Compare models

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra

Shop phones
  • Finance over 12, 24 or 36 Months
  • 70 Point TechCheck®
  • Free Next-Day UK Delivery*
  • 12 Month Warranty

Starting at

£671.54

£1,199 new

See options

Starting at

£604.79

£1,249 new

See options
iPhone 16 Pro MaxStarting at £671.54See options
Galaxy S25 UltraStarting at £604.79See options
3.0/5 (2 reviews)
No reviews yet

In a nutshell

They share the same 6.9-inch screen size, the same 120Hz refresh rate and the same IP68 rating. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has the lower launch price and faster USB transfers. The Galaxy S25 Ultra counters with longer OS support until about 2032 (est.), more memory with 12GB of RAM and a brighter 2600-nit screen.

At 256GB, the iPhone 16 Pro Max launched at £1199 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at £1249.

Available models

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

Galaxy S25 Ultra

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great, Good

Durability

iPhone 16 Pro Max 88/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 94/100

The Galaxy S25 Ultra should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2032 (est.) against about 2031 (est.) on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Software support:The iPhone 16 Pro Max should get OS updates until about 2031 (est.) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra until about 2032 (est.). That gives the Galaxy S25 Ultra the longer support window.

Front glass:The iPhone 16 Pro Max has Ceramic Shield on the front and the Galaxy S25 Ultra Gorilla Armor 2.

Weight:The iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 227g and the Galaxy S25 Ultra 218g, so the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the lighter phone.

Water and dust:Both are rated IP68, the same protection against dust and water.

Released

2024
2025Newer

Updates until (est.)

2031
2032Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Titanium
Titanium

Weight

227g
218gLighter

Release date

20 September 2024
7 February 2025

Front glass

Ceramic Shield
Gorilla Armor 2

Dimensions

163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm
162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
–

Repairability

EU repairability class C
EU repairability class C

Security updates until

–
2032

Performance

iPhone 16 Pro Max 79/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 94/100

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has more memory, 12GB against 8GB.

Chip:The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs the A18 Pro and the Galaxy S25 Ultra the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy.

Memory:The Galaxy S25 Ultra has 12GB of RAM against 8GB on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

AI features:The iPhone 16 Pro Max supports Apple Intelligence and the Galaxy S25 Ultra supports Galaxy AI.

Storage:Both launched in the same 256GB, 512GB and 1TB sizes.

Chip

A18 Pro
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

RAM

8GB
12GBMore memory

Storage options

256GB, 512GB, 1TB
256GB, 512GB, 1TB

AI features

Yes
Yes

Screen quality

iPhone 16 Pro Max 90/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 97/100

The same 6.9-inch size and the same 120Hz refresh rate on both.

Panel:The iPhone 16 Pro Max uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2868 x 1320 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 3120 x 1440.

Brightness:The Galaxy S25 Ultra peaks at 2600 nits against 2000 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, by the makers' figures, so it is easier to read in bright sun.

Screen size

6.9"
6.9"

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Refresh rate

120Hz
120Hz

Resolution

2868 x 1320
3120 x 1440

Peak brightness

2000 nits (maker figure)
2600 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone 16 Pro Max 83/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 83/100

The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the higher-resolution 200MP main camera.

Main camera:The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 200MP main camera against 48MP on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which leaves more detail to crop into.

Ultrawide:The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 48MP ultrawide and the Galaxy S25 Ultra a 50MP one.

Video:The iPhone 16 Pro Max records video at up to 4K 120fps Dolby Vision and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at up to 8K 30fps.

Zoom:Both have a 5x optical telephoto, the same reach.

Main camera

48MP
200MPMore megapixels

Ultrawide

48MP
50MPMore megapixels

Telephoto

12MP
50MPBetter telephoto

Optical zoom

5x
5x

Front camera

12MP
12MP

Video recording

4K 120fps Dolby Vision
8K 30fps

Battery

iPhone 16 Pro Max 96/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 79/100

Battery

4685mAh
5000mAhBigger battery

Wired charging

–
45W

Wireless charging

MagSafe 25W, Qi2 25W
Qi, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0

Video playback (maker)

Up to 33 hours
Up to 31 hours

Connectivity

iPhone 16 Pro Max 91/100
Galaxy S25 Ultra 88/100

Both have 5G and the same Wi-Fi 7.

Port:The iPhone 16 Pro Max has USB-C (USB 3, 10Gb/s) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1). The iPhone 16 Pro Max's port moves files faster over a cable.

SIM:The iPhone 16 Pro Max takes Nano-SIM + eSIM and the Galaxy S25 Ultra Dual Nano-SIM or Nano-SIM + eSIM.

Bluetooth:The iPhone 16 Pro Max has Bluetooth 5.3 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra Bluetooth 5.4.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

USB-C (USB 3, 10Gb/s)
USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Dual Nano-SIM or Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.4

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max if you want the lower launch price and faster USB transfers. Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want longer OS support until about 2032 (est.) and more memory with 12GB of RAM.

Buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want faster USB transfers
Shop from £671.54

Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra if

  • You want longer OS support until about 2032 (est.)
  • You want more memory with 12GB of RAM
  • You want a brighter 2600-nit screen
Shop from £604.79

FAQs

The iPhone 16 Pro Max should get OS updates until about 2031 (est.) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra until about 2032 (est.). That gives the Galaxy S25 Ultra the longer support window.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

See all articles

Our recent comparisons

All comparisons