iPhone 16 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a streamlined ecosystem, the iPhone 16 Plus emerges as the winner. However, power users demanding peak performance and a more customizable experience will find the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the superior choice, despite its slightly lower endurance.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A3290 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3290 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, September 09 | 2025, January 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September 20 | Available. Released 2025, February 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Ceramic Shield), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in) | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm (6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen), Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~498 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 116.9 cm2 (~92.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) |
| OS | iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF | - |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Laser AF, Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. | HDR, HDR10+ |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, tri-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4674 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Pink, Teal, Ultramarine | Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Black, Titanium White Silver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jade Green, Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Pink Gold |
| Models | A3290, A3082, A3289, A3291, iPhone17,4 | SM-S938B, SM-S938B/DS, SM-S938U, SM-S938U1, SM-S938W, SM-S938N, SM-S9380, SM-S938E, SM-S938E/DS |
| Price | € 700.00 / $ 498.74 / £ 599.99 / ₹ 76,490 | € 895.00 / $ 859.98 / £ 799.99 / ₹ 110,498 |
| SAR | 1.13 W/kg (head) 1.16 W/kg (body) | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 48:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | 44:54h endurance, 2000 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class B |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
- Exceptional battery endurance (48:00h)
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility (1823 nits)
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Slower wired charging speed (50% in 30 min)
- Fewer battery charge cycles (1000)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Faster wired charging (65% in 30 min)
- Longer battery lifespan (2000 charge cycles)
- Potentially higher peak performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Lower display brightness (1417 nits)
- Shorter battery endurance (44:54h)
Display Comparison
The iPhone 16 Plus boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1823 nits, compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 1417 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both support Qi2 wireless charging, the iPhone’s display benefits from Apple’s color calibration, known for its accuracy. The S25 Ultra likely employs an LTPO panel for variable refresh rates, potentially offering smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency, but this isn't specified in the data. The difference in peak brightness is significant for outdoor use, favoring the iPhone.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are absent, the focus should be on image processing. Samsung typically favors vibrant, saturated images, while Apple aims for more natural color reproduction. The S25 Ultra’s larger sensor (assumed, based on Samsung’s Ultra line history) will likely excel in low-light conditions. The absence of information on optical image stabilization (OIS) is a key omission. The S25 Ultra’s versatility, historically, extends to more zoom options and advanced video recording features. Without specific sensor details, the S25 Ultra has a potential edge due to Samsung’s camera expertise.
Performance
Both devices utilize a 3nm process, but their CPU architectures differ significantly. The iPhone 16 Plus features Apple’s hexa-core A18, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra employs Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite with Oryon V2 Phoenix cores. The S25 Ultra’s octa-core configuration, with higher peak clock speeds (2x4.47 GHz vs 2x4.04 GHz), suggests a potential advantage in multi-threaded tasks. However, Apple’s silicon is renowned for its efficiency and optimized software integration. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Oryon cores are a new architecture, and real-world thermal performance will be crucial; the iPhone’s A18 is likely to maintain higher sustained performance due to Apple’s thermal management.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 44:54h endurance rating surpasses the iPhone 16 Plus’s 48:00h, despite the iPhone’s active use score being higher (18:49h vs 14:49h). This suggests the S25 Ultra’s larger battery capacity (implied) and potentially more efficient standby power consumption. The S25 Ultra charges faster to 65% in 30 minutes with 45W wired charging, compared to the iPhone’s 50% in 30 minutes with 25W wired charging. The 2000 charge cycles of the S25 Ultra’s battery are double that of the iPhone 16 Plus’s 1000 cycles, indicating significantly longer battery lifespan.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you need exceptional battery endurance, seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, and a user experience focused on simplicity and reliability. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you prefer a more versatile camera system, the raw processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and the customization options offered by Android.