Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
Two brands, one target. The Galaxy S25 Ultra from Samsung and the iPhone 15 Pro Max from Apple compete head to head for flagship smartphone shoppers. Scoring each area separately, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes out on top 2 times out of 5. Its lead is sharpest in camera.
At a glance
- Display Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
- Battery & Charging Tie
- Price iPhone 15 Pro Max wins
- Display6.9
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera5.5
- Display6.0
- Memory & Storage4.5
- Camera2.2
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera
On main camera, the Galaxy S25 Ultra posts 200 MP against 48 MP for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a gap big enough to feel in everyday use. More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
-
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a dedicated 50 MP telephoto camera
This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison: 50 MP for the Galaxy S25 Ultra versus 12 MP for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Telephoto lenses earn their keep at concerts, school events and portraits: anywhere you can’t simply walk closer.
-
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has 30% higher peak brightness
The iPhone 15 Pro Max lists 2,000 nits; the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in at 2,600 nits. That’s not a rounding error. Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
-
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has an extra rear camera
At 4 versus 3, this is a decisive lead for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the kind of difference you notice without looking for it. The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra gives you more lenses to choose from.
-
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a sharper 50 MP ultra-wide
If ultra-wide camera is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Galaxy S25 Ultra leads clearly with 50 MP to the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 12 MP. A sharper ultra-wide keeps more detail at the edges of landscape, architecture and group shots.
Design & Size
- Galaxy S25 Ultra 6.41 in × 3.06 in × 0.32 in
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 6.30 in × 3.02 in × 0.32 in
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has the bigger footprint. That can mean more room to work with, but also more to carry, park or pocket. On weight, call it even.
Design & Build
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.41 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.69 oz | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Titanium |
Display
Galaxy S25 Ultra leads
The Galaxy S25 Ultra dominates the display section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with 30% higher peak brightness. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility. On display alone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra gets the nod.
Peak brightness
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 2,600 nits iPhone 15 Pro Max: 2,000 nits If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
Pixel density
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 498 ppi iPhone 15 Pro Max: 460 ppi The Galaxy S25 Ultra packs its pixels more tightly, which shows most in small text, fine patterns and zoomed-in photos.
Performance
Too close to call
The differences on performance are small enough to ignore in daily use. Both cover performance well enough that other priorities should break the tie.
CPU cores
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 8 iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6 Phone chips mix large and small cores, so a different count mostly reflects a different design rather than a clear speed gap.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
On paper, the memory & storage comparison ends all square. For memory & storage, pick whichever you prefer for other reasons.
Camera
Galaxy S25 Ultra leads
This is one of the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s strongest areas. On camera, the iPhone 15 Pro Max falls well short. The Galaxy S25 Ultra scores with a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer. Net result: the Galaxy S25 Ultra leads this part of the comparison.
Main camera
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 200 MP iPhone 15 Pro Max: 48 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Telephoto camera
Galaxy S25 Ultra: 50 MP iPhone 15 Pro Max: 12 MP A dedicated telephoto camera captures distant subjects and portraits without heavy cropping, which keeps detail intact.
Battery & Charging
Too close to call
There’s no meaningful winner in the battery & charging section; the two are too close to separate. In short, battery & charging is a draw; the decision lies elsewhere.
Software & Updates
Names, not numbers: the software & updates rows below show what each one is built with, and it’s worth reading them side by side.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.9 in | 6.7 in |
| Panel type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | OLED, ProMotion 120 Hz (Super Retina XDR) |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 2796 x 1290 |
| Pixel density | 498 ppi (winner) | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits (winner) | 2,000 nits |
| Always-on display | Yes | Yes |
Performance
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | A17 Pro |
| CPU cores | 8 | 6 |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| RAM | 12 GB | N/A (not specified) |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Max storage | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 200 MP (winner) | 48 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 50 MP (winner) | 12 MP |
| Telephoto camera | 50 MP (winner) | 12 MP |
| Optical zoom | 5× | 5× |
| Rear cameras | 4 (winner) | 3 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | 8K30 | 4K60 Dolby Vision |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh | N/A (not specified) |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | N/A (not specified) | 29 h |
| Wired charging | 45 W | N/A (not specified) |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C (USB 3, 10 Gb/s) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 15 (One UI 7) | iOS 17 |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | 7 years | N/A (not specified) |
Design & Build
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.41 in | 6.30 in |
| Width | 3.06 in | 3.02 in |
| Thickness | 0.32 in | 0.32 in |
| Weight | 7.69 oz | 7.80 oz |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Frame | Titanium | Titanium |
Price
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 15 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $1,300 | $1,199 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
Price barely moves the needle here: the Galaxy S25 Ultra launched $101 higher. Paying $101 extra for the Galaxy S25 Ultra means getting a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera and a dedicated 50 MP telephoto camera.
Launch prices (US) as of January 2025. Discounts and bundles come and go, so compare current prices before buying.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (200 MP vs 48 MP)
- you want the stronger telephoto camera (50 MP vs 12 MP)
- you use your phone outdoors a lot (2,600 nits vs 2,000 nits peak brightness)
- you want more lenses to choose from (4 vs 3 rear cameras)
Choose the iPhone 15 Pro Max if…
- you’d put the $101 saving toward something else
- you prefer something easier to fit into tight spaces
- you’re loyal to Apple and happy with it
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
For most people, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the stronger choice, unless saving $101 matters more to you than the extras.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The larger model here is the Galaxy S25 Ultra (6.41 × 3.06 × 0.32 in); the iPhone 15 Pro Max is more compact at 6.30 × 3.02 × 0.32 in.
Which has the better camera, the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
On paper, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has the stronger camera setup, with a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera and a dedicated 50 MP telephoto camera.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s?
Going by the numbers, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s screen comes out ahead: 30% higher peak brightness and 8.3% sharper pixel density.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the cheaper option, launching at $101 less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (launch prices as of January 2025).
Which weighs less, the Galaxy S25 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Neither by much. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max weigh almost the same.
Executive Summary
Let’s set the logos aside for a minute. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are close competitors, and their spec sheets tell an interesting story. To me, the standout is that the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a higher-resolution 200 MP main camera. There’s more, too: the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers 30% higher peak brightness.
If your days lean on display, I’d pick the Galaxy S25 Ultra; if they lean on price, the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
My pick: if it were my money, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, unless you’d rather keep $101 for something else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.