Samsung
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite · 6.9″ · 200 MP
93
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB wins by 3
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
A18 Pro · iOS · 256GB
96
/ 100
From $1,299
Specdex verdict
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Galaxy S25 Ultra lands at 93 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- ✓Huge anti-reflective 6.9″ display
- ✓200 MP sensor with 5× tele
- ✓S-Pen productivity
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Galaxy S25 Ultra 93
vs 96 iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
Score breakdown
Galaxy S25 Ultra
93 cpu 96
gpu 97
camera 94
battery 89
display 96
design 92
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
96 cpu 96
gpu 94
camera 95
battery 90
display 93
design 96
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 3120×1440 | — |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256GB |
| Rear camera | 200 MP + 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× + 50 MP UW | — |
| Front camera | 12 MP | — |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless | — |
| OS | Android 15, One UI 7 | iOS 18 |
| Weight | 218 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 | — |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- +Huge anti-reflective 6.9″ display
- +200 MP sensor with 5× tele
- +S-Pen productivity
Cons
- −Pricey storage tiers
- −AI features still maturing
- −Heavier in hand
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
Pros
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
Which is better, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Galaxy S25 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,299, Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in gpu.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB worth the price? +
At $1,299, iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.