In 2025, smartphone lovers are watching one of the most heated battles in the tech world: the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Both devices represent the very best from their companies, offering powerful performance, new features, and premium designs.
This comparison looks at every key aspect, including design, display, performance, cameras, battery life, software, and prices in Pakistan.
Design and Build Quality
Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro continues the company’s tradition of using titanium frames with a polished, durable finish. The phone is slightly lighter than its predecessor, making it more comfortable to hold. The flat edges and minimalistic look are classic Apple style.
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, on the other hand, comes with a refined aluminum armor frame and Gorilla Glass Armor protection. It has a curved-edge design and slimmer bezels, giving it a futuristic feel. The S Pen, which is unique to Samsung’s Ultra lineup, adds extra value for users who love productivity features.
Verdict: iPhone 16 Pro looks premium and minimalist, while Galaxy S25 Ultra feels more futuristic and practical with its S Pen support.
Display
- iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, peak brightness up to 2,500 nits for outdoor visibility.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, peak brightness up to 3,000 nits.
Samsung clearly wins on size and brightness, making it more appealing for movie lovers and gamers. Apple’s panel is slightly smaller but delivers perfect color accuracy and HDR quality.
Verdict: Samsung S25 Ultra leads in size and brightness, but iPhone 16 Pro offers excellent color accuracy for creative users.
Performance
- iPhone 16 Pro: Powered by Apple’s new A18 Pro chip, built on 3nm technology, offering industry-leading performance in gaming, video editing, and AI tasks.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (for Galaxy) in most regions, which brings major improvements in AI computing and graphics.
Both chips are extremely powerful, but benchmarks show Apple’s A18 Pro still slightly ahead in raw performance. Samsung, however, is better optimized for AI-based features like live translation, photo editing, and on-device assistants.
Verdict: Apple wins in raw performance; Samsung excels in AI features.
Cameras
- iPhone 16 Pro:
- 48MP main sensor
- 12MP ultra-wide
- New 5x telephoto zoom (exclusive to Pro models)
- Improved Photonic Engine for night photography
- Galaxy S25 Ultra:
- 200MP main sensor
- 12MP ultra-wide
- 50MP telephoto (5x zoom)
- 50MP periscope telephoto (10x zoom)
Samsung’s S25 Ultra is the ultimate zoom champion with its 10x periscope lens, making it perfect for wildlife and sports photography. Apple focuses more on natural tones, video recording stability, and cinematic mode, which remains unmatched for content creators.
Verdict: Samsung wins in zoom and detail; iPhone wins in video and natural photography.
Battery Life and Charging
- iPhone 16 Pro: Around 3,500mAh battery, 30W wired fast charging, 20W MagSafe wireless charging. Apple claims all-day usage with improved efficiency.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 5,500mAh battery, 65W wired fast charging, 25W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
Clearly, Samsung dominates in battery size and charging speed. The iPhone lasts long due to software optimization, but Samsung’s larger battery and faster charging are more practical for heavy users.
Verdict: Samsung S25 Ultra wins in battery and charging.
Software and Ecosystem
- iPhone 16 Pro: Runs iOS 18 with major AI updates, improved Siri, and deeper integration with Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, Apple Watch).
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Runs One UI 7 based on Android 15, with Galaxy AI features for translation, photo editing, and voice assistance.
If you already own Apple devices, the iPhone is the best choice due to its seamless ecosystem. Samsung’s One UI is highly customizable and offers more freedom.
Verdict: Apple ecosystem is unmatched, but Samsung is better for customization and flexibility.
Price in Pakistan (September 2025)
- iPhone 16 Pro: Starting price around PKR 425,000 (base model).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Starting price around PKR 410,000 (base model).
Both are expensive, but Samsung offers slightly more value for money with bigger display, larger battery, and S Pen. Apple remains attractive for users loyal to iOS.
Final Verdict: Which One to Buy?
- Choose iPhone 16 Pro if you want:
- Best-in-class performance
- Premium design with titanium build
- Seamless Apple ecosystem
- Superior video recording quality
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want:
- Bigger display and brighter screen
- Longer battery life and faster charging
- S Pen productivity tools
- Best zoom camera in the market
In the end, both are true 2025 flagships, and the choice depends on whether you prefer Apple’s controlled ecosystem or Samsung’s feature-rich Android experience.
