Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro
The Galaxy S25 Ultra leads with a larger 6.9-inch display, superior zoom capabilities (10x optical), and faster 120W charging, while the iPhone 16 Pro offers better raw single-camera performance, longer software support (7 years vs 4 years), and tighter iOS optimization for apps and gaming.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Flagship Android phone with 6.9-inch display, 10x zoom, and 120W charging
Content creators, zoom photographers, Samsung ecosystem users, fast-charging enthusiasts
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple flagship with 6.3-inch display, advanced camera AI, and 7-year software support
Apple ecosystem users, videographers, professionals needing long-term support, those prioritizing camera consistency
Short Answer
The Galaxy S25 Ultra leads with a larger 6.9-inch display, superior zoom capabilities (10x optical), and faster 120W charging, while the iPhone 16 Pro offers better raw single-camera performance, longer software support (7 years vs 4 years), and tighter iOS optimization for apps and gaming.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you prioritize a larger screen, superior zoom photography, and fast charging—it's ideal for content creators and power users. Choose the iPhone 16 Pro if you value long-term software support, superior low-light photography, and a refined ecosystem where apps run optimally.
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Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if
👑 Best pickContent creators, zoom photographers, Samsung ecosystem users, fast-charging enthusiasts
Choose iPhone 16 Pro if
Apple ecosystem users, videographers, professionals needing long-term support, those prioritizing camera consistency
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
34 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 5,000 mAh | 3,810 mAh | +31% |
| Display Pixel Density(ppi) | 498 ppi | — | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches | +8% |
| RAM (Base Configuration)(GB) | 12 GB | — | — |
| Optical Zoom (Telephoto)(x magnification) | 10x optical | — | — |
| Processor Performance (AnTuTu Benchmark)(score) | Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,100,000 | — | — |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 3,000 nits | — | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) | 200 MP | 48 MP | +317% |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | 5x optical | |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 45W | 25W | +80% |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 4 years | 7 years | -43% |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999 | +30% |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.9 inches | 6.3 inches | +10% |
| Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 10x optical | 3x optical | +233% |
| Main Camera Megapixels(MP) | 200MP | 48MP (quad-pixel 12MP effective) | +1567% |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~30 minutes (120W) | ~45 minutes (45W) | -33% |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 4 years guaranteed | 7 years guaranteed | -43% |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | ~2,850 | ~3,100 | -8% |
| Starting Price(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| Weight(grams) | 199 g | 199 g | |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.3 | 6.3 | |
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | 27 hrs | |
| Weight(grams) | 187g | 187g | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| Wired Charging(W) | 27W peak | 27W peak | |
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | 48 MP f/1.78 | |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz ProMotion | |
| Main Camera(megapixels) | 48MP f/1.78 aperture | 48MP f/1.78 aperture | |
| Video Recording(fps at 4K) | 4K at 120fps | 4K at 120fps | |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | $999 |
Sourced from publicly available data · Jun 2026
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
6.9 inches🏆
iPhone 16 Pro
6.3 inches
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
10x optical zoom🏆
iPhone 16 Pro
3x optical zoom
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
120W wired (0-50% in 10 min)🏆
iPhone 16 Pro
45W wired (0-50% in 30 min)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
4 years OS updates
iPhone 16 Pro
7 years iOS updates🏆
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP 1/1.3-inch
iPhone 16 Pro
48MP 1.3-micron quad-pixel🏆
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
$1,299 USD
iPhone 16 Pro
$999 USD🏆
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Single-core: 2,850
iPhone 16 Pro
Single-core: 3,100🏆
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 5,000 mAh | 3,810 mAh |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 45W | 25W |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~30 minutes (120W) | ~45 minutes (45W) |
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | — |
| Display Pixel Density(ppi) | 498 ppi | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Display Resolution(pixels) | 486 PPI | 2622×1206 (460 ppi) |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 3,000 nits | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Show 5 more attributesDisplay Size(inches) 6.9 inches 6.3 inches Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) 3,000 nits 3,000 nits Display Size(inches) 6.3 — Display Technology OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On — Refresh Rate(Hz) 120Hz ProMotion — | ||
| RAM (Base Configuration)(GB) | 12 GB | — |
| Optical Zoom (Telephoto)(x magnification) | 10x optical | — |
| Telephoto Zoom Range(x optical/digital) | 10x optical, 100x digital | — |
| Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) | 200 MP | 48 MP |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | 5x optical |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 10x optical | 3x optical |
Show 5 more attributesMain Camera Megapixels(MP) 200MP 48MP (quad-pixel 12MP effective) Main Camera(MP) 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift — Telephoto Zoom 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.) — Main Camera(megapixels) 48MP f/1.78 aperture — Video Recording(fps at 4K) 4K at 120fps — | ||
| Processor Performance (Single-Core)(relative score) | Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy | — |
| Integrated Stylus Support | S Pen (Wired) | — |
| Processor Performance (AnTuTu Benchmark)(score) | Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,100,000 | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | ~2,850 | ~3,100 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | — |
| Processor | A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 6-core GPU vs 5-core) | — |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 4 years | 7 years |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 4 years guaranteed | 7 years guaranteed |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999 |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| Weight(grams) | 199 g | — |
| Weight(grams) | 187g | — |
| Dimensions(mm) | 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm | — |
| Build Material | Titanium frame, textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front | — |
| Frame Material | Grade 5 titanium | — |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | — |
| Charging & Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe | — |
| Wired Charging(W) | 27W peak | — |
| RAM(GB) | 8 GB | — |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | — |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | — |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | — |
| Stylus | None | — |
| IP Rating(rating) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | — |
| Operating System | iOS 18 | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — |
Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraiPhone 16 ProShow 5 more attributes
Show 5 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·4 cons across both
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- 6.9-inch dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness
- 10x optical zoom with 50MP telephoto + advanced Night Hyperlapse for astrophotography
- 120W wired charging reaches 50% battery in 10 minutes; 50W wireless charging
- IP69 rating with premium titanium frame rated for deeper water immersion
- Galaxy AI integration including live translation and document scanning
Cons
- Only 4 years of guaranteed OS updates vs 7 years for iPhone 16 Pro
- $1,299 base price is $300 more expensive than iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro
Pros
- 7 years of iOS updates and security patches—longest in industry
- A18 Pro processor with superior single-core performance (3,100 Geekbench score)
- Advanced Computational Photography with ProRAW and 12MP ultra-wide camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture
- Titanium design with Ceramic Shield glass rated at 4x stronger than standard glass
- Seamless integration with Mac, iPad, Apple Watch for handoff and continuity features
Cons
- Limited to 3x optical zoom—significantly less than Galaxy S25 Ultra's 10x capability
- 45W wired charging is 62% slower than Samsung's 120W solution
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
The iPhone 16 Pro excels in low-light photography and color accuracy due to its optimized 48MP quad-pixel sensor and years of computational photography refinement. However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 200MP sensor with 10x optical zoom is superior for telephoto and ultra-wide shots, making it better for landscape and zoom-heavy work. For most professionals, iPhone 16 Pro's consistency outweighs Galaxy's spec advantage.
Apple guarantees 7 years of iOS updates for iPhone 16 Pro, while Samsung guarantees only 4 years for Galaxy S25 Ultra. This means iPhone 16 Pro will receive security patches and new features until 2033, compared to 2029 for the Galaxy. For long-term investment and security, iPhone 16 Pro has a clear 3-year advantage.
Galaxy S25 Ultra dominates with 120W wired charging (full charge in ~30 minutes) and 50W wireless charging, reaching 50% in just 10 minutes. iPhone 16 Pro's 45W charging takes ~45 minutes for a full charge. For frequent travelers or those needing quick top-ups, the Galaxy is significantly faster, though iPhone's battery optimization means it requires fewer charges overall.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra ($1,299) costs $300 more than iPhone 16 Pro ($999). You're paying for a larger display (6.9 vs 6.3 inches), faster charging, superior zoom, and larger battery. If these features matter to you, the premium is justified. However, iPhone 16 Pro's longer software support and tighter app optimization may provide better long-term value for budget-conscious users.
iPhone 16 Pro has a slight edge due to its A18 Pro's superior single-core performance (3,100 vs 2,850) and years of optimized iOS gaming. Games are typically optimized for iPhone first, and the processor delivers slightly smoother frame rates. Galaxy S25 Ultra's larger 120Hz display is better for viewing, but iPhone's raw performance advantage is more noticeable in demanding AAA titles.
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