Camera Phone Shootout: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Camera Phone Specs
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Main Camera | 48 MP f/1.8, 24mm (wide) | 200 MP (f/1.7) 24mm (wide) |
| Zoom Camera | 12 MP f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto) | 10 MP (f/2.4) 67mm (telephoto) + 50 MP (f/3.4) 111mm (periscope telephoto) |
| Ultrawide camera | 48 MP f/2.2, 13mm | 50 MP, f/1.9, 120° |
| Selfie Camera | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm | 12 MP (f/2.2) 26mm |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps |
| Price | $1,199 / £1,199 | $1,299.99 / £1,249 |
Image Comparisons
During today’s camera phone shootout, I took to the sunny streets of Bath armed with both of these flagship camera phones, with the intent to capture the exact same shot with each device. I’ve never shot with either of these phones before, as my current smartphone of choice is the S24 Ultra.
To keep things fair, I stood in the same spot, used the same aspect ratio (16 by 9), and shot using the highest possible quality setting (excluding RAW modes) that both camera phones could muster, which is 48MP for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and 200MP for the S25 Ultra.
Results and Image Sliders
[Image sliders]
Verdict
I can’t believe that I’m saying this publicly on the internet as a Samsung fan, but I have to admit that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might be the winner here (though it’s very very close). During today’s shootout, having never used either camera phone before, I found it much easier to use the iPhone 16 Pro Max and adjust camera settings on the fly thanks to the new Camera Control Button. Being able to control the aperture so easily really is a game-changer.
However, I did find when using the camera control button that it would active and change quite easily without me meaning to adjust it, and I think this may have been down to the Apple silicone case that we had on the phone during testing. The Samsung S25 Ultra performed exquisitely, as I had no doubt that it would, but the reason I think the iPhone succeeds here is not only ease of use – but the fact that Samsung had the advantage in this shootout with a 200MP main camera compared with the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 48MP lens, yet the outcomes captured were very similar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What were the camera phone specs compared in this shootout?
A: The camera phone specs compared in this shootout were the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Q: What were the main differences between the two camera phones?
A: The main differences between the two camera phones were the camera resolutions, with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra having a 200MP main camera compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 48MP main camera.
Q: Which camera phone was easier to use in this shootout?
A: The iPhone 16 Pro Max was easier to use in this shootout, thanks to its new Camera Control Button that allowed for easy adjustment of camera settings on the fly.
Q: What were the results of the camera phone shootout?
A: The results of the camera phone shootout showed that both camera phones were capable of capturing high-quality images, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max may have had a slight edge due to its ease of use and new Camera Control Button.
