iPhone 16 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2026 Flagship Showdown | aVersusB
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple's 2024 flagship with A18 Pro chip and Camera Control button
iOS users upgrading from iPhone 13/14, Apple ecosystem households, video creators
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung's top-tier Android flagship with 200MP camera, 6.9-inch display, and advanced AI features
Photographers, S Pen power users, battery-conscious travelers, Samsung ecosystem households
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe 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.
Read full verdictGalaxy 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.
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iOS users upgrading from iPhone 13/14, Apple ecosystem households, video creators
Choose Galaxy S25 Ultra if
Best pickPhotographers, S Pen power users, battery-conscious travelers, Samsung ecosystem households
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Battery life:✓ Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(5,000 mAh — ~8-9 hrs screen-on, 45W wired vs 3,582 mAh — ~6-7 hrs screen-on, 27W wired)
- Street price (May 2026):✓ iPhone 16 Pro wins($759 (Apple Certified Refurb) vs $999 (samsung.com sale) / $1,299 MSRP)
- Camera versatility:✓ Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 10MP 3x telephoto vs 48MP main + 12MP 5x periscope telephoto)
Key Facts & Figures
71 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight(kg) | 199 g | 218 g | |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.3 | — | — |
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | — | — |
| Weight(grams) | 187g | — | — |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — | — |
| Charging Speed(W) | 27W peak | 45W | |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | 200 MP f/1.7 | |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | $999 (sale) | |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz ProMotion | — | — |
| Main Camera(megapixels) | 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | — | — |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 3x optical | — | — |
| Video Recording | 4K at 120fps | — | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — | — |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | — | — |
| Optical Zoom Range(x magnification) | 5x maximum | — | — |
| Battery Capacity(kWh) | 3,582 mAh | 5,000 mAh | |
| Maximum Storage Capacity(GB) | 512GB | — | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.3 inches | — | — |
| Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) | 48MP (12MP output) | 200MP | |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | — | — |
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 45W | — | — |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 7 years | — | — |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — | — |
| Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) | 3,000 nits | — | — |
| Main Camera Megapixels(MP) | 12 MP | — | — |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~45 minutes (45W) | — | — |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 7 years guaranteed | — | — |
| Multi-core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | — | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120 Hz ProMotion | — | — |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.27 inches | 6.9-inch | |
| Battery Life(hours) | 27 | — | — |
| RAM(GB) | 8GB | 12 GB | |
| Starting Storage(GB) | 128 | — | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $999 | $1,299 | |
| Telephoto Resolution(MP) | 12MP | — | — |
| 4K Video Capability(fps) | 4K 60fps | — | — |
| CPU Performance (Single-core)(Geekbench 6 score) | 2,580 | — | — |
| GPU Performance(TFLOPS) | Baseline A18 Pro | — | — |
| Telephoto Zoom(x optical) | 12x dual telephoto system | — | — |
| CPU Performance Improvement(%) | 30% faster | — | — |
| Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) | ƒ/1.2 | — | — |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | 33 hours | — | — |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — | — |
| Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) | 3x (with improved processing) | — | — |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 27 hours | — | — |
| Optical Zoom Capability(x magnification) | 3x optical zoom | — | — |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1099 | — | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB | — | — |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 7 years | — | — |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 2000 nits | 3000 nits | |
| Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) | 12MP (120°) | 50MP (120°) | |
| Battery Life (Typical Use)(hours) | ~33 hours | ~36+ hours | |
| Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 5x optical | — | — |
| Processor GPU Cores(cores) | 6-core GPU | — | — |
| RAM Memory(GB) | 8GB | 12GB | |
| Base Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — | — |
| Wireless Charging Speed(W) | 25W | — | — |
| Display Brightness Peak(nits) | 2,000 nits (HDR) | — | — |
| Software Support Duration(years) | 7 years | — | — |
| CPU Performance Increase(%) | Baseline (A18 Pro) | — | — |
| Main Camera Sensor Size(inch) | 1/1.27" (larger) | — | — |
| Battery Endurance Rating(hours) | 22 | — | — |
| Thermal Throttling Reduction(%) | Standard baseline | — | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) | 3,358 | — | — |
| Main Camera Optical Zoom(x) | 3x | — | — |
| Battery Endurance (real-world)(hours) | ~26 hours | — | — |
| Storage Starting Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — | — |
| Software Update Guarantee(years) | 6-7 years (typical) | 7 years | |
| CPU Performance(% faster) | A18 Pro | — | — |
| Storage Base Model(GB) | 256 GB | — | — |
| Starting Price (Retail)(USD) | $999 | — | — |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
8 attributes compared head-to-head
- 3,582 mAh — ~6-7 hrs screen-on, 27W wiredBattery life5,000 mAh — ~8-9 hrs screen-on, 45W wired(winner)
- $759 (Apple Certified Refurb)(winner)Street price (May 2026)$999 (samsung.com sale) / $1,299 MSRP
- 48MP main + 12MP 5x periscope telephotoCamera versatility200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 10MP 3x telephoto(winner)
- 4K 120fps Dolby Vision + Log — best for creators(winner)Video quality8K 30fps — impressive but harder to edit
- Apple A18 Pro — leads single-coreChipsetSnapdragon 8 Elite — leads multi-core (~9,400 vs ~8,400 Geekbench multi)
- 6.3" LTPO OLED, 460 ppi, 2,000 nits HBMDisplay size6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 505 ppi, 2,600 nits peak(winner)
- NoneStylusS Pen (built-in)(winner)
- Apple: iMessage, Watch, AirPods, AirDrop, ContinuityEcosystem integrationSamsung: DeX, Galaxy Watch, Quick Share, Android openness
- Battery life
iPhone 16 Pro
3,582 mAh — ~6-7 hrs screen-on, 27W wired
Galaxy S25 Ultra
5,000 mAh — ~8-9 hrs screen-on, 45W wired(winner)
- Street price (May 2026)
iPhone 16 Pro
$759 (Apple Certified Refurb)(winner)
Galaxy S25 Ultra
$999 (samsung.com sale) / $1,299 MSRP
- Camera versatility
iPhone 16 Pro
48MP main + 12MP 5x periscope telephoto
Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 10MP 3x telephoto(winner)
- Video quality
iPhone 16 Pro
4K 120fps Dolby Vision + Log — best for creators(winner)
Galaxy S25 Ultra
8K 30fps — impressive but harder to edit
- Chipset
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple A18 Pro — leads single-core
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite — leads multi-core (~9,400 vs ~8,400 Geekbench multi)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight(kg) | 199 g(winner) | 218 g |
| Battery Life(hours) | 27 | — |
| Display Size(inches) | 6.3 | — |
| Display Technology | OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On | — |
| Display Resolution(pixels) | 2622×1206 (460 ppi) | 3120×1440 (505 ppi)(winner) |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | — |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.3 inches | — |
Show 5 more attributesDisplay Brightness (Peak)(nits) 3,000 nits — Display Refresh Rate(Hz) 120 Hz ProMotion — Display Size(inches) 6.27 inches 6.9-inch Peak Brightness(nits) 2000 nits 3000 nits Display Brightness Peak(nits) 2,000 nits (HDR) — | ||
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | — |
| Charging Speed(W) | 27W peak | 45W(winner) |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~45 minutes (45W) | — |
| Video Playback Battery Life(hours) | 33 hours | — |
| Battery Life (Typical)(hours) | 27 hours | — |
Show 2 more attributesBattery Endurance Rating(hours) 22 — Battery Endurance (real-world)(hours) ~26 hours — | ||
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | — |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite (8-core, 3nm) |
| Multi-core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | — |
| CPU Performance (Single-core)(Geekbench 6 score) | 2,580 | — |
| Main Processor | Apple A18 Pro | — |
Show 6 more attributesCPU Performance Improvement(%) 30% faster — Processor GPU Cores(cores) 6-core GPU — CPU Performance Increase(%) Baseline (A18 Pro) — Thermal Throttling Reduction(%) Standard baseline — Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 score) 3,358 — CPU Performance(% faster) A18 Pro — | ||
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP, f/1.78, OIS, sensor-shift | — |
| Telephoto Zoom | 5× optical (12 MP, 120mm eq.) | — |
| Main Camera(megapixels) | 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | — |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 3x optical | — |
| Video Recording | 4K at 120fps | — |
Show 19 more attributesOptical Zoom Range(x magnification) 5x maximum — Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) 48MP (12MP output) 200MP Optical Zoom Magnification(x) 5x optical — Main Camera Megapixels(MP) 12 MP — Main Camera Aperture(f-stop) f/1.78 — Telephoto Resolution(MP) 12MP — 4K Video Capability(fps) 4K 60fps — Video Recording Maximum 4K at 120fps, ProRes 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps Telephoto Zoom(x optical) 12x dual telephoto system — Ultra-Wide Camera Aperture(f-stop) ƒ/1.2 — Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) 3x (with improved processing) — Optical Zoom Capability(x magnification) 3x optical zoom — Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) 12MP (120°) 50MP (120°) Telephoto Zoom Range(x optical) 5x + 12x (dual periscope) 5x + 10x (dual periscope) Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) 5x optical — Main Camera Sensor Size(inch) 1/1.27" (larger) — Telephoto Camera(MP zoom) 12MP 5x optical — Main Camera Optical Zoom(x) 3x — Ultra-Wide Camera Autofocus Full autofocus — | ||
| Weight(grams) | 187g | — |
| Dimensions(mm) | 149.6 × 71.5 × 8.25 mm | — |
| Build Material | Titanium frame, textured matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front | — |
| Build Material(Type) | Grade 5 Titanium | — |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Starting Price (Retail)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | — |
| Maximum Storage Capacity(GB) | 512GB | — |
| Starting Storage(GB) | 128 | — |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB | — |
Show 3 more attributesBase Storage Capacity(GB) 256GB — Storage Starting Capacity(GB) 256GB — Storage Base Model(GB) 256 GB — | ||
| Charging & Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, UWB, MagSafe | — |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | 200 MP f/1.7(winner) |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb)(winner) | $999 (sale) |
| Stylus | None | S Pen (built-in) |
| IP Rating(rating) | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) | IP68 (1.5 m, 30 min) |
| Water Resistance Rating(meters) | IP69 (6m for 30 mins) | IP68 (1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Operating System | iOS 18 | One UI 7 / Android 15 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz ProMotion | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| Starting Price(USD) | $999(winner) | $1,299 |
| Frame Material | Grade 5 titanium | — |
| Battery Capacity(kWh) | 3,582 mAh | 5,000 mAh(winner) |
| Wired Charging Speed(W) | 45W | — |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 7 years | — |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 7 years guaranteed | — |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 7 years | — |
| RAM(GB) | 8GB | 12 GB(winner) |
| GPU Performance(TFLOPS) | Baseline A18 Pro | — |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1099 | — |
| Battery Life (Typical Use)(hours) | ~33 hours | ~36+ hours(winner) |
| RAM Memory(GB) | 8GB | 12GB(winner) |
| Wireless Charging Speed(W) | 25W | — |
| Software Support Duration(years) | 7 years | — |
| Maximum Video Recording(fps at resolution) | 4K @ 120fps | — |
| Software Update Guarantee(years) | 6-7 years (typical) | 7 years(winner) |
iPhone 16 ProGalaxy S25 UltraShow 5 more attributes
Show 2 more attributes
Show 6 more attributes
Show 19 more attributes
Show 3 more attributes
Pros & Cons
12 pros·12 cons across both
iPhone 16 Pro
Pros
Cons
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
It depends on your ecosystem and use case. 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.
For most buyers, iPhone 16 Pro Refurb at $759 is the better deal — the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, a $340 premium for incremental camera, A19 Pro, and first-day Apple Intelligence gains. Heavy users (>4 hrs/day, photo enthusiasts, gamers) benefit from the upgrade; everyone else is better served by the refurb.
Yes, unless you need the S26 Ultra's specific upgrades. At $999 the S25 Ultra saves $300 versus the $1,299 S26 Ultra and stays flagship-grade — the S Pen, 200 MP camera, and 5,000 mAh battery are unchanged year-over-year. The main argument for the S26 Ultra is its longer warranty horizon if Samsung Care+ matters to you.
Yes for most data, with caveats. Apple's Move to iOS and Samsung's Smart Switch transfer photos, contacts, calendar, music, messages, and most app data. iMessage threads convert to plain SMS on Android (you lose attachments, reactions, threading); Apple Watch does not pair with Android; some paid apps must be re-purchased; DRM media (iTunes movies, some audiobooks) usually doesn't transfer.
For video, yes — 4K 120fps Dolby Vision and Apple's color science give iPhone an edge for most shooters. For photos, Samsung wins on telephoto reach (3x + 5x dual telephoto vs Apple's single 5x) and resolution (200 MP vs 48 MP main). Both produce excellent photos in good light; Samsung pulls slightly ahead in extreme low light.
Galaxy S25 Ultra, by a comfortable margin. 5,000 mAh vs iPhone's 3,582 mAh translates to roughly 30-40% more screen-on time in mixed use and faster charging (45 W vs 27 W).
As of May 2026, Galaxy AI is more mature in feature breadth — Live Translate, Circle to Search, Now Brief, and generative photo edit all shipped earlier. Apple Intelligence is more privacy-aligned (most features run on-device or via Private Cloud Compute). If AI features are a key reason for the purchase, Galaxy is the safer pick today.
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