iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown
The iPhone 16 Pro Refurb at $759 is the better value in 2026; the Galaxy S25 Ultra at $999 sale is the better hardware. If you have other Apple devices, iPhone wins regardless of specs.
iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Apple's 2024 flagship with A18 Pro chip and Camera Control button
Samsung's top-tier Android flagship with 200MP camera, 6.9-inch display, and advanced AI features
Battery life. Street price (May 2026). Camera versatility. Video quality. Chipset. Display size. Stylus. Ecosystem integration
Galaxy S25 Ultra wins on hardware (larger battery, 200MP camera, S Pen, bigger screen); iPhone 16 Pro wins on value ($240 cheaper refurb), ecosystem integration, and video quality.
iPhone 16 Pro: 199 g | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 218 g
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hrs | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 187g | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $999 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Titanium frame, textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 27W peak | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 45W
iPhone 16 Pro: 48 MP f/1.78 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 200 MP f/1.7
iPhone 16 Pro: $759 (Certified Refurb) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: $999 (sale)
iPhone 16 Pro: None | Galaxy S25 Ultra: S Pen (built-in)
iPhone 16 Pro: IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: IP68 (1.5 m, 30 min)
iPhone 16 Pro: iOS 18 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: One UI 7 / Android 15
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
iPhone 16 Pro: 1-120Hz ProMotion | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 titanium | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x maximum | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582 mAh | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5,000 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro: 512GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3 inches | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 48MP (12MP output) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 200MP
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x optical | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 45W | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,000 nits | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12 MP | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: ~45 minutes (45W) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 7 years guaranteed | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite (8-core, 3nm)
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 120 Hz ProMotion | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 6.27 inches | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch
iPhone 16 Pro: 27 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 12 GB
iPhone 16 Pro: 128 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $999 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: $1,299
iPhone 16 Pro: f/1.78 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K 60fps | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,580 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline A18 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K at 120fps, ProRes | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps
iPhone 16 Pro: 12x dual telephoto system | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Grade 5 Titanium | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Apple A18 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 30% faster | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: ƒ/1.2 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 33 hours | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 256GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x (with improved processing) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 27 hours | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x optical zoom | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: $1099 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2000 nits | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 3000 nits
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP (120°) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 50MP (120°)
iPhone 16 Pro: 5x + 12x (dual periscope) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5x + 10x (dual periscope)
iPhone 16 Pro: ~33 hours | Galaxy S25 Ultra: ~36+ hours
iPhone 16 Pro: IP69 (6m for 30 mins) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: IP68 (1.5m for 30 mins)
iPhone 16 Pro: 6-core GPU | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 8GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 12GB
iPhone 16 Pro: 25W | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 2,000 nits (HDR) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Baseline (A18 Pro) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.27" (larger) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 12MP 5x optical | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 22 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Standard baseline | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,358 | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 3x | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: ~26 hours | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 4K @ 120fps | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 6-7 years (typical) | Galaxy S25 Ultra: 7 years
iPhone 16 Pro: A18 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: Full autofocus | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
iPhone 16 Pro: 256 GB | Galaxy S25 Ultra: N/A
How to choose between iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra
Compare iPhone 16 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown. Contains 95 attribute comparisons, 4 FAQ pairs.
iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown.
Is iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra better for photography?
Both are exceptional, but each wins in different scenarios. Galaxy S25 Ultra wins for: optical zoom versatility (10x optical vs. iPhone's 5x gives more reach for wildlife, sports, distant subjects), resolution ceiling (200MP mode enables extreme cropping), and night photography detail in some lighting conditions. iPhone 16 Pro wins for: 4K120fps video (unmatched in mobile), ProRAW format for professional RAW editing, natural color science (especially skin tones and sky tones), and the overall video quality which most videographers rate as the mobile standard. For social media photography, Samsung's processing produces immediately impressive-looking results that tend to win A/B preference tests. For professional photography work (editorial, commercial, artistic), iPhone's more accurate color rendering and ProRAW format are preferred. The most objective assessment: for video, iPhone is clearly ahead; for zoom and still photography flexibility, Samsung's 4-lens system wins on versatility.
Is the S25 Ultra worth $300 more than the iPhone 16 Pro?
Whether the $300 premium is worth it depends on your ecosystem and use case. Galaxy S25 Ultra justifies its higher price with: larger screen (6.9-inch vs. 6.3-inch), S Pen integration (a unique productivity feature with no iPhone equivalent), superior telephoto zoom system (10x optical vs. 5x), and 200MP camera flexibility. The $300 gap is also partly explained by Samsung offering more RAM (12GB vs. 8GB) and the S25 Ultra's titanium frame. However, the iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,199) offers a 6.9-inch display and larger battery at the same price as the S25 Ultra, making the comparison more competitive at equal screen sizes. For Android users who want Samsung's features, the S25 Ultra is worth the price. For buyers genuinely evaluating both ecosystems, a fair comparison is iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,199) vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra ($1,299) — a $100 difference that favors iPhone's video capabilities and ecosystem value for most buyers.
Yes — iPhone 16 Pro is the first iPhone generation to run Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI system released in stages through iOS 18.1-18.4. Apple Intelligence features include: Writing Tools (rewrite, proofread, and summarize text in any app), Photo Clean Up (remove unwanted objects from photos), Smart Replies (contextual email and message reply suggestions), Image Playground (generate illustrations from text prompts), Genmoji (create custom emoji from descriptions), improved Siri (context-aware, can act across apps), and ChatGPT integration for complex queries. Priority limitations: some features were US-only at launch and rolled out internationally through 2025; EU regulatory requirements delayed EU availability. Apple Intelligence is also available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (the A17 Pro chip enables it). The 16 Pro's A18 Pro adds performance improvements for AI inference speed and enables the 4K120fps feature, but the AI feature set is largely shared with 15 Pro users.
Can you use a Galaxy S25 Ultra with an iPhone ecosystem?
You can use a Galaxy S25 Ultra alongside Apple devices, but the cross-platform experience has real friction. What works: Galaxy S25 Ultra syncs with Windows PCs natively via Link to Windows; Samsung's SmartThings app runs on iPhone; general Bluetooth accessories (AirPods work via Bluetooth); Web apps (Google Docs, Notion, Spotify) are cross-platform. What doesn't work well: iMessage — Galaxy S25 Ultra sends as SMS/green bubble; AirDrop doesn't work (Samsung has Quick Share, which is Android-only); iCloud Photos doesn't sync to Android (requires workaround via web); Apple Watch and AirPods Pro deep integration features don't work with Android; Handoff and Continuity features are exclusive to Apple ecosystem. The reverse — iPhone in a Samsung ecosystem — has similar friction. The practical recommendation: match your phone to your computing ecosystem. If your laptop is a Mac, iPhone integrates deeply. If your laptop is Windows, Galaxy S25 Ultra + Windows offers more native integration.
How to Choose Between iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra
Battery life: iPhone 16 Pro has 3,582 mAh — ~6-7 hrs screen-on, 27W wired, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has 5,000 mAh — ~8-9 hrs screen-on, 45W wired.
Street price (May 2026): iPhone 16 Pro has $759 (Apple Certified Refurb), while Galaxy S25 Ultra has $999 (samsung.com sale) / $1,299 MSRP.
Camera versatility: iPhone 16 Pro has 48MP main + 12MP 5x periscope telephoto, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has 200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 10MP 3x telephoto.
Video quality: iPhone 16 Pro has 4K 120fps Dolby Vision + Log — best for creators, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has 8K 30fps — impressive but harder to edit.
Chipset: iPhone 16 Pro has Apple A18 Pro — leads single-core, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has Snapdragon 8 Elite — leads multi-core (~9,400 vs ~8,400 Geekbench multi).
Display size: iPhone 16 Pro has 6.3" LTPO OLED, 460 ppi, 2,000 nits HBM, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 505 ppi, 2,600 nits peak.
Stylus: iPhone 16 Pro has None, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has S Pen (built-in).
Ecosystem integration: iPhone 16 Pro has Apple: iMessage, Watch, AirPods, AirDrop, Continuity, while Galaxy S25 Ultra has Samsung: DeX, Galaxy Watch, Quick Share, Android openness.
iPhone 16 Pro is better than Galaxy S25 Ultra