Apple iPhone 15 vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra dominates with a larger 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (2600 nits) versus iPhone 15's 6.1-inch 60Hz OLED (2000 nits), delivering noticeably smoother scrolling and superior brightness. Camera capabilities heavily favor Samsung: its 200MP main sensor with OIS, dual telephoto setup (5x periscope + 3x), and 50MP ultrawide crush iPhone 15's 48MP single camera and 12MP ultrawide, especially for zoom and video work. Performance differences narrow considerably—Snapdragon 8 Elite matches A16 Bionic in real-world tasks, though Samsung's 12GB RAM versus iPhone's 6GB provides better multitasking headroom. Battery life strongly favors Samsung: 5000mAh capacity with 45W charging outpaces iPhone's 3349mAh and 20W wired charging. iPhone 15 excels in software optimization, ecosystem integration, and thermal efficiency despite being lighter (171g vs 218g). For camera enthusiasts and power users, Samsung's technical superiority justifies the $500 premium. Budget-conscious users finding flagship performance sufficient should consider iPhone 15's excellent value proposition and iOS reliability.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple iPhone 15 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 171 g | 218 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.9 |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP 5x periscope + 10 MP 3x |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3349 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W Qi2 |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 3120 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 15
Pros
- Dynamic Island brought to base model
- 48 MP main camera upgrade
- Switched to USB-C port
- Strong A16 Bionic performance
- Comfortable lightweight design
Cons
- Stuck at 60Hz refresh rate
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- 7 years of OS and security updates
Cons
- Very expensive at $1299 starting price
- S Pen lost Bluetooth remote features
- Charging speed still capped at 45W
- Large and heavy for one-handed use
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