html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: specsSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: designSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: displaySamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: performanceSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: batterySamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: camerasSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: software and updatesSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: special featuresSamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: price and availabilitySamsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16: verdictTheres little doubt that Apple and Samsung are two of the biggest rivals in the world of flagship smartphones. Every February and September brings a new smartphone that tries to leapfrog ahead of its main competitor. This year, thatsSamsungs Galaxy S25 coming on the heels of Septembers iPhone 16.With few design changes, the Galaxy S25 doesnt look much different from last years Galaxy S24, but Samsung has packed a lot of new technology and software improvements under the hood to produce an AI-forward smartphone thats ready for prime time. With Galaxy AI in its second generation and the Gemini now front and center, the Galaxy S25 promises to usher the companys flagships into a new era of AI smartphones.Recommended VideosAndroid smartphones arent the only ones playing that game, though. Apple is coming in from behind, but the iPhone 16 is part of Apples first lineup of phones built for Apples AI generation a new suite of tools under the banner of Apple Intelligence.RelatedOf course, theres more to both of these leading smartphones than just AI features, and Apple, in particular, has made a few other interesting enhancements to its iPhone 16 this year. Does Samsungs new Galaxy S25 measure up to these and are new AI features enough to tilt the scales in Samsungs favor? Lets find out.Galaxy S25iPhone 16Size146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm (5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 inches)147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches)Weight162 grams (5.7 ounces)170 grams (6 ounces)Screen size6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED displayScreen resolution2340 x 1080 resolution at 416 pixels per inch2556 x 1179 resolution at 460 pixels per inchStorage128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GB, 512GBMicroSD card slotNoNoTap-to-Pay servicesGoogle WalletApple PayProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 8 EliteApple A18RAM12GB8GBSoftwareAndroid 15 with One UI 7iOS 18CamerasRear: 50-megapixel primary, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephotoFront: 12MPRear: 48-megapixel primary, 12MP ultrawideFront: 12MPVideoRear: Up to 8K at 30 frames per second (fps), 4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 240fps for slow motionFront: Up to 4K at 60 fpsRear: Up to 4K at 60 frames-per-second (fps), FHD at 60 fps, and 240 fps for slow motion, with Dolby VisionFront: Up to 4K at 60 fpsBluetoothBluetooth 5.4Bluetooth 5.3PortsUSB-CUSB-CBiometricsUnder-display fingerprint sensorFace ID facial recognitionWater ResistanceIP68IP68Battery4,000mAh25W fast charging15W Qi wireless charging4.5W reverse wireless charging3,561mAh20W fast charging25W MagSafe charging15W Qi2 wireless chargingApp MarketplaceGoogle PlayApple App StoreNetwork Support5G, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)5G, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)ColorsNavy, Silver Shadow, Mint, Icy Blue, Blueblack, Coralred, PinkgoldBlack, White, Pink, Teal, UltramarinePriceStarting at $800Starting at $799Samsung Galaxy S25 Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIts becoming more apparent every year why many smartphone manufacturers work hard to create rear camera arrays that are unique and stylish. These have become a signature aesthetic feature in an era where most smartphones would otherwise be virtually indistinguishable. After all, when even two of the most iconic flagship smartphone brands in the world share the same flat design, there has to be something to set them apart.With the Galaxy S25, Samsung has proven that its all-in on a design that was once the exclusive domain of the iPhone.Apple went with flat sides and an edge-to-edge screen withits 2020 iPhone 12 lineup, and it seems that 2024 was the year when many Android rivals decided to follow suit, ditching their curvy edges and screens of yesteryear and going for the same look.The average user picking up an uncased Galaxy S24 could be forgiven for thinking they were holding an iPhone, and the Galaxy S25 doesnt change the design in any meaningful way.There are plenty of subtle differences between the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16, of course, and anyone holding both in their hands will notice they dont quite feel the same. The Galaxy S25 is also slightly smaller and thinner than the iPhone 16 an impressive feat considering is boasts a 0.1-inch larger display. Nevertheless, both look eerily similar when viewed from the front and sides.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsOf course, thats where the camera arrays come in. Flip the two phones over, and youll have no problem identifying them, and thats not just because of the company logos on the back. Samsung has stuck to its distinctive array of three protruding lenses that feature the more minimalist aesthetic introduced when it got rid of the camera bump with the Galaxy S23. Its a distinctive look for Samsungs Galaxy S-series phones, and were glad theyve stayed with it.Perhaps ironically, Apples iPhone 16 moved away from its iconic camera bump this year in favor of a pill-shaped bump that houses its dual lenses. Its a nice look that departs from the square arrangement thats been the norm since 2019. Its a throwback to the iPhone X era and makes a lot of sense for a phone with only two cameras. Previous models seemingly tried too hard to mirror the iPhone Pro look; the iPhone 16 charts its own course.Both phones stick with an aluminum frame Apple and Samsung reserve titanium for their higher-end flagships and glass on the front and back. The Galaxy S25 uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, first introduced on the Galaxy S23, while Apple uses its own comparatively strong Ceramic Shield glass that it claims is 50% stronger for the iPhone 16. However, unlike Samsung, which uses Gorilla Glass on both sides of the Galaxy S25, Apples Ceramic Shield only covers the front display.The Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 both feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. However, Apple certifies the iPhone for immersion in a maximum depth of 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes while Samsung sticks with the more common 1.5 meter standard for the Galaxy S25. Winner: TieNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsSamsung traditionally puts its best displays on its entire Galaxy S-series lineup, which means the Galaxy S25 has essentially the same high-quality Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, differing only in size and resolution.With a variable refresh rate that runs from 1 to 120Hz and supports an always-on display mode, the Galaxy S25 has a significant edge over the iPhone 16. Apple reserves its best displays for its Pro models, inscrutably leaving even its 2024 model with a basic OLED panel and a fixed 60Hz refresh rate.The iPhone 16 doesnt have an always-on display, although, despite its limited refresh rate, it still boasts vibrant colors and deep blacks. Its an excellent display for everyday use as long as you dont care about fast-paced gaming, smooth scrolling, or better power efficiency for watching videos. It can also reach 2,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness and get as dim as one nit so you can read in the dark without hurting your eyes or disturbing those around you.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsHowever, the Galaxy S25 beats those specs, too, reaching a maximum of 2,600 nits when used outdoors and the same minimum single-nit brightness as the iPhone 16. Still, weve had no problems seeing either smartphone, even in bright outdoor sunlight, so Samsungs higher rating here feels like its mostly a paper spec rather than something that makes any practical difference for most folks.Nevertheless, a smartphone with a 60Hz display in 2025 feels absurd, especially when we know Apple can do better. The Galaxy S25 easily takes this round for its variable refresh rate alone, not to mention the always-on display feature that accompanies it. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25QualcommIts always been challenging to compare performance specs for Android and Apple devices due to the significant differences in hardware and software. Flagship Android devices typically use Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, while Apple builds the iPhone on its own A-series silicon.That continues with the Galaxy S25, which packs in an optimized for Galaxy version of Qualcomms latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This is the direct successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 used in the S24, but Qualcomm has eschewed generational tags in favor of the new Elite brand. Its the most powerful piece of silicon Qualcomm has ever made, with incredible new GPU capabilities and an even more potent neural processing unit (NPU) for handling AI tasks.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsMeanwhile, the iPhone 16 bucks Apples recent trend of using year-old silicon in its standard iPhone models, adopting the latest A18 chip instead. Thats a notch below the A18 Pro used in its premium flagships, but its not as much of a downgrade as you may think. The difference primarily comes down to the A18 having a 5-core GPU, which is one less core than the A18 Pro. Both versions have the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine (NPU), along with increased memory bandwidth.Specs aside, the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 pack more power than most folks are likely to need. You can read our detailed comparison of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Apple A18 Pro if you want the full rundown. Both phones run buttery smooth during everyday tasks, have more than enough oomph for the latest games, and have performance to spare for the complex on-device AI tasks both platforms offer.If anything, the real battle comes down to high-end mobile gaming. Its a close race here as the shortchanged GPU on the A18 gives the Galaxy S25s Adreno GPU a lead on paper, but the iPhone ecosystem carries the day by offering the kind of AAA console games on the App Store that can actually take advantage of this extra power. Winner: TieNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsTheres only so much battery you can squeeze into a mid-sized smartphone like the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16, which makes getting the best battery life more about power efficiency than raw capacity. Thankfully, the leading-edge silicon in these phones delivers on that in spades.The Galaxy S25 packs in a 4,000mAh cell, while the iPhone 16 battery is slightly smaller at 3,561mAh. Both will easily get you through a full day of heavy use, although you should expect theyll need to hit a charger every night.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsYoull also find the two phones are evenly matched when that time comes. Samsung still hasnt pushed its smallest flagship above 25W wired charging, and thats where Apples entire iPhone lineup has always sat. Getting from 0-50% should take about 30 minutes with an appropriate charger, after which youll be looking at another hour or so before theyre fully topped up.The iPhone 16 gains support for 25W wireless charging with Apples proprietaryMagSafe charger and also supports standard 15W Qi2 charging with the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP) essentially the open-source version of MagSafe. Samsungs Galaxy S25 doesnt have direct Qi2 support (there are no magnets in the phone), but Samsung offers a magnetic case that effectively adds Qi2 for those who want it, delivering wireless charging speeds up to 15W. Theres also reverse 4.5W wireless charging that can be used to power up a set of Galaxy Buds or other low-power Qi-capable devices.Winner: TieNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsAlthough Samsungs Galaxy S25 isnt a camera powerhouse like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it still packs in a surprisingly capable camera system, with a 50-megapixel (MP) primary wide lens joined by a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP 3x telephoto. Those are identical hardware specs to last years Galaxy S24, but Samsung is taking advantage of new computational photography features in the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip to improve low-light photography.This year, Samsung is also beefing up its videography features with a new Nightography mode for low-light recording, plus support for the professional Log V3 video format. The Galaxy S25 also looks like it will continue last years course correction away from the overly vibrant and saturated photos that Samsungs phones have long been known for, with the companys new ProVisual Engine providing a much more natural and balanced look.Like the Galaxy S25 lineup, Apples best photographic features are the exclusive domain of its more expensive iPhone Pro models. However, the base iPhone 16 model is no slouch, and Apple has been making a concerted effort over the past two years to close the camera gap between its standard and pro models.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsThat includes a bump to a 48-megapixel primary camera what Apple now calls its Fusion camera that can provide an optical-quality 2x photo in 12MP resolution by cropping to the center pixels. That first arrived on last years iPhone 15, and the specs are mostly the same this year; the Fusion branding and an anti-reflective coating appear to be the most significant changes to the primary camera this year.However, the ultrawide gains autofocus capabilities, bringing the previously pro-exclusive macro photography feature to the iPhone 16. The tandem lenses also provide the ability to capture Spatial Photos and Videos that can be viewed on an Apple Vision Pro. Add in zero shutter lag and Dolby Vision HDR recording, and the camera system on the iPhone 16 can do many things that were once limited to the pricier pro models.Thats not all, though, as the iPhone 16 also gains support for a dramatically improved version of Apples Photographic Styles. The original versions of these have been around since the iPhone 13 was released in 2021, but they never garnered much attention in their original form, which only gave you four basic fixed styles to choose from. The iPhone 16 expands that list to 15 preset styles you can customize, adjusting the tone and color using a two-axis slider control. However, what really sets the new Photographic Styles apart is that theyre entirely non-destructive. Not only can you apply them after the fact, but you can also remove a style, tweak an existing one, or switch to a new one for any photo youve already taken.This gives the iPhone 16 a definite edge over the Galaxy S25, which really feels like Samsung phoned it in on the cameras this year.Winner: iPhone 16Joe Maring / Digital TrendsAs youd expect, the Galaxy S25 ships with the latest version of Android 15 out of the box, plus Samsungs One UI 7 layered on top. While the look and feel of One UI will be readily familiar to Samsung fans, the company has made some interesting changes this year to take the user experience to a whole new level.One UI 7 delivers what Samsung promises to be a significant new look over its predecessor that reduces clutter and takes customization to new heights. There are more One UI widgets and cleaner home and lock screens. A new Now Bar thats exclusive to the Galaxy S25 offers up iPhone-like Live Activities, and a Now Brief promised to keep you apprised of everything you need to know at any given time of the day, from news and weather to upcoming appointments and an overview of how your health is doing. Its a nice maturing of the One UI platform, and we love it.By comparison, the iPhone 16 continues Apples tradition of ushering in significant new iOS releases with each new model. This year, thats iOS 18. The core software improvements are much more iterative than what Samsung has done with One UI 7, with Apple putting most of its efforts into Apple Intelligence a new suite of AI features that are (mostly) exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup. Apple Intelligence has been rolling out in stages; while Decembers iOS 18.2 release brought most of what Apple has promised for this years iPhones, were still waiting on improvements to Siri that arent expected to arrive until iOS 18.4 in April.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsBoth One UI 7 and iOS 18 are (or will be) available for older Galaxy and iPhone models, but only the latest models will get everything these two operating systems have to offer. Only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can benefit from the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, and while Samsung is rolling its Galaxy AI tools out to older models, well have to wait and see which ones make the cut as One UI 7 has yet to roll out to older models.In terms of updates, Samsung is maintaining its usual promise of seven years of Android updates, which means the Galaxy S25 will someday be able to run Android 22 when it arrives in 2031. We expect most folks will be shopping for a new phone by then, but its nice to know we have the option. Apple doesnt make specific update promises for the iPhone, but it has a proven track record for updates; it was offering four or five years in the days when most Android phones rarely got two. The iPhone 16 should make it to at least iOS 22, but we wouldnt be surprised if it goes one or two releases beyond that, considering the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, which shipped with iOS 12 in 2018, can run iOS 18 today. Winner: TieNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsIt seems everything is about AI these days, and the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 both lean heavily into these features. As we mentioned in the last section, Samsung has its Galaxy AI tools that are now in their second generation while Apple is just getting started with Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 lineup.With the Galaxy S25, Samsungs Galaxy AI suite feels ready for prime time, although many of the tools are still of dubious value. The most significant change is that Samsung has shown its Bixby voice assistant to the door and embraced the Gemini Era by adopting Gemini Live as the standard voice assistant. This gives the Galaxy S25 a massive leg up over the iPhone 16, which still uses Apples beleaguered Siri. Apples voice assistant squandered a three-year head start to become something of a punch line, and in a somewhat ironic twist, many have observed that Siri has gotten worse in iOS 18.However, the Siri improvements promised by Apple Intelligence have yet to arrive. The first of these should come in iOS 18.4 in a few months, but a more conversational Siri could take until an iOS 19 release sometime next year. In the meantime, Gemini Live is here now on the Galaxy S25, and its leaps and bounds ahead of anything Apple has on deck.Thats not to say iPhone users are entirely left out in the cold. In developing Apple Intelligence, it recognized that it wouldnt have Siri ready to handle conversational AI anytime soon and wasnt equipped to handle broader world knowledge questions. So, Apple partnered with OpenAI to bake ChatGPT into iOS 18. Siri will send any requests it cant deal with to ChatGPT, but you can bypass the middleman by simply telling Siri to Ask ChatGPT outright. Its a bit more cumbersome than Gemini Live, but it works well and gets the job done when you have a nagging question you need an answer to.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsLeaving the chatbots aside, Apple Intelligence and Galaxy AI are more on par when it comes to useful AI features like recording and transcribing phone calls and notes, summarizing blocks of text and even whole web pages, and handling real-time translation. Samsung comes out ahead in its AI photo and video editing features, although iPhone users have plenty of apps to choose from that can do many of the same things, including Google Photos. On the flip side, Apples Image Playground is a handy tool for turning photos and descriptions into cartoony-like AI images, but the Play Store is full of tools that can do the same thing.While Samsung has leaned heavily into AI with the Galaxy S25, the iPhone 16 offers one cool feature that even non-AI fans can enjoy: the Camera Control. This is an extra button on the lower right side of the iPhone that effectively turns your device into an old-school point-and-shoot camera.It may seem like a gimmick at first blush, but weve been having a lot of fun with it as it does so much more than just open the camera and take pictures. The capacitative surface also lets you swipe through various controls to adjust any of the camera settings, from zoom levels to Photographic Styles, and a light-press can be used to lock auto-focus and auto-exposure before pressing all the way down to capture a picture the same way most DLSRs work. The fact that we wrote six paragraphs about it in our iPhone 16 review should give you an idea of how compelling this new feature is.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe Camera Control also ties into an iPhone 16-exclusive AI feature called Visual Intelligence. Pressing and holding the button from the Lock Screen or within nearly any app will switch to a camera view that you can use to get more information on real-world objects from either Google or ChatGPT. This includes identifying breeds of animals or types of flowers, deciphering laundry labels, finding out more information from an event poster, and even automatically adding the date and time to your calendar. You can also translate text between different languages and perform a Google Lens-style search to find other similar items.In addition to the Camera Control, the iPhone 16 also gets the Action button that was exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. This replaces Apples classic ring/silent switch with a customizable button that can trigger nearly any action you can think of, thanks to its support for running Apples macro-like Shortcuts.Although Apples AI features remain behind the curve compared to the Galaxy S25, AI isnt a priority for everyone, and the iPhone 16 makes up for it with more versatile controls. Winner: TieNirave Gondhia / Digital TrendsThe Galaxy S25 went on sale on February 7 and can be ordered directly from Samsung or any of the usual online or brick-and-mortar retailers. You should also be able to find it at your carrier of choice. The Galaxy S25 starts at $800 for the base 128GB, with the 256GB version selling for only $60 more. Samsung is offering the usual trade-in programs that can shave up to $550 off those prices. This year, the Galaxy S25 comes in navy, mint, Icy Blue, and Silver Shadow as the standard colors, while those ordering from Samsung can also choose from exclusive Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold finishes.The iPhone 16 was released in September 2024 and starts at $799 for the 128GB model, with 256GB and 512GB versions available for $899 and $1,099, respectively. Apple is also offering trade-ins that can knock up to $630 off the price, but youll need to trade in a recent higher-end model to get that maximum value. The iPhone 16 comes in black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsA comparison between an iPhone and just about any other smartphone on the market often comes down to one question: platform. The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 may now look more similar than ever on the surface, but they couldnt be more different under the hood. They run fundamentally different operating systems, and chances are that your preference for iOS or Android will dictate your choice here more than anything else.Still, if you have no strong feelings either way or youre looking for a change, both have a lot to offer that could tempt you to come over from the other side.The iPhone 16 has a surprisingly fun and capable camera system for a non-pro model, and the Camera Control button makes this even more of a joy for avid mobile photographers. Whatever you may think of Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 is a solid and mature operating system with a proven track record, and it sticks to its roots this year, so anyone who has used an iPhone in the last decade should still feel right at home. Apples A18 chip offers power to spare and the App Store hosts a collection of strong AAA console games to enjoy, although youll disappointingly be held back by the iPhones archaic 60Hz refresh rate.On the other side, the Galaxy S25 has embraced Gemini Live to offer a voice assistant that can talk circles around Siri, plus a wealth of other Galaxy AI features that are more useful and refined. The camera system is still very capable, even if it feels like Samsung wasnt really trying this year, the display is gorgeous, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite is an insanely powerful chip thats just waiting for the right games to take advantage of everything its souped-up Adreno GPU has to offer.To put the key differences between these two flagships in simpler terms, the Galaxy S25 is for those who want leading-edge AI features, but if photography is your bag, the iPhone 16 will surprise and delight you in myriad creative ways.Editors Recommendations