When I first used the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, I was surprised. Despite minimal changes to the camera hardware compared to the S24 Ultra, Samsung’s new software upgrades made noticeable improvements. The skin tones were more accurate, and the details popped like never before. With these enhancements, can Samsung dethrone the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which decisively won last year? Let’s dive into the ultimate showdown, capturing my dream weekend in London.
Improved Camera Experience
Samsung has made significant tweaks to its camera app:
- Simplified interface: Features like AR emojis are gone, and settings are easier to access with one hand.
- Faster performance: Switching modes, zooming, and capturing photos are quicker.
- Anti-reflective display: Shooting on sunny days is now effortless.
While Apple’s app remains slightly faster and smoother (especially in low light), Samsung has closed the gap and offers more tweakability. Winner: Samsung
Audio Quality
Samsung introduced an AI-powered Audio Eraser that filters out background noise in videos. While impressive, the iPhone still edges out with its superior microphone system, using four mics to isolate unwanted sounds better.
Winner: iPhone
Video Quality
Samsung’s video capabilities have taken a big leap forward:
- Daylight videos: Brighter and more detailed compared to the S24 Ultra.
- Mid-light improvements: New processing separates moving and static objects for smoother results.
- Low-light videos: Noticeably less noise in the sky and background.
Despite these improvements, the iPhone still wins in extreme low-light scenarios with better clarity and less noise. Winner: Draw (daylight to Samsung, low-light to iPhone)
Zoom Performance
The S25 Ultra dominates this category with two telephoto cameras:
- 3x Zoom: Crisp and clear compared to the iPhone.
- 5x Zoom: Superior detail thanks to its 50MP telephoto lens.
- Beyond 5x Zoom: Samsung consistently outperforms Apple despite occasional over-sharpening.
Samsung’s improved hardware and software make it the clear winner for zoomed-in video.
Winner: Samsung
Photo Quality
- Main cameras: Apple captures sharper, higher-resolution (24MP) photos by default, while Samsung sticks to 12MP, resulting in softer details upon zooming.
- Ultra-wide: Samsung’s new 50MP ultra-wide camera matches Apple’s for clarity. Both phones now avoid colour shifts when switching between lenses.
- Editing features: Samsung shines with advanced tools like object resizing, reflection removal, and AI-generated scene enhancements that Apple can’t match.
While Apple wins for default photo resolution, Samsung takes the editing category.
Winner: Draw
Selfies
Samsung has significantly improved skin tones and textures, achieving a natural yet vibrant look. The S25 Ultra handles selfies better than the iPhone, especially in good lighting. However, thanks to optical image stabilization, Apple still leads in selfie videos.
Winner: Samsung (photos), iPhone (videos)
Special Modes
- Macro photography: Samsung’s 50MP ultra-wide camera produces sharper, more detailed macro shots than Apple’s.
- Action mode (stabilization): Apple maintains an edge, delivering smoother stabilization for video.
- Portrait mode: In most conditions, Samsung offers better edge detection and a more visually appealing style.
Winner: Split – Samsung for portraits and macro; Apple for stabilization.
Nighttime Performance
Samsung has improved its low-light performance, but its technique relies heavily on smoothing, which sacrifices detail. The iPhone consistently produces cleaner, sharper footage and photos in the dark, with less reliance on post-processing.
Winner: iPhone
Final Verdict
After scoring across categories, the iPhone 16 Pro Max edges out the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a score of 6–5. While Samsung offers impressive features and has made huge strides in video and zoom, Apple’s consistency, especially in low light and video stabilization, keeps it ahead.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you value zoom, editing options, and advanced features, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is compelling. But if you’re after polished video, consistent low-light performance, and optimized hardware-software synergy, the iPhone 16 Pro Max still reigns supreme.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the full review!