Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. Apple iPhone 16 Pro: A Comprehensive Comparison
Introduction
The Samsung Galaxy S25 and Apple iPhone 16 Pro stand as formidable contenders among the elite tier of compact flagship smartphones. Boasting the latest in hardware and software advancements, these devices offer distinct user experiences tailored to their respective ecosystems. This comprehensive comparison delves into the intricate details of these two powerhouses, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and key differentiators.
Design and Build Quality
In terms of design, the Galaxy S25 exhibits a more compact and lightweight form factor. Its dimensions of 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm and weight of 162 grams make it more portable and comfortable to hold in the palm. Conversely, the iPhone 16 Pro measures 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm and weighs 199 grams, resulting in a noticeably heavier and thicker feel.
The iPhone 16 Pro boasts a more durable construction with its titanium frame and Ceramic Shield glass, providing enhanced protection against scratches and drops. The Galaxy S25, on the other hand, utilizes an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, which offers a lighter yet slightly less robust structure. Both devices are IP68 certified, indicating their ability to withstand water submersion, but the iPhone 16 Pro takes the edge with its increased water resistance of up to 6 meters compared to the S25’s 1.5 meters.
Display
Both the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 Pro feature vibrant LTPO OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate. The S25’s 6.2-inch screen boasts a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and a pixel density of 416 ppi. The iPhone 16 Pro’s 6.3-inch display offers a higher resolution of 1206×2622 pixels and a pixel density of 460 ppi, resulting in sharper details and images.
While both panels deliver excellent color reproduction and viewing angles, the iPhone 16 Pro gains an advantage with its support for Dolby Vision, providing an enhanced HDR experience with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. In terms of maximum brightness, the iPhone 16 Pro outperforms the S25 with a brightness of 1764 nits compared to the latter’s 1395 nits.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s screen design employs a notch at the top, which occupies more screen area than the Galaxy S25’s punch-hole camera placement. However, this notch houses advanced face-recognition sensors that enable secure biometric authentication via Face ID.
Battery Performance
Battery endurance is a crucial factor in smartphone usage, and both the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 Pro offer distinct strengths and weaknesses in this area.
The Galaxy S25 features a slightly larger battery capacity of 4000 mAh compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s 3582 mAh battery. In certain usage scenarios, the S25’s larger battery provides an advantage, particularly in talk time and gaming performance. It offers up to 27 hours and 40 minutes of talk time, while the iPhone 16 Pro manages 23 hours and 38 minutes.
However, the iPhone 16 Pro excels in other battery-intensive tasks, such as web browsing and video streaming. Its superior power optimization and efficient display technology result in longer battery life in these scenarios. It delivers up to 13 hours and 58 minutes of video playback time, surpassing the S25’s 9 hours and 52 minutes.
Charging Speed
Both devices support fast charging, but they differ in their charging capabilities. The Galaxy S25 completes a full charge in 77 minutes using 25W wired charging. Despite supporting a higher wattage of 39W, the iPhone 16 Pro requires 98 minutes for a complete charge. While the iPhone exhibits faster charging speeds in the initial 15 and 30 minutes, the S25 ultimately gains an edge in terms of total charging time.
Audio Performance
The Galaxy S25 boasts a higher volume output with -26.1 LUFS, offering louder audio playback compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s -27.3 LUFS. However, the iPhone 16 Pro excels in sound quality, providing a more balanced and immersive listening experience. Its speakers deliver warmer tones with powerful bass, creating a more enjoyable music listening and video viewing experience.
Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 harnesses the power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, which provides a significant performance advantage over the iPhone 16 Pro’s Apple A18 Pro chip. In the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the S25 scores a formidable 10,050 points, while the iPhone 16 Pro trails behind with 8,283 points.
In graphics-intensive tasks, the Galaxy S25 demonstrates its prowess with a score of 6,755 points in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, leaving the iPhone 16 Pro’s performance of 4,898 points in the dust by a wide margin of 38%. Additionally, the S25 comes equipped with 12GB of RAM, while all models of the iPhone 16 Pro feature 8GB of RAM.
Storage
In terms of storage, both devices offer a base model with 1
