The rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will nearly definitely be one of the crucial widespread Android telephones when it launches, however the place it’d wrestle a bit extra is in opposition to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as not less than by way of gross sales, Apple’s telephones are sometimes on one other stage.
But whereas beating the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s gross sales numbers is likely to be out of attain for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, it might doubtlessly be the higher cellphone.
However, to do this there are a number of particular areas Samsung may need to take a look at, as there are some issues that Apple does equally effectively or higher.
1. Up the zoom to 10x
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a reasonably first rate 5x optical zoom periscope digicam… and so does the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
This was an odd transfer by Samsung, because the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 10x optical zoom digicam, which is one thing no iPhone can compete with, but the corporate determined to take away that promoting level from the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
If it brings the 10x zoom digicam again with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra then Samsung’s zoom cameras will as soon as once more have a transparent benefit over Apple’s, however sadly most Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra digicam rumors recommend we’ll as soon as once more get a 5x zoom.
2. Improve the ultra-wide digicam
Another digicam enchancment the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra might do with to beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a brand new ultra-wide sensor with extra megapixels, because the Galaxy S24 Ultra has only a 12MP ultra-wide, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 48MP one.
Unlike an prolonged zoom, that is one thing that’s trying prone to occur, with ideas suggesting the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could have a 50MP ultra-wide digicam. So not many extra megapixels than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, however not less than according to Apple’s cellphone.
3. Boost the battery life
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra really has wonderful battery life already, however in our assessments, we discovered it was just like the life you’ll get from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, regardless of Samsung’s cellphone having a barely bigger battery.
In each instances, you’re taking a look at upwards of 16 hours of life based mostly on our assessments. But we’d prefer to see Samsung enhance on that with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in order that it has a transparent lead on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
One simple manner to do this can be by way of a much bigger battery, however sadly leaks recommend that the S25 Ultra could have a 5,000mAh battery, similar to its predecessor.
However, there are different methods life might be improved too, corresponding to by way of a extra environment friendly chipset. So it stays very doable that Samsung’s cellphone might have Apple’s beat right here.
4. Lower the value
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an exceptionally costly cellphone, with a better beginning worth than even the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Samsung’s cellphone begins at $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199, whereas Apple’s begins at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149, and in each instances that’s for 256GB of storage.
Now, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t going to be an affordable cellphone, but when Samsung might convey its worth according to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, or higher but barely decrease, that might assist give it the sting.
Unfortunately, this in all probability gained’t occur, with most indicators pointing to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s worth being barely increased than the S24 Ultra’s if something. One tip suggests it won’t rise, however on the very least it should in all probability value as a lot because the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
5. Polish the software program
One factor Apple nearly all the time does effectively is software program, and iOS is commonly praised for being intuitive, slick, and simply working because it ought to.
We may argue that typically it’s overpraised for this, however on the very least, iOS 18 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is lots simpler to navigate than Samsung’s One UI 6 interface on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which our overview described as “getting old and horrible”.
So there’s a whole lot of work for Samsung to do right here if it needs the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s software program to rival or beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s.
