Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Verdict
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max scores higher on the OH Rank (81 vs 79), winning 3 of 10 categories including Performance and Battery. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is 0.4mm wider than Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the more recent release, from Sep 18, 2026.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
81
79
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
78mm (3.07in) · Sep 18, 2026 · Rank #4
15+13+11+12+15+5+5+0+5+0 = 81
SUPERIOR* BEST Video* TOP Performance* TOP Battery Endurance* TOP PHOTO/VIDEO* TOP Selfie* TOP Camera* TOP Software
EDITORIAL: (this is a pre-test listing based on reasonable expectation of battery, charging and imaging performance) In search of greater profits (because there is no such thing as "enough") Apple is back to microscopic improvments. This time: black color is back, new processor and a variable aperture on one of the lenses... that, and a $100 higher price is all you get.
PROs
tank-like build, fast A20 Pro (2nm) chip with NVMe performance, ~42hr endurance, very good 460ppi 120Hz LTPO OLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP68 protection, excellent 48MP 24mm f/1.5-4.0 OIS main + 48MP 100mm OIS periscope telephoto + 48MP 13mm ultrawide (all 3 with PDAF) setup, great 18MP 20mm PDAF selfie, best video recording, improved AI (by Google) OS with 6 years of updates, fast USB-C 3.2 port with Display Port tech, global availability
CONs
250g heavy, big and difficult to use one-hand, small (for a huge phone) 5400mAh (5500mAh on eSIM-only model) old-tech lithium battery with >70min slow 35W (25W wireless) charging, ~1000nits (dim) screen brightness, no expandable memory, no desktop replacement feature despite Display Port tech, very expensive, overall lack of innovation and excellence Apple products used to be known for
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
77.6mm (3.06in) · Feb 3, 2025 · Rank #12
11+7+15+12+14+5+5+0+5+5 = 79
FLY* TOP Selfie* TOP Video Recording* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement* TOP Screen
EDITORIAL: The S25 Ultra may be an incremental upgrade in hardware and camera tech but it is a world leader in AI functionality as Samsung turns to AI software to set itself apart from the competition. This is a phone with top performance, a full day of battery life, excellent photo and video results and 7 years of very stable OS package. Included is DeX - still the very best desktop replacement software there is. The screen, while not the brightest minimizes reflections and is more usable outdoors than any other. This year, Samsung decided to give us an Ultra with improved battery endurance and faster charging too. The lack of expandable memory is the only thing keeping the S25 Ultra back. The included stylus lost its Bluetooth but still works great.
PROs
Snapdragon 8 Elite, >1400nits ~500ppi LTPO AMOLED screen with HDR10+ and anti reflective coating, excellent 200MP main camera joined by 10MP and 50MP telephoto lenses and a 50MP ultrawide, tried and true 12MP PDAF Selfie, 7 years of OS updates and AI features ahead of the pack, amazing DeX computer replacement software
CONs
218gr 77.6mm wide glass and metal brick with a small 5000mAh battery, >60min slow 45W (15W wireless) charging, Samsung's refusal to include expandable SDmemory storage (do you know how big are these 8k video files?), the ecosystem that's trying to lock you in since 2019
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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