Samsung Galaxy S25
SD8 Elite for Galaxy · 6.2″ · 4000 mAh
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)
A18 Pro · iOS · 128GB · US Carrier
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Samsung Galaxy S25 lands at 91 and iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) at 96. That puts iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Samsung Galaxy S25 if…
- ✓Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- ✓Compact 6.2″ form factor with flagship specs
- ✓7 years of Android OS upgrades
Pick iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) if…
- ✓iOS ecosystem
- ✓Long update support
- ✓Polished hardware
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)Stills and video quality across lenses
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) leads on camera (95 vs 89).
Battery life
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)Screen-on time and charging
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) leads on battery (90 vs 84).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Samsung Galaxy S25Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Samsung Galaxy S25 more score per dollar ($799 vs $1,199).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25 | iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2″ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 2340×1080, 120 Hz, 2600 nits peak | — |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 128 / 256 / 512 GB UFS 4.0 | 128GB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP wide + 10 MP 3× tele + 12 MP UW | — |
| Front camera | 12 MP | — |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 25 W wired, 15 W Qi2 wireless | — |
| Weight | 162 g | — |
| IP rating | IP68 | — |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | iOS 18 |
| Release year | — | 2024 |
Samsung Galaxy S25
- +Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- +Compact 6.2″ form factor with flagship specs
- +7 years of Android OS upgrades
- −Charging stuck at 25 W wired
- −No telephoto upgrade vs S24
- −Base storage still 128 GB
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)
- +iOS ecosystem
- +Long update support
- +Polished hardware
- −Premium pricing
- −Limited customization
- −Lightning/USB-C split across generations
FAQ: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)
Which is better, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Samsung Galaxy S25 worth the price? +
At $799, Samsung Galaxy S25 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) 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.
Which is better for photography, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) — leads on camera (95 vs 89). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier)? +
iPhone 16 Pro Max 128GB (US Carrier) — leads on battery (90 vs 84). Screen-on time and charging.