Samsung Galaxy S25+ vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max emerges as the winner. Its superior battery endurance (48:00h vs 43:38h) and optimized software ecosystem provide a smoother, more reliable experience. However, the S25+ offers faster charging and a brighter display.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy S25+ | Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max |
| 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, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International | 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 - A3296 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 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 - A3296 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, January 22 | 2024, September 09 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, February 03 | Available. Released 2024, September 20 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Ceramic Shield), glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm (6.24 x 2.98 x 0.29 in) | 163 x 77.6 x 8.3 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | · 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 | · 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) |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 | Ceramic Shield glass (2024 gen), Mohs level 4 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~513 ppi density) | 1320 x 2868 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.9 inches, 115.6 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Hexa-core (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 (1200 MHz) | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 | iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video | 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 | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 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. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, HDR10+ | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi2 Ready) 4.5W reverse wireless | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 25W wireless (MagSafe), 15W wireless (China only) 15W wireless (Qi2) 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4900 mAh | Li-Ion 4685 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue Black | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium |
| Models | SM-S936B, SM-S936B/DS, SM-S936U, SM-S936U1, SM-S936W, SM-S936N, SM-S9360, SM-S936E, SM-S936E/DS | A3296, A3084, A3295, A3297, iPhone17,2 |
| Price | $ 999.99 / C$ 956.75 / £ 999.00 / € 799.00 | $ 724.88 / C$ 1,405.46 / £ 864.49 / € 955.00 |
| SAR | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) | 1.01 W/kg (head) 1.15 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.26 W/kg (head) 1.26 W/kg (body) | 1.22 W/kg (head) 1.45 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 43:38h endurance, 2000 cycles | 48:00h endurance, 1000 cycles |
| Energy | Class B | Class B |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |
Samsung Galaxy S25+
- Faster 45W wired charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- Longer battery cycle lifespan (2000 cycles)
- Android's open ecosystem and customization
- Shorter battery endurance (43:38h)
- Potential for software fragmentation
- Historically, less consistent color accuracy
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Superior battery endurance (48:00h)
- Optimized iOS ecosystem and software
- MagSafe wireless charging ecosystem
- Strong resale value
- Slower wired charging speed
- Less customization options
- Reliance on the Apple ecosystem
Display Comparison
The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1796 nits measured, compared to the S25+'s 1449 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both devices support Qi2 wireless charging, but the iPhone also includes MagSafe, offering a proprietary magnetic attachment system. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, Apple’s color accuracy is historically more consistent, a benefit for professional photo and video editing. The S25+’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use, but the iPhone’s overall display quality is likely more refined.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera specs, analysis relies on brand tendencies. Apple typically prioritizes natural image processing, while Samsung often boosts saturation and contrast. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to feature a larger main sensor than previous generations, enhancing low-light performance. The S25+ will likely leverage Samsung’s computational photography prowess, potentially offering more versatile zoom capabilities. Both devices will likely offer excellent video recording, but Apple’s Cinematic Mode and ProRes video support provide professional-grade features. The absence of detailed camera specs makes a definitive comparison impossible, but Apple’s consistent image processing and potential sensor upgrades give it a slight edge.
Performance
Both the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the A18 Pro are fabricated on a 3nm process, promising efficiency gains. However, the architectural differences are key. The S25+ utilizes an octa-core configuration (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M), while the iPhone employs a hexa-core setup (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz). While core count isn’t everything, the Snapdragon’s Oryon cores are designed for high single-core performance, potentially benefiting responsiveness. The A18 Pro’s strength lies in its optimized neural engine and tight software integration, leading to superior machine learning tasks. Real-world performance will depend on software optimization, but the A18 Pro’s history suggests it will maintain a performance lead in sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers a substantial battery endurance advantage with 48:00h compared to the S25+'s 43:38h. This translates to a full day of heavy use with headroom. While the S25+ boasts 45W wired charging (65% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless charging, the iPhone’s 50% charge in 30 minutes, despite using PD2.0 instead of PD3.0, is less critical given its longer overall endurance. The S25+’s 2000 charge cycles are a significant benefit, suggesting a longer lifespan, but the iPhone’s superior battery capacity and efficiency are more impactful for daily use. Both offer 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25+ if you need the fastest possible charging speeds, a peakier, brighter display for outdoor visibility, and prefer the flexibility of the Android ecosystem. Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max if you prioritize all-day battery life, a consistently smooth user experience, and seamless integration with other Apple devices. The iPhone is also the better choice for users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.