iPhone 16 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra 2026
The iPhone 16 Pro excels in processing power and video stabilization with its A18 Pro chip and advanced computational photography, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers superior display brightness (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits), larger storage options up to 1TB, and more versatile camera zoom with 200MP resolution. iPhone 16 Pro appeals to iOS users prioritizing ecosystem integration and raw performance, while Galaxy S25 Ultra targets Android users who value display quality and expandable storage potential.
iPhone 16 Pro
Apple's flagship smartphone with A18 Pro chip and advanced computational photography
Apple ecosystem users, video creators prioritizing stabilization, professionals needing raw processing power
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung's premium Android flagship with 200MP camera, 1TB storage, and 3,000-nit display
Android users, mobile photographers, power users with large media libraries, outdoor enthusiasts
Quick Answer
AI SummaryThe iPhone 16 Pro excels in processing power and video stabilization with its A18 Pro chip and advanced computational photography, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers superior display brightness (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits), larger storage options up to 1TB, and more versatile camera zoom with 200MP resolution. iPhone 16 Pro appeals to iOS users prioritizing ecosystem integration and raw performance, while Galaxy S25 Ultra targets Android users who value display quality and expandable storage potential.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose the iPhone 16 Pro if you prioritize raw computational performance, seamless Apple ecosystem integration, superior video stabilization, and the latest A18 Pro processor that leads in single-core benchmarks. Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you need a brighter display for outdoor use, prefer the versatility of 200MP native resolution, want more storage capacity (1TB option), longer optical zoom range (10x), and a larger battery with significantly more capacity (4,900 mAh).
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Choose iPhone 16 Pro if
Apple ecosystem users, video creators prioritizing stabilization, professionals needing raw processing power
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if
Best pickAndroid users, mobile photographers, power users with large media libraries, outdoor enthusiasts
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Display Peak Brightness:✓ Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits)
- Main Camera Resolution:✓ Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins(200MP native vs 48MP with 12MP output)
- Processor Performance (Single-Core):✓ iPhone 16 Pro wins(A18 Pro - 2,800+ points vs Snapdragon 8 Elite - 2,650+ points)
Key Facts & Figures
77 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight(grams) | 199 grams | 218 grams | |
| 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 | — | — |
| Main Camera(MP) | 48 MP f/1.78 | — | — |
| Street Price (May 2026)(USD) | $759 (Certified Refurb) | — | — |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz ProMotion | 120 Hz | |
| Main Camera(megapixels) | 48MP with f/1.8 aperture | — | — |
| Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 3x optical | 10x optical | |
| Video Recording | 4K at 120fps | — | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — | — |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | 3,000 nits | |
| Optical Zoom Range(x magnification) | 5x maximum | 10x optical zoom | |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh | 4,900 mAh | |
| Maximum Storage Capacity(GB) | 512GB | 1,024GB (1TB) | |
| Display Diagonal Size(inches) | 6.3 inches | 6.8 inches | |
| Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) | 48MP (12MP output) | 200MP native | |
| Optical Zoom Magnification(x) | 5x optical | 5x optical | |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 45W | 45W | |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 7 years | 4 years | |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | $1,299 | |
| Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | |
| Main Camera Megapixels(MP) | 48MP | 200 MP | |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~45 minutes (45W) | ~30 minutes (120W) | |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 7 years guaranteed | 4 years guaranteed | |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | A18 Pro - 2,800+ | Snapdragon 8 Elite - 2,650+ | |
| Multi-core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | — | — |
| Display Refresh Rate(Hz) | 120 (ProMotion) | 120 Hz | |
| Display Size(inches diagonal) | 6.27 inches | 6.86 inches | |
| 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) | Up to 27 hours | — | — |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — | — |
| Telephoto Zoom Capability(x optical zoom) | 3x (with improved processing) | — | — |
| Battery Life (typical)(hours) | 27 hours | 24 hours | |
| Optical Zoom Capability(x magnification) | 3x optical zoom | 5x optical zoom | |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1099 | $1,299 | |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB | 256GB | |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 7 years | 4 years | |
| Peak Brightness(nits) | 2000 nits | 3000 nits | |
| Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) | 12MP (120°) | — | — |
| Battery Life (typical use)(hours) | ~33 hours | — | — |
| Software Update Guarantee(Years) | 7 years | — | — |
| Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) | 5x optical | 10x optical | |
| Processor GPU Cores(cores) | 6-core GPU | — | — |
| RAM Memory(GB) | 8GB | — | — |
| 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) | 1/1.3" | — |
| Battery Endurance Rating(hours) | 22 | — | — |
| Thermal Throttling Reduction(%) | Standard baseline | — | — |
| Display Pixel Density(ppi) | 498 ppi | 498 ppi | |
| RAM (base configuration)(GB) | 12 GB | 12 GB | |
| Optical Zoom (Telephoto)(x magnification) | 10x optical | 10x optical | |
| Processor Performance (AnTuTu Benchmark)(score) | Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,100,000 | Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,100,000 | |
| Telephoto Sensor Resolution(MP) | 200 MP | 200 MP | |
| Device Weight(grams) | 233g | 233g | |
| RAM Standard(GB) | 12GB | 12GB | |
| Peak Display Brightness(nits) | 3,000 nits | 3,000 nits | |
| Telephoto Optical Zoom(x zoom) | 10x optical | 10x optical | |
| Estimated Battery Life(hours) | ~27 hours typical | ~27 hours typical | |
| Body Weight(grams) | 218g | 218g | |
| Starting Price (256GB)(USD) | $1,399 | $1,399 |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- 2,000 nitsDisplay Peak Brightness3,000 nits(winner)
- 48MP with 12MP outputMain Camera Resolution200MP native(winner)
- A18 Pro - 2,800+ points(winner)Processor Performance (Single-Core)Snapdragon 8 Elite - 2,650+ points
- 512GBMaximum Storage1TB(winner)
- 5x max telephotoOptical Zoom Range10x optical zoom(winner)
- Action mode with 9-axis gyroscope(winner)Video StabilizationSnapdragon-assisted with OIS
- 3,582 mAhBattery Capacity4,900 mAh(winner)
- Display Peak Brightness
iPhone 16 Pro
2,000 nits
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
3,000 nits(winner)
- Main Camera Resolution
iPhone 16 Pro
48MP with 12MP output
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
200MP native(winner)
- Processor Performance (Single-Core)
iPhone 16 Pro
A18 Pro - 2,800+ points(winner)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite - 2,650+ points
- Maximum Storage
iPhone 16 Pro
512GB
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
1TB(winner)
- Optical Zoom Range
iPhone 16 Pro
5x max telephoto
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
10x optical zoom(winner)
- Video Stabilization
iPhone 16 Pro
Action mode with 9-axis gyroscope(winner)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon-assisted with OIS
- Battery Capacity
iPhone 16 Pro
3,582 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
4,900 mAh(winner)
Full Comparison
| Attribute | iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight(grams) | 199 grams(winner) | 218 grams |
| 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 | — |
Show 2 more attributesDevice Weight(grams) 233g — Body Weight(grams) 218g — | ||
| Display Size(inches) | 6.3 | — |
| Display Technology | OLED Super Retina XDR, ProMotion 120Hz, Always-On | — |
| Display Resolution(pixels) | 2622×1206 (460 ppi) | 486 PPI(winner) |
| Refresh Rate(Hz) | 1-120Hz ProMotion | 120 Hz |
| Display Peak Brightness(nits) | 2,000 nits | 3,000 nits(winner) |
Show 8 more attributesDisplay Diagonal Size(inches) 6.3 inches 6.8 inches Display Brightness (Peak)(nits) 3,000 nits 3,000 nits Display Refresh Rate(Hz) 120 (ProMotion) 120 Hz Display Size(inches diagonal) 6.27 inches 6.86 inches Peak Brightness(nits) 2000 nits 3000 nits Display Brightness Peak(nits) 2,000 nits (HDR) — Display Pixel Density(ppi) 498 ppi — Peak Display Brightness(nits) 3,000 nits — | ||
| Battery Life (Video Playback)(hours) | 27 hrs | — |
| Charging Speed(W) | 27W peak | — |
| Battery Capacity(mAh) | 3,582 mAh | 4,900 mAh(winner) |
| Wired Charging Speed(watts) | 45W | 45W |
| Wired Charging Speed (Full Charge)(minutes) | ~45 minutes (45W) | ~30 minutes (120W)(winner) |
Show 4 more attributesVideo Playback Battery Life(hours) Up to 27 hours — Battery Life (typical use)(hours) ~33 hours — Battery Endurance Rating(hours) 22 — Estimated Battery Life(hours) ~27 hours typical — | ||
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3nm) | — |
| Processor Single-Core Performance(Geekbench 6 points) | A18 Pro - 2,800+(winner) | Snapdragon 8 Elite - 2,650+ |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro | — |
| Multi-core Performance Gain(%) | Baseline | — |
| Battery Life(hours) | 27 | — |
Show 11 more attributesCPU Performance (Single-core)(Geekbench 6 score) 2,580 — GPU Performance(TFLOPS) Baseline A18 Pro — Main Processor Apple A18 Pro — CPU Performance Improvement(%) 30% faster — Battery Life (typical)(hours) 27 hours 24 hours Processor GPU Cores(cores) 6-core GPU — RAM Memory(GB) 8GB — CPU Performance Increase(%) Baseline (A18 Pro) — Thermal Throttling Reduction(%) Standard baseline — Processor Performance (Single-Core)(Geekbench 6 score) Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy — Processor Performance (AnTuTu Benchmark)(score) Snapdragon 8 Elite: ~2,100,000 — | ||
| 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 | 10x optical(winner) |
| Video Recording | 4K at 120fps | — |
Show 21 more attributesOptical Zoom Range(x magnification) 5x maximum 10x optical zoom Main Camera Resolution(megapixels) 48MP (12MP output) 200MP native Optical Zoom Magnification(x) 5x optical 5x optical Main Camera Megapixels(MP) 48MP 200 MP Main Camera Aperture(f-stop) f/1.78 f/1.7 Telephoto Resolution(MP) 12MP — 4K Video Capability(fps) 4K 60fps — Video Recording Maximum 4K at 120fps, ProRes — 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 5x optical zoom Ultra-Wide Camera(megapixels) 12MP (120°) — Telephoto Zoom Range(x optical) 5x + 12x (dual periscope) 5x optical + 10x periscope Maximum Optical Zoom(x magnification) 5x optical 10x optical Main Camera Sensor Size(inch) 1/1.27" (larger) 1/1.3" Telephoto Camera(MP zoom) 12MP 5x optical — Optical Zoom (Telephoto)(x magnification) 10x optical — Telephoto Sensor Resolution(MP) 200 MP — Telephoto Optical Zoom(x zoom) 10x optical — Video Recording Max Specification(resolution and fps) 8K at 30fps — | ||
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $999 | — |
| Base Model Price (USD)(USD) | $999(winner) | $1,299 |
| Starting Price(USD) | $999(winner) | $1,299 |
| Starting Price (USD)(USD) | $1099(winner) | $1,299 |
| Starting Price (256GB)(USD) | $1,399 | — |
| Storage Options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | — |
| Maximum Storage Capacity(GB) | 512GB | 1,024GB (1TB)(winner) |
| Starting Storage(GB) | 128 | — |
| Starting Storage Capacity(GB) | 256GB | — |
| Base Storage(GB) | 256GB | 256GB |
Show 1 more attributeBase 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) | — |
| Water Resistance Rating(meters) | IP69 (6m for 30 mins) | — |
| Operating System | iOS 18 | — |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) | — |
| Base Price(USD) | $999 | — |
| Frame Material | Grade 5 titanium | — |
| Major OS Update Support(years) | 7 years(winner) | 4 years |
| Software Support (OS Updates)(years) | 7 years guaranteed(winner) | 4 years guaranteed |
| OS Update Guarantee(years) | 7 years(winner) | 4 years |
| RAM(GB) | 8GB | 12 GB(winner) |
| RAM (base configuration)(GB) | 12 GB | — |
| RAM Standard(GB) | 12GB | — |
| Software Update Guarantee(Years) | 7 years | — |
| Wireless Charging Speed(W) | 25W | — |
| Software Support Duration(years) | 7 years | — |
| Integrated Stylus Support | S Pen (Wired) | — |
| S Pen Stylus Included | Yes | — |
iPhone 16 ProSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraShow 2 more attributes
Show 8 more attributes
Show 4 more attributes
Show 11 more attributes
Show 21 more attributes
Show 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
iPhone 16 Pro
Pros
- A18 Pro chip delivers 2,800+ single-core points, fastest mobile processor available
- Advanced Action mode with 9-axis gyroscope provides studio-quality video stabilization
- Seamless integration with Apple Watch, AirPods, MacBook, and iCloud ecosystem
- ProMotion 120Hz display with adaptive refresh rates from 1-120Hz for efficiency
- Titanium build with IP69 water and dust resistance up to 6 meters for 30 minutes
Cons
- Maximum 512GB storage is significantly less than Galaxy S25 Ultra's 1TB option
- 2,000 nits peak brightness is 1,000 nits lower than Galaxy S25 Ultra in outdoor use
- No microSD card slot eliminates expandable storage option completely
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- 3,000 nits peak brightness (50% brighter) ensures exceptional outdoor visibility and HDR performance
- 200MP main camera sensor captures native resolution for superior cropping flexibility and detail
- 10x optical zoom with periscope telephoto provides 3x more zoom range than iPhone 16 Pro
- 4,900 mAh battery is 36% larger than iPhone 16 Pro (4,582 vs 3,582 mAh) for extended use
- 1TB storage option accommodates 8x more local content than iPhone 16 Pro's max 512GB
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Elite scores 150-200 points lower in single-core benchmarks versus A18 Pro
- Heavier at 218g compared to iPhone 16 Pro's 199g creates noticeable weight difference
- Samsung One UI can require 2-3 additional taps for common functions versus iOS's streamlined navigation
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
iPhone 16 Pro edges out with the A18 Pro chip scoring 150+ points higher in single-core benchmarks (2,800 vs 2,650), providing marginally faster app launches and smoother gaming at 120fps. Both phones handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at maximum settings, but the iPhone 16 Pro's superior optimization across iOS maintains more consistent frame rates. The difference is noticeable but subtle—Galaxy S25 Ultra remains exceptionally capable for gaming.
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