsung-guaranteed seven years of Android and security updates, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max runs iOS 18. (Apple doesn't guarantee a certain number of years of updates, but typically supports phones for five or more years.)

Check out the spec chart below for more details on each phone.

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraApple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate 6.9-inch AMOLED; 3,120x1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display; 2,868x1,320 pixel
Pixel density 501 ppi460 ppi
Dimensions 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches
Dimensions (millimeters) 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm
Weight (grams, ounces) 218 g (7.69 oz.)227 g (7.99 oz.)
Mobile software Android 15iOS 18
Camera 200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)48-megapixel (fusion), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 5x telephoto
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel 12-megapixel
Video capture 8K4K up to 120fps; spatial video at 1080p at 30fps
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyA18 Pro
RAM + storage 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage NoneNo
Battery 5,000 mAh; 45W wired charging (charger not included)Up to 33 hours video playback; up to 29 hours video playback (streamed); 20W wired charging; MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with 30W adapter or higher; Qi2 up to 15W
Fingerprint sensor Under displayNone (Face ID)
Connector USB-CUSB-C
Headphone jack NoneNo
Special features Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glassApple Intelligence; Action button; Camera Control button; 4x audio mics; Dynamic Island; 1 to 2,000-nit display brightness range; IP68 resistance
US price starts at $1,300$1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB)
UK price starts at £1,249£1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB)
Australia price starts at AU$2,149AU$2,149 (256GB), AU$2,499 (512GB), AU$2,849 (1TB)