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Intro
Now that Samsung's flagship trio for 2025 is out, it's time to properly compare it to Apple's latest offerings. We are skipping the iPhone 16e for now — that's more of a Galaxy S24 FE competitor. What we are looking at here are the $800 "smallest flagships" in the lineups — the base level Galaxy S25 vs the base iPhone 16. No Pros and no Ultras allowed.
On the surface, it looks like Samsung is offering a bit more bang for your buck. The Galaxy S25 doesn't cut down on camera count (well, it kind of does, as the Ultra has 4 cameras but that's besides the point), and it doesn't cut down on display quality. Samsung is quite proud of its AMOLED panels and would like everyone to see them, thank you very much.
On the other end, the iPhone is the iPhone — it's a staple in the industry thanks to its predictably stable and solid user experience. Which one of these phones deserves your $800 more?
iPhone 16 vs Galaxy S25 differences explained:
Apple iPhone 16
Samsung Galaxy S25
Very similar build, slightly thicker especially at camera module
Thin and light, flat-sided phone
6.1-inch display with thicker bezels and pill-sized Face ID hole (Dynamic Island)
6.2-inch display with slimmer bezels, small camera hole
Dual camera, wide and ultra-wide
Triple camera, with wide, ultra-wide, telephoto
Apple A18 (3 nm), 4.04 GHz
Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm), 4.47 GHz
128 GB / 8 GB base
128 GB / 12 GB base
3,561 mAh battery
Bigger 4,000 mAh battery
Slower wired charging - 20 W Faster wireless charging - 25 W
Faster wired charging - 25 W Slower wireless charging - 15 W
Trade in your old phone to save up to $700 on the exciting Galaxy S25 Plus. Samsung also gives you a $120 instant discount on the 512GB variant, giving you a total of up to $820 off the high-class Galaxy AI phone.
Get the iPhone 16 for up to $630 off with trade-ins
$169
$799
$630 off (79%)
Get the iPhone 16 to experience Apple Intelligence and save up to $630 with eligible trade-ins. The promotion is available at the official Apple Store.
Get iPhone 16 Plus at Apple.com for up to $630 off
$269
$899
$630 off (70%)
Enjoy Apple Intelligence on a larger screen with the iPhone 16 Plus. This bad boy is available for up to $630 off with eligible trade-ins at the official store.
Fully fleshed-out and pristine phones (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 are very much direct competitors, and this is immediately evident when you hold them in hand. They are mostly the same in shape, size, and weight, virtually interchangeable when it comes to compactness and comfort.
The iPhone 16 does have a bunch more buttons to play with. The Action Button has now fully replaced the Mute toggle of yore, and you can program it to launch any of your favorite apps, or actions within some apps. It also has the new Camera Control button, which is technologically impressive but with dubious usability.
If you haven't been following — the Camera Control button has a capacitive top, so you can control camera features by swiping across it. A half-press causes the phone to focus in and lock exposure, a full press takes a photo. But most people still prefer just using the tap controls in the camera app.
Thin and fun to hold (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The Galaxy S25 has no extra buttons, just the power key and volume rocker. It feels as solid as the iPhone.
Both phones have aluminum frames and glass backs with a frosted matte finish. And both have that all-screen front, but the Galaxy S25 has the thinner bezels here so it looks a bit more refined.
We are dealing with premium builds and protection from the elements — both the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 are IP68 rated.
Basically the same size (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Both of these phones offer OLED panels, Samsung's is branded Dynamic AMOLED 2x. That refers to its dynamic refresh rate and ability to go from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, plus its HDR compatibility thanks to its 2,600 nit peak brightness.
The iPhone 16's panel has a standard 60 Hz refresh rate, but it's also HDR-compliant with 2,000 nits peak. You will also notice that the iPhone has a bigger cutout in the screen for the Face ID sensor array. That's the Apple Dynamic Island, as Apple uses that blacked-out area to hang widgets around it and pretend it's all a part of the design and software being married.
In general, both of these screens can look lovely and have multiple comfort modes for blue light filtering and color temperature adjustment, based on your current ambient lighting. The higher refresh rate of the Samsung does look more pleasing. Eventhough the iOS software is super-smooth, moving back to 60 Hz definitely takes a bit of adjustment once your eyes are "spoiled".
The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set(area)of colors that a display can reproduce,with the sRGB colorspace(the highlighted triangle)serving as reference.The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x:CIE31' and 'y:CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.
The Color accuracy chart gives an idea of how close a display's measured colors are to their referential values. The first line holds the measured (actual) colors, while the second line holds the reference (target) colors. The closer the actual colors are to the target ones, the better.
The Grayscale accuracy chart shows whether a display has a correct white balance(balance between red,green and blue)across different levels of grey(from dark to bright).The closer the Actual colors are to the Target ones,the better.
While peak brightness can give you some impressive numbers, we do measure 20% APL brightness to get a clearer idea of how displays perform during "normal" everyday use. Both the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 scored north of 2,000 nits, which is excellent for daytime viewing. And both scored a sub-nit measuring at minimum brightness, so they are great bedside companions as well.
For biometrics, the Galaxy uses an under-screen ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. It's fast and dependable, and has its fair share of fans. Apple's Face ID however, is excellent — it's quite convenient to be able to (securely) unlock your phone by just looking at it, and is something that "spoils" you after a few months of use. Going back to fingerprint scans after that is an adjustment.
Performance and Software
Beasts battling it out
Both don't disappoint (Image credit - PhoneArena)
Samsung's partnership with Qualcomm continues to bear fruit, as we keep getting these slightly-overclocked Snapdragons in Samsung phones. The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy can hit a top speed of 4.47 GHz, and is being backed up by thermal management that is mostly adequate. The iPhone has the new Apple A18, developed to run Apple Intelligence with no trouble and supposedly as powerful as the top-tier Apple A18 Pro (minus the GPU). So, let's take a look at some numbers:
And yep, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is definitely bringing the big guns. While it only lags behind in Single Core CPU scores, it makes up for it in every other category. Even when throttling, it is slightly faster than the Apple A18. Great job!
But those are just numbers, how is it all in real life? We feel both of these phones are snappy, responsive, and fun. The Galaxy S25 does have a leg up thanks to its 120 Hz screen and super-smooth animations. But we wouldn't say the iPhone 16 "lags" or anything. It is still a latest-gen iPhone and runs as such.
For storage, both of these phones have the 128 GB base option. If buying the Galaxy, we strongly suggest going for the 256 GB storage option. That's because the 128 GB has a UFS 3.1 chip, while the upgrade gives you UFS 4.0 with double the read and write speeds. The good news is that during various sales periods, and even during the launch time for the S25 series, Samsung often runs a "free storage upgrade on us" promo.
For software, we have Samsung's One UI 7 on top of Android 15 versus Apple's latest iOS 18. And lots and lots of AI features.
OK the Apple text tools are not fantastic and the Clean Up tool can be a hit and miss. The same can be said about Samsung's Magic Eraser. The new furball of AI features that manufacturers has hurled at us recently is still... mostly a party trick. For example, the Galaxy has the Live Translate for phone calls. But it's so slow and inaccurate that you will probably avoid it. Still, an argument can be made "Well, it's there for when you may need it and have no other option".
Unfortunately, the same argument doesn't hold water when you use it for the Apple Image Playground.
Both phones offer the text summary option, which we find to be the most useful to date. So, when ignoring AI, what else does the software offer?
Both One UI and iOS are quite mature nowadays. You won't be wanting or missing features with either one, especially considering that both manufacturers like to "borrow" what works from the competition. And for software updates — Samsung promises you 7 years worth of Android builds, and the iPhone will get a minimum of 5 iOS updates, based on historical evidence. So... you're covered.
Camera
Do three cameras make a difference?
2 vs 3 (Image credit - PhoneArena)
When you look at the Galaxy S25's back, it appears to give you the full package. A full trio of cameras — 50 MP main, 12 MP ultra-wide, 10 MP 3x telephoto. The iPhone 16 feels like it has been cut down to size, with a 48 MP main and 12 MP ultra-wide camera.
However, running them through our comprehensive test, we find that the iPhone is ever-so-slightly better at photography. It's only in the zoom department where it falls behind and that's by only a couple of points.
PhoneArena Camera Score:
Photo
Video
Phone
Camera Score
Photo Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Apple iPhone 16
149
154
82
24
28
21
Samsung Galaxy S25
147
151
80
21
27
23
Phone
Camera Score
Video Score
Main (wide)
Ultra Wide
Selfie
Zoom
Apple iPhone 16
149
143
76
22
26
18
Samsung Galaxy S25
147
142
74
21
26
21
Find out more details about photo and video scores for all phones we have tested on our PhoneArena Camera Score page
That 3x telephoto lens on the Galaxy S25 does allow it to go all the way up to 30x maximum zoom. But, for "regular" scenarios where you only need to zoom in a bit or take a portrait photo at 2x — the iPhone is doing more than adequate. In general, these cameras are very comparable in performance, as can be seen from the results above. Now, for the actual examples below:
Main Camera
< Galaxy S25iPhone16 >
Samsung photos continue to lean into slightly more exposure, a bit more boosted shadows, while iPhone photos are more confidently contrast-y. Color reproduction on both sides is very, very similar. Where there is a difference, the iPhone will lean a bit more into a warm yellow-ish hue, where the Galaxy S25 typically is a bit cooler with a slight magenta cast.
For fine details, you've probably heard by now, this years Galaxy S25 series does not oversharpen as much as before, and its details are a bit softer, a bit more realistic. The iPhone feels a bit less confident, as it clearly sharpens up tiny detail.
< Galaxy S25iPhone 16 >
A night photo makes the aforementioned differences much clearer, with the iPhone 16's yellow cast and oversharpening becoming much more evident. In general, the darker Galaxy S25 shot here appears more realistic simply because — yes, it was night time!
Zoom Quality
< Galaxy S25 10xiPhone 16 10x >
The iPhone 16 taps out at 10x zoom for photos, whereas the Galaxy S25 can keep going until 30x. And, at 10x, you can see the iPhone is clearly reaching its limits. Details are hazy and the photo is starting to look like an oil painting. A good time to stop zooming!
The Galaxy S25 itself starts showing such artifacts at 30x zoom. In general, it's the better zoom phone thanks to its dedicated 3rd camera:
Galaxy S25 30x zoom
Ultra-wide Camera
< Galaxy S25 ultra-wideiPhone 16 ultra-wide >
The ultra-wide cameras are tuned to match their main camera counterparts. Samsung's ultra-wide seems to be a bit better at handling high dynamics. But night photos actually come out better with the iPhone's ultra-wide:
< Galaxy S25 ultra-wideiPhone 16 ultra-wide >
With clearer details, less haze, and more accurate colors, the iPhone's ultra-wide holds it together better at night.
Selfies
A similar treatment of dynamics and colors can be observed with the selfie camera. The Galaxy has less contrast and brighter blacks, where the iPhone is more contrast-y and slightly yellow-ish. For details, the Samsung selfie camera does the oversharpening that the main camera left in the past. On the other hand, the iPhone selfie looks maybe a bit too soft.
More Camera Samples
Battery Life and Charging
Compact but lasting
USB C for everybody! (Image Credit - PhoneArena)
The Galaxy S25 comes with a nice rounded number of 4,000 mAh in its tank. That's quite a bit of battery — not entirely the 5,000 mAh which is the norm for an Android flagship, but considering that the Galaxy S25 is relatively "compact" in size, 4,000 mAh is a good-sized backpack. That goes against Apple's 3,561 mAh cell and here's how they do with endurance:
So, the Galaxy is able to give us some more screen-on time. Depending on what you are doing, that can be between 30 minutes and 120 minutes of extra use. It's worth noting that iOS is quite capable of retaining battery percentages when the phone is in standby — much better than Android. So, generally speaking, with regular casual use, both of these phones give us similar battery endurance. That's about a day plus change, if you forget to charge overnight.
Audio Quality and Haptics
Both phones have the stereo speakers in bottom boomer / earpiece combo variant. And both sound pretty good, but the iPhone is just a pinch better with deeper bass and more pleasingly carved mids. The Galaxy S25 has more details in the mids but is a little more honky and a bit thinner-sounding. Small differences, in general, both of these phones serve well for binging YouTube videos, for example.
For haptics, both are very clicky and responsive. The Samsung vibration may be a bit weak when it comes to "feeling" muted phonecalls. Other than that, both vibration motors feel great.
Charging 25 W wired 15 W wireless Qi2 (no magnets)
Which one should you buy?
Tough choice (Image credit - PhoneArena)
In general, both of these are pretty excellent phones and are very much comparable. From their size and feel, to their performance, to the screens and battery endurance. The Galaxy S25 does give you a little bit more for your money. That extra camera can become handy in certain situations, in general you do get more screen-on time, and its chip can score better on benchmarks. The real big difference here is the 120 Hz display, which we feel is a must on a 2025 flagship.
Of course, if you have your toes dipped into the Apple ecosystem, with a pair of AirPods or with an Apple Watch on your wishlist, then the iPhone 16 may make more sense. In that case — go for it, it's still a solid phone. Platform-agnostic? The scale is tipped slightly to the Galaxy S25 side.
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Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.
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