iPhone 16 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Supremacy
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing long-term battery life and fast charging, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra emerges as the winner. Its significantly higher endurance rating (44:54h vs 37:00h) and faster 65% charge in 30 minutes outweigh the iPhone 16 Pro’s slightly brighter display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | 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 - A3293 | 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 - A3293 | 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, titanium frame (grade 5) | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm (5.89 x 2.81 x 0.33 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 | 1206 x 2622 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~498 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 96.4 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 116.9 cm2 (~92.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-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, 1TB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) | - |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video/audio, 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, OIS 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 (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/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 3582 mAh | Li-Ion 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium | Titanium Silver Blue, Titanium Black, Titanium White Silver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Jade Green, Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Pink Gold |
| Models | A3293, A3083, A3292, A3294, iPhone17,1 | SM-S938B, SM-S938B/DS, SM-S938U, SM-S938U1, SM-S938W, SM-S938N, SM-S9380, SM-S938E, SM-S938E/DS |
| Price | € 884.23 / $ 574.09 / £ 685.80 | € 895.00 / $ 859.98 / £ 799.99 / ₹ 110,498 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | 1.26 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) | 1.25 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 37:00h 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 Pro
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Potentially superior video recording quality
- Shorter battery life compared to S25 Ultra
- Slower wired charging speed
- Limited customization options
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Exceptional battery endurance
- Faster wired charging
- More flexible Android operating system
- Lower peak display brightness
- Samsung’s One UI can be polarizing
- Potential for software bloat
Display Comparison
The iPhone 16 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1764 nits, exceeding the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 1417 nits. While this difference is noticeable in direct sunlight, both displays utilize advanced LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, conserving battery life. However, the S25 Ultra’s larger screen size (assumed, based on S24 Ultra) and potentially higher pixel density (again, assumed) could offer a more immersive viewing experience. Both support Qi2 wireless charging, but the iPhone’s MagSafe offers a proprietary advantage with stronger magnetic attachment and potentially faster 25W wireless charging.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are unavailable, we can infer trends. Samsung typically prioritizes high-resolution sensors and aggressive image processing, while Apple focuses on natural color reproduction and computational photography. The S25 Ultra is likely to feature a larger main sensor than the iPhone 16 Pro, potentially improving low-light performance. Both will likely offer advanced features like 8K video recording and enhanced optical image stabilization (OIS). The absence of information on telephoto lens capabilities prevents a definitive comparison, but Samsung often leads in zoom capabilities.
Performance
Both devices are powered by 3nm chipsets – Apple’s A18 Pro and Qualcomm’s SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite. The A18 Pro features a hexa-core CPU (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz), while the Snapdragon 8 Elite employs an octa-core configuration (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M). The Snapdragon’s Oryon cores, designed by Nuvia (now Qualcomm), are architecturally similar to Apple’s own cores, suggesting comparable performance. However, the Snapdragon’s higher clock speeds on its prime cores *could* translate to a slight edge in single-core tasks. The S25 Ultra’s larger core count may benefit multi-threaded applications. Thermal management will be crucial; the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency will determine if it can sustain peak performance without throttling, a common issue with previous Snapdragon generations.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 44:54h endurance rating significantly surpasses the iPhone 16 Pro’s 37:00h. This difference is substantial and translates to a full day of extra usage for the Samsung device. The S25 Ultra also boasts 65% charge in 30 minutes with 45W wired charging, faster than the iPhone 16 Pro’s 50% in 30 minutes with 25W charging. While both offer 4.5W reverse wired charging, the S25 Ultra’s larger battery capacity provides a more meaningful top-up for accessories. The S25 Ultra’s 2000 battery cycles also suggest a longer lifespan than the iPhone’s 1000 cycles.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro if you need seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, prioritize video recording quality, and value Apple’s software support. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you prefer a longer-lasting battery, faster charging speeds, and the flexibility of the Android operating system, especially if you’re a power user who demands maximum endurance and customization.