Head to head
iPhone 16 Pro vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
The two phones most people cross-shop, separated by ecosystem more than capability.
The short answer
Take the S25 Ultra if you want the telephoto and the stylus, the iPhone if you film video or plan to sell it in three years. Both are excellent; neither is worth list price.
- iPhone 16 Pro
- 9.1 out of 10 · from $929
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 9 out of 10 · from $1,149
Apple
iPhone 16 Pro
Still the phone to beat on video and long-term software support, provided you never pay Apple's own price for it.
Performance9.5
Value for money7.8
Design and build9.3
Reliability9.4
Pros
- Best-in-class video capture in any lighting
- Software support measured in years, not months
- Strongest resale value of any phone here
Cons
- Poor value at Apple's own list price
- Base storage remains inadequate
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Beats the iPhone on screen, zoom and sheer flexibility, and Samsung discounts it far harder within months of launch.
Performance9.4
Value for money8.2
Design and build8.8
Reliability9.0
Pros
- Genuine 5x optical telephoto
- Brightest display we have measured on a phone
- Seven years of OS updates
Cons
- Physically large and heavy
- Priced at the very top of the market
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