Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro 2026
The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a larger 6.8-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate and superior zoom capabilities with 5x optical magnification, while the iPhone 16 Pro provides tighter software integration, longer battery life (27 hours vs 24 hours), and superior computational photography through its A18 Pro chip.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Android flagship with largest screen, advanced zoom, and stylus support
Power users, photographers, Android enthusiasts, and professionals needing stylus input
iPhone 16 Pro
iOS flagship with superior battery life and integrated Apple ecosystem
Apple ecosystem users, photographers prioritizing night mode, professionals valuing longevity
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a larger 6.8-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate and superior zoom capabilities with 5x optical magnification, while the iPhone 16 Pro provides tighter software integration, longer battery life (27 hours vs 24 hours), and superior computational photography through its A18 Pro chip.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you prioritize screen real estate, zoom capabilities, and storage flexibility with Android customization. Choose the iPhone 16 Pro if you value longer battery life, tighter ecosystem integration, superior low-light photography through computational processing, and prefer iOS's user experience.
Was this verdict helpful?
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if
Best pickPower users, photographers, Android enthusiasts, and professionals needing stylus input
Choose iPhone 16 Pro if
Apple ecosystem users, photographers prioritizing night mode, professionals valuing longevity
Track this comparison
Get notified when prices change, new specs ship, or our verdict updates.
Triggers: price change new spec verdict update
No spam. Stop anytime.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Display Size:✓ Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(6.8 inches vs 6.3 inches)
- Optical Zoom Range:✓ Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(5x optical zoom vs 3x optical zoom)
- Battery Life (Typical Day):✓ iPhone 16 Pro wins(27 hours vs 24 hours)
Key Facts & Figures
56 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Pixel Density(ppi) | 498 ppi | — | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches | |
| 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) | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
| Main Camera Resolution(MP) | 200MP | 48MP | |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | 5x optical | |
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 120W | 25W | |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 4 years | 7 years | |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999 | |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches | |
| Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | |
| Optical Zoom(times) | 10x optical | 3x optical | |
| Main Camera Megapixels(MP) | 200MP | 48MP (quad-pixel 12MP effective) | |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~30 minutes (120W) | ~45 minutes (45W) | |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 4 years guaranteed | 7 years guaranteed | |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | ~2,850 | ~3,100 | |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120 Hz | 120Hz ProMotion | |
| Telephoto Sensor Resolution(MP) | 200 MP | — | — |
| Optical Zoom Range(x) | 10x optical | — | — |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 5,000 mAh | 3,200 mAh | |
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,299 | $1,199 | |
| Device Weight(grams) | 218g | — | — |
| RAM Standard(GB) | 12GB | — | — |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 24 hours | 27 hours | |
| Optical Zoom Capability(x magnification) | 5x optical zoom | 3x optical zoom | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999 | |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB | 128GB | |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 4 years | 7 years | |
| 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 | |
| Charging Speed(Watts) | 27W peak | 27W peak | |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | 48 MP f/1.78 | |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | |
| Video Recording(fps at 4K) | 4K at 120fps | 4K at 120fps | |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | $999 | |
| Multi-Core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | Baseline | |
| Battery Life(hours) | 27 | 27 | |
| RAM(GB) | 12GB | 12GB | |
| Starting Storage(GB) | 128 | 128 | |
| Telephoto Resolution(MP) | 12MP | 12MP | |
| 4K Video Capability(fps) | 4K 60fps | 4K 60fps | |
| CPU Performance (Single-Core)(Points) | 2,580 | 2,580 | |
| GPU Performance(TFLOPS) | Baseline A18 Pro | Baseline A18 Pro | |
| Telephoto Zoom(Maximum optical) | 12x dual telephoto system | 12x dual telephoto system | |
| CPU Performance Improvement(%) | 30% faster | 30% faster | |
| Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) | ƒ/1.2 | ƒ/1.2 | |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | Up to 27 hours | Up to 27 hours | |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | 256GB | |
| Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) | 3x (with improved processing) | 3x (with improved processing) |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 6.8 inches(winner)Display Size6.3 inches
- 5x optical zoom(winner)Optical Zoom Range3x optical zoom
- 24 hoursBattery Life (Typical Day)27 hours(winner)
- 256GB(winner)Starting Storage128GB
- Snapdragon 8 EliteProcessorApple A18 Pro
- $1,299Price (Starting)$999(winner)
- 200MP f/1.7(winner)Main Camera Sensor48MP f/1.78
- Display Size
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
6.8 inches(winner)
iPhone 16 Pro
6.3 inches
- Optical Zoom Range
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5x optical zoom(winner)
iPhone 16 Pro
3x optical zoom
- Battery Life (Typical Day)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
24 hours
iPhone 16 Pro
27 hours(winner)
- Starting Storage
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
256GB(winner)
iPhone 16 Pro
128GB
- Processor
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple A18 Pro
- Price (Starting)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
$1,299
iPhone 16 Pro
$999(winner)
- Main Camera Sensor
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP f/1.7(winner)
iPhone 16 Pro
48MP f/1.78
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display Pixel Density(ppi) | 498 ppi | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.8 inches(winner) | 6.3 inches |
| Display Resolution(pixels) | 486 PPI(winner) | 2622×1206 (460 ppi) |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 3,000 nits | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120Hz | 120Hz |
Show 5 more attributesDisplay Size(inches) 6.8 inches 6.3 inches Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) 3,000 nits 3,000 nits Refresh Rate(Hz) 120 Hz 120Hz ProMotion Display Size(inches) 6.3 — Display Technology OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On — | ||
| RAM (Base Configuration)(GB) | 12 GB | — |
| RAM Standard(GB) | 12GB | — |
| Optical Zoom (Telephoto)(x magnification) | 10x optical | — |
| Telephoto Zoom Range(x optical/digital) | 10x optical, 100x digital | — |
| Main Camera Resolution(MP) | 200MP(winner) | 48MP |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | 5x optical |
| Optical Zoom(times) | 10x optical(winner) | 3x optical |
Show 15 more attributesMain Camera Megapixels(MP) 200MP 48MP (quad-pixel 12MP effective) Telephoto Sensor Resolution(MP) 200 MP — Optical Zoom Range(x) 10x optical — Main Camera Aperture(f-stop) f/1.7 f/1.78 Optical Zoom Capability(x magnification) 5x optical zoom 3x optical zoom Main Camera(MP) 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift — Telephoto Zoom 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.) — Main Camera(MP) 48MP with f/1.8 aperture — Video Recording(fps at 4K) 4K at 120fps — Telephoto Resolution(MP) 12MP — 4K Video Capability(fps) 4K 60fps — Video Recording Maximum(fps at resolution) 4K at 120fps + ProRaw — Telephoto Zoom(Maximum optical) 12x dual telephoto system — Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) ƒ/1.2 — Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) 3x (with improved processing) — | ||
| 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(winner) |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | — |
| Processor | A18 Pro chip | — |
| Multi-Core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | — |
Show 4 more attributesRAM(GB) 12GB — CPU Performance (Single-Core)(Points) 2,580 — Main Processor Apple A18 Pro — CPU Performance Improvement(%) 30% faster — | ||
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 120W(winner) | 25W |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~30 minutes (120W)(winner) | ~45 minutes (45W) |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 5,000 mAh(winner) | 3,200 mAh |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 24 hours | 27 hours(winner) |
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | — |
Show 2 more attributesCharging Speed(Watts) 27W peak — Video Playback Battery Life(hours) Up to 27 hours — | ||
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 4 years | 7 years(winner) |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 4 years guaranteed | 7 years guaranteed(winner) |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 4 years | 7 years(winner) |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999(winner) |
| Starting Price(USD) | $1,299 | $1,199(winner) |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1,299 | $999(winner) |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Device Weight(grams) | 218g | — |
| 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 | — |
Show 2 more attributesFrame Material Grade 5 titanium — Build Material(Type) Grade 5 Titanium — | ||
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB(winner) | 128GB |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | — |
| Starting Storage(GB) | 128 | — |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — |
| Charging & Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe | — |
| 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 | — |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| Battery Life(hours) | 27 | — |
| GPU Performance(TFLOPS) | Baseline A18 Pro | — |
iPhone 16 ProShow 5 more attributes
Show 15 more attributes
Show 4 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·5 cons across both
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate provides immersive viewing
- 5x optical zoom with 10x digital zoom enables professional-grade telephoto photography
- 200MP main camera with f/1.7 aperture captures exceptional detail in various lighting
- S Pen stylus integration offers precision input for productivity and creative work
- 256GB base storage with microSD expansion up to 1TB provides maximum flexibility
Cons
- $300 higher starting price than iPhone 16 Pro limits accessibility
- Fragmented Android update policy provides shorter guaranteed support (4 years vs Apple's 7 years)
iPhone 16 Pro
Pros
- 27-hour battery life (typical day) outlasts competitors by 12-15% based on real-world usage
- A18 Pro chip delivers industry-leading AI processing for on-device computational photography
- 7 years of guaranteed OS updates ensures long-term software support and security
- Seamless integration with Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods ecosystem
- 48MP Fusion camera with advanced Night Mode produces superior low-light images
Cons
- 6.3-inch display is smaller, limiting content viewing and multitasking screen real estate
- Only 3x optical zoom versus competitor's 5x limits telephoto photography capabilities
- No storage expansion options and 128GB base model fills quickly for power users
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Both excel in different areas. The Galaxy S25 Ultra wins for zoom (5x vs 3x optical) and ultra-wide shots with its 50MP ultra-wide camera. The iPhone 16 Pro excels in low-light photography due to its computational Night Mode powered by the A18 Pro chip—iPhone 16 Pro produces cleaner night shots with less noise. For most users, iPhone edges out Galaxy for everyday photography, but Galaxy wins for professional zoom and travel photography.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
Where to Buy
As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate disclosure
Wikipedia
Related Comparisons
12 more to explore
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro
technologyiPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
productsSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Plus
productsSamsung Galaxy S25 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
productsiPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro
productsGoogle Pixel 9 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro
productsiPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
productsiPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
technologySamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S25+
technologyiPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
technologyiPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown
technologySamsung Galaxy S25 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
products
Related Articles
5 articles
- technology
Best Streaming Services in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget & Interest
Navigating the crowded streaming landscape in 2026 can be overwhelming. We've tested and ranked the best streaming services that offer the most value, from Netflix's massive library to budget-friendly options like Tubi, helping you cut cable and find your perfect entertainment solution.
Read article - technology
Best Live TV Streaming Services & Plans for Spring 2026: Complete Buyer's Guide
Tired of overpaying for cable? Discover the best live TV streaming services and plans for Spring 2026, including YouTube TV's new genre-based packages starting at $55/month. Our comprehensive guide breaks down pricing, channels, and features to help you cut the cord.
Read article - technology
Philo in 2026: Streaming TV Service Review, Pricing & Reddit Community Insights
Explore Philo's evolution heading into 2026, including pricing tiers, channel lineup, and how it compares to competitors like Sling TV. Discover what the r/PhiloTV Reddit community thinks about the service's current offerings and future prospects.
Read article - technology
Best US Fighter Jets 2026: Top American Combat Aircraft Ranked
Discover the most advanced US fighter jets dominating the skies in 2026. From the legendary F-22 Raptor to the versatile F-35 Lightning II, we rank America's best combat aircraft based on performance, stealth, and air superiority capabilities.
Read article - technology
Philo in 2026: Pricing, Lineup & How It Compares to Sling TV
As we head into 2026, Philo continues to position itself as an affordable streaming alternative for cable TV lovers. Discover what Philo offers, how its pricing stacks up against competitors like Sling TV, and what the Reddit community thinks about its future.
Read article
Explore More
Related comparisons and categories