iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 9 Pro: Which Superphone Will Dominate 2025?

Performance: Next-Gen Chipsets and Speed

All three flagships boast cutting-edge processors, but their approaches differ:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Powered by Apple’s new A18 Pro chip built on a 3nm process. It packs a 6‑core CPU (4 performance + 2 efficiency cores) and 6-core GPU, plus a 16-core Neural Engine for on-device AI macrumors.com macrumors.com. Apple claims the A18 Pro’s CPU is ~15% faster than the previous A17 Pro and its GPU ~20% faster macrumors.com. In practice, the iPhone 16 Pro Max blitzes through single-core tasks – it scored 3,386 in Geekbench single-core, higher than any Android phone tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Thermal design upgrades (a new graphite-clad aluminum substructure) also boost sustained gaming performance by 20% over last year macrumors.com. The device comes with 8GB RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 15, to help drive new “Apple Intelligence” AI features macrumors.com.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Runs an overclocked Snapdragon 8 “Elite” chip (Qualcomm’s custom-tuned Snapdragon 8 Gen4 for Galaxy) paired with 12GB RAM tomsguide.com. This silicon narrows the gap with Apple’s chips – and even surpasses them in multicore and graphics. On Geekbench 6, the S25 Ultra hit 3,031 single-core / 9,829 multi-core, meaning its multi-core score edged out the iPhone 16 Pro Max (8,306) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Graphics are a strong suit: in 3DMark’s GPU test, the Galaxy pumped out 42.4 fps vs ~28 fps on the iPhone tomsguide.com tomsguide.com – a testament to Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU gains. That makes the S25 Ultra a mobile gaming beast, holding rock-solid frame rates even in intensive games tomsguide.com. However, Apple still wins in certain tasks thanks to specialized hardware; for example, the iPhone was ~30 seconds faster in a video encoding (Adobe Rush) test despite the Galaxy’s raw power tomsguide.com. Overall, the S25 Ultra feels incredibly fast and fluid, multitasking with ease and leveraging its chip’s AI cores for new smart features (more on those later) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (and 9 Pro XL): Runs Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chip with a generous 16GB RAM businessinsider.com. The focus here is less on brute-force benchmarks and more on AI optimization. In pure CPU tests, Tensor lags behind: a Pixel 9 Pro XL scored around 1,929/4,747 in Geekbench (single/multi) – roughly half the multi-core performance of the S25 Ultra tomsguide.com. This means the Pixel isn’t the fastest for heavy 3D games or raw compute tasks. But Google designed Tensor G4 to excel at machine learning and on-device AI. It enables features like advanced image processing, live audio transcription, and the new Gemini AI assistant (which requires lots of memory – hence 16GB RAM) tomsguide.com businessinsider.com. Google touts modest improvements in efficiency (about 20% faster web browsing and app launches vs last gen) droid-life.com, and in everyday use the Pixel 9 Pro feels smooth thanks to tight software optimization. While it won’t win a specs arms race, it delivers adequate performance for all but the most demanding mobile gamers, and trades raw horsepower for AI smarts and the “Google experience.”

Bottom Line: Apple’s A18 Pro still rules single-threaded performance and pro apps, while Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Elite leads in multicore throughput and GPU might tomsguide.com. Google’s Tensor G4 is the weakest on paper, but enables unique AI-driven experiences. All three are fast in real-world use, but spec-chasers will note the S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are neck-and-neck for the title of fastest phone in 2025 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.

Display and Design

Each phone offers a huge, immersive display with its own twists:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Now features a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (up from 6.7” prior), thanks to slimmer bezels macrumors.com macrumors.com. It’s a 120Hz LTPO panel with always-on capability and superb color accuracy. Apple didn’t boost peak brightness this year – it tops out around 1,550 nits in HDR sunlight, which is very bright albeit not the absolute leader tomsguide.com. The screen supports a new ultra-low 1 nit mode for night-time (great for always-on clock at bedside) macrumors.com. Design-wise, the 16 Pro Max carries over the titanium alloy frame introduced last year, making it lighter than older stainless steel iPhones. The chassis got slightly taller and wider to accommodate the larger display, but Apple shaved down the bezels so it still feels premium and balanced in hand macrumors.com tomsguide.com. The back retains the matte glass and prominent camera bump (with three lenses) – a look instantly recognizable as iPhone. Notably, Apple added a Camera Control button on the side (in addition to the Action button) to function like a DSLR shutter, which photographers will love macrumors.com macrumors.com. Build quality is top-notch as expected: IP68 water resistance, Ceramic Shield front glass, and refined ergonomics with contoured edges. If you liked the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s design, the 16 Pro Max is an iteration – slightly bigger screen, new button, but overall similar minimalist, ultra-solid feel.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Samsung also upsized its display to 6.9 inches (from 6.8”), using a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with QHD+ resolution and adaptive 1–120Hz refresh tomsguide.com. Thanks to even thinner bezels and a new flat-edge design, the S25 Ultra manages this with almost the same footprint as last year. In fact, Samsung’s design this year draws some inspiration from Apple – the sides are flat and corners more rounded, which makes the phone more comfortable to hold (no more digging into your palm) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The frame is sturdy titanium, yet the phone is actually lighter than the S24 Ultra (7.69oz vs 8.22oz) and even a bit lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max (7.99oz) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The back keeps Samsung’s sleek look with a floating quad-camera layout (individual lens rings) rather than a large bump – many will find it cleaner than Apple’s camera patch tomsguide.com. Display quality is stellar: it’s one of the brightest and most vivid screens ever. We’re talking up to 1,860 nits peak brightness, outshining the iPhone in sunlight tomsguide.com. (It’s second only to the Pixel’s new panel in sheer brightness.) Colors are rich (covering ~91% of DCI-P3) with adjustable color profiles, and Samsung added a new Gorilla Glass Victus 2 “Armor” glass for better drop protection tomsguide.com. Importantly, the S25 Ultra still integrates the S Pen stylus, which slides into the bottom – a unique productivity boost for note-takers and artists. One design trade-off: to reduce weight, Samsung removed the Bluetooth module from the S Pen (it still works for writing, but no remote camera shutter or air gestures now) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Overall, the S25 Ultra looks and feels like an ultimate Android device – big, bold, and now a bit more ergonomic with the flatter sides.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (and Pro XL): Google gave the Pixel lineup a “much-needed redesign” this generation businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. The Pixel 9 Pro comes in two sizes: a 6.3-inch model and a 6.8-inch “Pro XL”, both with virtually identical specs businessinsider.com droid-life.com. Google’s displays are branded Super Actua OLED, featuring LTPO 120Hz and incredible peak brightness – up to 3,000 nits in extreme outdoor conditions droid-life.com droid-life.com. In lab tests, the Pixel 9 Pro XL actually hit ~2,469 nits, noticeably surpassing both the Galaxy S25 (1,860 nits) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (1,553 nits) tomsguide.com. This means the Pixel’s screen remains very visible in harsh sunlight and HDR content absolutely pops. The design language has shifted to a more flat display and flat frame, ditching the curved edges of previous Pixels for a modern, iPhone-like silhouette businessinsider.com. Indeed, some might say at a glance the Pixel 9 Pro looks a bit “iPhone-esque” with its flat aluminum sides and rounded corners businessinsider.com droid-life.com. However, the signature Pixel touches remain – the bold camera bar across the back (now a metal strip with cutouts for the lenses) and a two-tone matte glass finish. The build quality jumped up a notch; reviewers call it Google’s nicest hardware yet, with tight tolerances and a balanced feel in the hand droid-life.com droid-life.com. Both Pixel 9 Pro sizes have high resolution OLEDs (the XL at QHD+, the smaller at slightly lower PPI) and use Gorilla Glass Victus 2. They feel premium and robust. Notably absent is any form of stylus or extra button – Google keeps the design minimal. The payoff is a clean, modern phone that finally stands toe-to-toe in design with Apple and Samsung’s flagships. And despite the flat edges, the Pixels have a slight advantage in grip thanks to that rear camera bar (which actually stabilizes the phone on a table, no wobble) droid-life.com. In short, the Pixel 9 Pro/XL offer an exceptional display and a fresh design identity that’s distinctly Google, even if inspired by the industry trends.

Camera Hardware and Photography Features

Smartphone cameras are a deciding factor for many – and all three of these phones aim to be the best camera phone of 2025, each in their own way:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Apple’s camera system gets subtle but meaningful upgrades. It still has a triple-lens setup: 48MP main “Fusion” camera, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 5× telephoto periscope lens macrumors.com macrumors.com. Notably, the ultra-wide sensor jumped from 12MP to 48MP this year, allowing much more detail in wide shots and sharper macro photos using that lens macrumors.com macrumors.com. Both Pro and Pro Max now share the same 5× optical telephoto (previously, only the largest Pro Max had the 5× zoom) macrumors.com. The telephoto uses Apple’s tetraprism folded optic design for a compact 120mm equivalent zoom with advanced stabilization macrumors.com. The main 48MP sensor has been refined (Apple calls it second-generation Quad-Pixel), with a default output of 24MP for balanced quality and file size macrumors.com. You can still shoot full 48MP ProRAW or the new 48MP HEIF for maximum detail macrumors.com. Apple has expanded its computational photography: new Photographic Styles allow fine-grained tone and color adjustments live or after the fact macrumors.com macrumors.com. In challenging scenarios, the iPhone leans on its Photonic Engine pipeline and LiDAR scanner for speedy Night mode portraits and low-light AF. Video remains a crown jewel – the iPhone 16 Pro Max can record up to 4K at 120fps HDR (Dolby Vision), a first on any phone macrumors.com. It can also capture “spatial videos” and even spatial photos for the Vision Pro headset, using multiple lenses to create 3D imagery macrumors.com. In terms of results, iPhones are known for natural-looking photos and especially reliable video quality (great stabilization and realistic colors). Early comparisons show the 16 Pro Max maintains Apple’s lead in areas like macro detail (its new ultra-wide excels in close-ups) tomsguide.com, and it produces slightly brighter images by default than Samsung (sometimes at the cost of blown highlights) tomsguide.com. Overall, the iPhone’s camera appeals to those who want consistency and a pro-grade video camera in their pocket. With the new camera software tricks and that dedicated Camera button, it also directly caters to photography enthusiasts who want more manual-like control macrumors.com.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Samsung kept the impressive quad-camera hardware from last year and enhanced it in one area. You get a 200MP main sensor (f/1.7 aperture), which bins to 12MP or 50MP by default for sharp, bright images tomsguide.com. There are two telephoto lenses: a 3× optical (10MP) for portraits and mid-range, and a longer 5× periscope telephoto now upgraded to a 50MP sensor tomsguide.com. (Samsung moved to a 50MP 5× lens in the S24 Ultra and continues that here tomsguide.com, using high-res cropping to achieve up to ~10× lossless zoom – it’s a different approach from the old 10× lens, but image quality at zoom is excellent). The ultra-wide is the biggest improvement: bumped from 12MP to 50MP on the S25 Ultra, dramatically increasing detail in wide shots phonearena.com tomsguide.com. This also aids Samsung’s macro mode, though in testing the iPhone’s macro still had the edge in fine detail tomsguide.com. For most shooting, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s results are fantastic: the 200MP camera produces crisp photos with Samsung’s signature vibrant tone (which many love for its punch). It excels in low-light thanks to large sensor binning and aggressive Night Mode processing. In fact, the S25 Ultra tends to capture more contrast and detail in very bright scenes compared to the iPhone – e.g. in daylight ultrawide shots, reviewers noted the Galaxy preserved textures in sunlit areas better, whereas the iPhone was brighter but flatter tomsguide.com. Samsung’s Space Zoom (up to 100× digital) returns, and while extreme zoom is more of a party trick, anything up to 30× is surprisingly usable for moon shots or distant subjects, given the high-res tele sensors. Video on the Galaxy is top-tier as well: it can shoot 8K at 30fps and 4K up to 120fps (HDR10+ supported) tomsguide.com. Samsung also introduced a new “Pro Video” Log format for serious videographers to color grade footage tomsguide.com. One area Samsung focused on is AI photography features – e.g. the S25 can do things like Best Take (choose optimal faces from a burst), Object Eraser, and even an AI Photo Upscaler for old images. Overall, the S25 Ultra’s camera package is arguably the most versatile: ultrawide, normal, 3×, 5× tele lenses cover every focal length, and Samsung’s computational photography has caught up significantly. It may not always produce as neutral an image as Pixel or iPhone (Samsung likes punchy colors and high sharpening), but it offers the widest range of creative options. It’s a true do-it-all camera phone that will please power users who love tweaking settings and zooming to the max.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (XL): Google’s approach has long been “computational photography first.” The Pixel 9 Pro series has very robust camera hardware now to back that up. It sports a 50MP main sensor (around 1/1.3” size, similar to prior Pixel 7/8 Pro) plus, for the first time, all secondary cameras are high-res: a 48MP ultra-wide and 48MP 5× telephoto businessinsider.com. (This is the same array the Pixel 8 Pro introduced, which means Pixel no longer lags in sensor resolution). The 5× periscope lens allows up to 30× digital Super Res Zoom with Google’s AI upscaling – Pixels have impressed with how clear their zoom shots can be despite lower optical magnification. The ultra-wide’s 48MP sensor has autofocus, enabling detailed macro shots and even an astrophotography ultrawide mode (a Pixel specialty for capturing the night sky) androidauthority.com support.google.com. Where the Pixel truly shines is in software: the Pixel 9 Pro captures stunning images straight out of camera, with Google’s HDR+ doing automatic bracketing to perfectly expose tricky scenes. Colors are usually more natural than Samsung’s (Google emphasizes Real Tone accuracy especially for skin tones). In difficult lighting, the Pixel’s Night Sight is still virtually magic – it can pull out light from darkness with low noise, and the new Tensor G4 chip makes Night Sight and Photo Unblur even faster. The Pixel 9 also comes with new AI editing tools: for instance, Magic Editor can reframe and rescale subjects in your photos using generative AI, and Magic Eraser removes unwanted objects effortlessly. These are things Apple and Samsung can’t quite match natively. The trade-off: Pixel’s camera app can be slower (processing each shot briefly), and its video recording historically wasn’t as polished as iPhone’s. However, Google has been improving here too: Pixel 9 Pro records up to 4K60 with great stabilization, and introduces features like Audio Magic Eraser (to reduce background noise in videos) and Night Sight Video via post-processing. Additionally, the Pixel leverages on-device AI for unique perks – e.g. it can take a series of group photos and suggest the best face for each person (a Group Pose AI blend). Overall, if your priority is point-and-shoot ease with brilliant results, the Pixel 9 Pro is a dream. Reviewers say “no other Android phone comes close to the Pixel’s camera” businessinsider.com businessinsider.com in terms of consistent quality. The images have that trademark Pixel contrast and sharpness, and now with a refreshed hardware suite, it competes head-on with Apple and Samsung on zoom and ultrawide capabilities as well. Serious photographers might miss a fully manual mode (Samsung offers a Pro mode), but Google tends to “just get the shot” correctly with minimal fiddling – an approach many casual users prefer.

Battery Life and Charging

With large screens and powerful chips, battery life is crucial. Here’s how they stack up:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: It comes with roughly a 4,685 mAh battery (Apple doesn’t quote it, but teardowns put it just under 4700mAh). Thanks to iOS optimization and the efficient A18 Pro chip, the 16 Pro Max is a battery champ. In standardized tests it lasted about 17 hours 35 minutes of continuous web surfing over 5G tomsguide.com – slightly longer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra achieved and one of the best results Apple has ever posted. Users easily get a full day and then some; many report ending the day with ~20-30% remaining on moderate use. Apple also tuned the device for better sustained performance per watt (the new 3nm chip uses ~20-30% less power for the same work compared to the last gen) macrumors.com macrumors.com. When you do need to charge, Apple has finally embraced USB-C on the iPhone 16 series. Wired charging speeds are still on the conservative side: up to 30W supported. In real terms that means ~55% charge in 30 minutes with a high-speed adapter tomsguide.com – not slow, but far from the rapid charging of some Androids. For wireless, the 16 Pro Max now supports the updated MagSafe 25W standard (previously 15W) macrumors.com, so magnetically snapping on Apple’s new MagSafe Charger juices it up a bit faster than before. There’s also 15W Qi wireless (Qi2) support for standard pads macrumors.com. Battery longevity is a strong suit – Apple’s tight hardware-software integration means the battery should age well, and iOS has features like optimized charging to reduce wear. While Apple doesn’t chase super fast charging, the 16 Pro Max’s endurance is top-notch, consistently getting through heavy days (gaming, 5G, camera use) without anxiety.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, the S25 Ultra likewise delivers excellent endurance. In the same 5G web browsing test, it hit 17 hours 14 minutes on a charge tomsguide.com – just 20 minutes shy of the iPhone’s time, and actually better than its Galaxy S24 predecessor by about a half hour. In everyday use, this translates to easily all-day battery life; many users get 6-8 hours of screen-on time with power to spare. Samsung also added new software toggles to extend battery life (e.g. a Light performance mode, and the ability to drop refresh to 60Hz on demand). In fact, in a 60Hz power-save mode the S25 Ultra lasted 18.5 hours in testing tomsguide.com, showing you can stretch it further if needed. When it comes to charging, Samsung sticks with its tried-and-true 45W fast charging (USB-C PD). This can refill the phone to ~70% in 30 minutes tomsguide.com, and about 100% in under an hour. While 45W isn’t industry-leading (some Chinese phones do 80-150W), it’s faster than Apple and more than sufficient for most – the convenience is that even a short 15-minute top-up gives you hours of use. The S25 Ultra does not have built-in magnets for the new Qi2 standard (Samsung oddly left them out to save weight) tomsguide.com, but you can use magnetic wireless chargers if you put on a supported case. It supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 up to 15W on any Qi pad (and reverse wireless charging to power your Galaxy Buds or watch on the phone’s back). Overall, the Galaxy matches the iPhone in real-world stamina – a testament to Qualcomm’s efficiency gains and Samsung’s One UI 7 optimizations. And its charging is notably quicker than iPhone: 71% in half an hour vs 55% for iPhone 16 Pro Max tomsguide.com. For road warriors, that faster top-up and the option of carrying an extra 45W USB-C charger means you can fill up the S25 Ultra midday much faster when needed.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro / Pro XL: The smaller Pixel 9 Pro has about a 4,700 mAh battery, while the Pro XL sports a 5,060 mAh cell tomsguide.com. Google’s phones have historically been decent, if not class-leading, in battery life – but the Pixel 9 series looks to buck that trend. Google heavily optimized power management with Tensor G4. In one reviewer’s real-world usage, the Pixel 9 Pro excelled: after a day with ~4 hours of screen-on time, the phone still had 30-40% left at night droid-life.com. The larger Pixel 9 Pro XL was even more impressive, often ending the day with 50%+ remaining after ~4 hours SOT droid-life.com – indicating it can easily be a two-day device for moderate users. That reviewer described the battery life on both models as “excellent” and among the best of any big-screen phone they’ve used droid-life.com droid-life.com. However, a controlled test paints a slightly different picture: in the same continuous web surfing test, the Pixel 9 Pro XL lasted 12 hours 54 minutes, notably behind the iPhone and Galaxy (which were 17+ hours) tomsguide.com. This discrepancy suggests the Pixel’s aggressive standby battery management and perhaps higher display power draw at 150 nits. In day-to-day use (which involves standby time), the Pixels seem to hold up very well – they might not win a marathon torture test, but they conserve power smartly when idle. As for charging, Google did bump speeds a bit: the Pixel 9 Pro supports up to 27W wired charging, while the bigger 9 Pro XL can do 37W (when using Google’s new 45W USB-C charger) droid-life.com. These are still on the slower side – expect roughly 50% in 30 minutes for the Pro, and a bit higher for the XL droid-life.com. It’s certainly behind Samsung’s 45W and far off the 65W+ some others offer. Both Pixels support wireless charging (up to ~23W on Google’s Pixel Stand, 12-15W on standard Qi pads) and reverse wireless share. Google’s reasoning is likely to preserve battery health and because their standby efficiency makes ultra-fast charging less critical. All told, the Pixel 9 Pro/XL should comfortably get you through a full day and then some, matching iPhone and Samsung in practical daily longevity. Just note that if you do push it to empty, charging back up will require a bit more patience compared to the Galaxy’s super fast top-ups.

Software and Ecosystem Integration

Each phone not only offers a different OS (iOS vs Android) but a different ecosystem philosophy:

• Apple iPhone (iOS 18): The iPhone 16 Pro Max runs iOS 18 (out of the box) which refines the user experience Apple is known for. You get the tight integration of Apple’s ecosystem – features like Continuity that let your iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch work seamlessly together. For example, you can start editing a document or email on the iPhone and instantly pick up on a Mac, or use the iPhone as a high-quality webcam for your Mac via Continuity Camera. iMessage and FaceTime remain big draws – they’re encrypted, smoothly integrated across devices, and iPhone-exclusive (which keeps many friend groups tied to iOS). iOS 18 adds some new tricks, including more interactive widgets and enhanced personalization (following on iOS 17’s customizable lock screens). Apple’s ecosystem advantage also shows in things like AirPods auto-pairing, AirDrop sharing, and the new ability for the iPhone’s USB-C port to charge other devices like your AirPods case or Apple Watch macrumors.com. On the app side, iOS still enjoys arguably the best app quality and first-wave support from developers (many apps and games launch on iOS first). Privacy and security are a hallmark – iPhones get frequent security patches, and Apple’s App Store policies (while restrictive) do keep malware incidence very low. For those already using MacBooks, iPads, or an Apple Watch, the 16 Pro Max is a no-brainer to slot into that ecosystem. It will also get 5+ years of iOS updates (based on past trends), so it’s a long-term investment. New iOS features like Visual Lookup and Live Voicemail transcription all run smoothly on the A18 chip. However, iOS remains a walled garden in some respects: you can’t fully customize the interface or sideload apps (not without risky hacks), and integration with non-Apple devices is limited. In summary, the iPhone provides a polished, cohesive software experience with unrivaled ecosystem continuity – great for those who are all-in on Apple or who value simplicity and reliability over deep customization.
• Samsung Galaxy (Android 14 with One UI 7): The S25 Ultra runs Samsung’s One UI 7 atop Android. One UI is known for its rich feature set and customization. If iOS is about uniformity, One UI is about options. You have features like Samsung DeX (which lets you connect the phone to a monitor/TV and use a desktop-like interface – turning your phone into a PC), extensive theming support, and multifaceted multitasking (split-screen apps, floating windows, and improved task swapping). One UI 7 brings a refreshed Quick Settings/Notifications design that is more intuitive (separating quick toggles vs notifications, much like iOS Control Center) tomsguide.com. Samsung also streamlined the camera app UI for easier use of all those features tomsguide.com. Crucially, Samsung’s ecosystem has expanded: while not as vertically integrated as Apple’s, it covers a lot – Galaxy Watch wearables that sync fitness data with the phone, Galaxy Buds that seamlessly pair and even auto-switch between your Samsung devices, and SmartThings for smart home control (plus Samsung’s appliances, if you own any, tie into that). Samsung phones also integrate well with Windows PCs via the “Link to Windows” partnership – you can get phone notifications on your PC, easily share files, and even run mobile apps on your Windows desktop. The inclusion of S Pen stylus on the S25 Ultra is a software advantage too: One UI includes Samsung Notes (excellent for handwritten notes or sketches) and system-wide stylus support (hovering, handwriting input, air commands – minus the removed Bluetooth gestures) that no other flagship has. For Android enthusiasts, One UI offers far more customization than stock – you can tweak your home screen layout, use Good Lock modules to modify the UI, or even expand storage via microSD (actually, note: Samsung removed microSD years ago from Ultras, so scratch that – storage is internal only, though up to 1TB option is available). Another big win: Samsung is now promising 7 years of OS updates for the S25 Ultra tomsguide.com, matching Google’s policy and surpassing even Apple in terms of official support period. That means this phone will get Android version upgrades up through Android 21 and remain secure till 2031 tomsguide.com. In day-to-day use, One UI is snappy and smooth on the 120Hz display, and while it’s more complex than iOS, it’s also more powerful. You can truly make the device yours. The only drawbacks are some duplicate apps (Samsung’s vs Google’s, though you can hide or disable what you don’t use) and slightly slower major updates than Google’s Pixels (Samsung is usually a month or two behind Pixel for new Android versions, despite the long support). For anyone who loves Android’s flexibility, uses other Samsung products, or wants that Swiss-army-knife phone that can do everything (from pen input to desktop mode), the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s software delivers in spades.
• Google Pixel (Android 15 with Pixel UI): The Pixel 9 Pro launched with Android 14 and will be among the first to get Android 15 (likely in late 2024), given Google’s phones get day-one updates. Pixel UI is essentially Google’s vision of Android – clean, minimal bloat, and increasingly infused with smart features. The interface is cohesive and elegant, with Material You theming that adapts system colors to your wallpaper. Unlike Samsung, Google doesn’t overload settings with extra options; it’s closer to stock Android, which many appreciate for its simplicity. That said, Pixels have a lot of hidden smarts. For instance, the Pixel 9 has Call Screen that can automatically answer unknown calls and transcribe the caller’s message in real time so you only pick up if it’s important – a feature that’s a godsend for dodging spam calls. It also offers Hold For Me (the phone waits on hold during service calls and notifies you when a rep comes on), and Recorder app that does on-device transcription of voice recordings with speaker labeling (journalists love this). These are small quality-of-life things where Pixel leads. Pixel 9 Pro also includes the new Gemini AI features (detailed below) which essentially upgrades Google Assistant into a more conversational, ChatGPT-like helper right on your phone businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Ecosystem-wise, Google is expanding – there are Pixel Buds, the Pixel Watch, and Nest smart home devices, all of which integrate nicely (e.g. Pixel Watch integrates Fitbit health tracking to the phone, and you can use your Pixel Buds to get real-time translations via the phone, etc.). It’s not as tightly unified as Apple’s ecosystem, but the use of Google services (Gmail, Google Photos, Drive, etc.) means your stuff is accessible on any platform. Pixel phones also come with perks like Google One cloud storage trials and feature drops – Pixel 9 Pro specifically includes a free year of Google One Premium (2TB) which also enables the full Gemini AI assistant features businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. One huge selling point: starting with Pixel 8/9, Google guarantees 7 years of OS and security updates tomsguide.com. That means the Pixel 9 Pro could get updates all the way until 2031, outlasting even many iPhones in software support. This long support combined with reasonable pricing makes Pixel an excellent long-term value. In summary, Pixel’s software offers the purest Android experience with Google’s special AI enhancements on top. It’s ideal for those deeply into Google’s app ecosystem, or anyone who wants a hassle-free Android that’s smart out-of-the-box. You won’t get the visual flair or breadth of features of Samsung’s One UI, but you will get a phone that is consistently helpful in day-to-day life and always up to date.

AI and Smart Features: The New Battleground

One of the defining themes of these 2024–2025 flagships is AI integration. Each phone leverages AI in new ways:

• Apple (On-Device “Apple Intelligence”): Apple tends to use AI quietly to enhance existing experiences rather than headline-grabbing chatbots. In the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the A18 Pro’s Neural Engine is 2× faster and optimized for machine learning tasks macrumors.com macrumors.com. What does that enable? For one, Apple introduced Visual Intelligence in iOS 18, which works hand-in-hand with the new Camera Control button macrumors.com. You can point the camera at an object or scene, press and hold the Camera button, and the iPhone will identify what it’s seeing and give relevant information – for example, pointing at a landmark might show its name and history, or at a plant to identify the species macrumors.com macrumors.com. It’s akin to Google Lens, but Apple is building it into the camera UI directly. This feature can even integrate with third-party tools; Apple mentioned tying it to things like searching for products online or interacting with AI helpers like ChatGPT via the camera interface macrumors.com. Siri is also gradually improving – while not a leap to ChatGPT-level, iOS 18 lets Siri handle more complex requests on-device (thanks to the beefier Neural Engine). For example, transcribing voice messages, doing offline translations, or running Shortcuts with multi-step commands are faster and more reliable now. Privacy is a big angle for Apple: features like Live Voicemail (transcribing calls in real-time) and autocorrect improvements use on-device neural nets so your data doesn’t leave the phone. The iPhone also continues to offer Emergency SOS via Satellite, a life-saving feature introduced in iPhone 14 – if you’re off-grid with no cell signal, you can point your iPhone 16 to the sky to send a emergency text via satellite to get help macrumors.com. (Samsung now has a version of this too, but Apple’s is more widely available globally and free for two years). Apple’s approach to AI is very deliberate: they incorporate it in ways that “just work” without the user needing to understand AI. Face ID, for example, uses advanced ML for recognition and has gotten even faster. The Photos app’s Search and Memories use AI to organize your snapshots and even create photo/video montages set to music. And with iOS 18, Apple is reportedly working on an AI coaching feature in the Health app and journaling suggestions that use AI to prompt you to reflect on your day – all done on-device. In short, the iPhone 16 Pro Max won’t chat with you like ChatGPT, but it quietly uses AI to make the user experience smoother and more personalized, all while emphasizing privacy. It’s the classic Apple way: AI as an enhancer, not a standalone feature.
• Samsung (Gemini AI & One UI 7’s Smart Features): Samsung took a big leap by partnering with Google to embed Google Gemini AI deeply into the Galaxy S25 Ultra tomsguide.com. This essentially supercharges Samsung’s voice assistant capabilities. Now, you can perform “cross-app actions” with a single voice command – a standout new feature. For example, you can press the side key and say: “Look up the date of the Oscars, add it to my calendar, and text it to Mike.” In a demo, the S25 Ultra did exactly that: it fetched the Oscars date from the web, created a calendar event via Google, then sent the info in an SMS to the contact – all from one spoken command tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. This kind of multi-step, multi-app automation by voice is powered by the generative AI understanding of context (Gemini) plus Samsung’s device integration. It’s like having a real assistant that can string tasks together. Another example: “Find the top 5 rooftop bars nearby and put their addresses and phone numbers in a note.” The Galaxy did that in seconds, pulling info from Google and populating a list in Samsung Notes tomsguide.com. This agentic AI is something Samsung is pushing as a game-changer in how we use phones tomsguide.com. Beyond that, One UI 7 introduces AI Select, which watches your on-screen content and offers contextual actions tomsguide.com. For instance, if you’re watching a video, a single tap can invoke AI to do things like convert part of a video into a GIF (it can detect a clip and make a GIF on the fly) tomsguide.com. Samsung also upgraded its long-press home key function “Circle to Search” – you draw a circle around anything on screen and it will identify it or offer actions. Now it can recognize text like emails or phone numbers to let you quickly copy or use them, and even recognize music or sounds playing in a video tomsguide.com. Then there’s Now Brief – a personalized morning briefing powered by AI tomsguide.com. It combines your calendar, weather, news, and even health or sleep data from your Galaxy Watch into a smart summary to start your day tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Samsung says it will learn your routine and preferences (via a “Personal Data Engine”) to become more tailored – effectively a mini personalized newsfeed/assistant on your lock screen or home page. Early reviews say Now Brief is a bit basic currently (showing generic news that could be more relevant) tomsguide.com, but it’s something that will improve as the AI learns. The S25 Ultra also has Now Bar, which is like iOS Live Activities – it shows live, glanceable info (sports scores, delivery status, timers) on your lock screen in little card bubbles tomsguide.com. Furthermore, thanks to the Gemini integration, you can ask the phone questions about whatever you’re doing: e.g. watching a YouTube video, you can ask, “summarize the key points of this video,” and it will analyze the content and give you an AI-generated summary tomsguide.com. Or pause on a photo and ask “what building is this?” – it will identify it, much like Apple’s Visual Lookup tomsguide.com. Samsung’s Gallery app also gained a powerful AI search – you can type a natural phrase like “flower close-up” and it will find matching images using AI object recognition tomsguide.com. The bottom line is Samsung is all-in on making the smartphone experience AI-driven to save you time. The S25 Ultra can automate chores, answer complex queries by consulting multiple sources, and proactively surface info when you need it. It’s not perfect yet (and some features like Now Brief are still evolving tomsguide.com), but it’s arguably the most ambitious use of AI on any smartphone so far. The partnership with Google (Gemini) ensures Samsung isn’t going alone – it’s leveraging Google’s strongest AI while adding its own One UI enhancements. For power users, this means the S25 Ultra not only has the hardware muscle, but also a sort of virtual assistant that can truly act on your behalf across apps, which is a glimpse of the future.
• Google Pixel (Gemini AI and “Pixel intelligence”): Given that Google develops cutting-edge AI, it’s no surprise the Pixel 9 Pro is a showcase for Google’s AI prowess. The star is the new Google Assistant with Gemini – essentially Google’s answer to ChatGPT/Copilot built into the phone. On the Pixel, you can talk or type to Gemini AI to handle a huge range of requests. For example, you might ask, “Plan a weekend trip to Paris including flights under $500 and a list of must-see attractions,” and Gemini can attempt to do that conversationally. It has read “a massive amount of web data and sources” and can synthesize answers in natural language businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Unlike the old Assistant which mainly did one-shot commands or Google searches, Gemini can hold a conversation – you can ask follow-ups, refine results, etc., right in the Assistant interface businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. What’s special about Pixel 9 Pro is it comes with a free year of “Gemini Advanced” (normally part of a $20/month Google One subscription) businessinsider.com. Gemini Advanced is a more powerful version of the AI (akin to ChatGPT-4 vs 3.5) that gives more detailed and accurate responses businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. In testing, standard Gemini and Advanced were similar in factual accuracy (and both are improving as Google updates the model), but Advanced can provide more in-depth answers businessinsider.com. Google also offers Gemini Live, an evolution of voice assistant: you can speak to it naturally without “Hey Google” each time, and it responds with a very human-like voice in a continuous conversation businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. Early users report it’s surprisingly good – it will listen for pauses and respond, making it feel more like talking to a person than issuing voice commands. All of this is integrated into Pixel’s UI; for instance, you can long-squeeze the Pixel (Active Edge) or say a hotword to invoke the assistant anywhere. Apart from Gemini, Pixel phones pack plenty of other AI-driven features: the Pixel Call Assist suite is a prime example. The new Call Summary feature on Pixel 9 can provide a transcript and summary of phone calls after you hang up (useful for meetings) – similar to what Samsung introduced tomsguide.com tomsguide.com, though Google’s was in development concurrently. Pixels will also be first to get Assistant with Bard integration, meaning you can ask your Assistant to do things like draft an email for you drawing on information from your Gmail and Docs (with your permission) – essentially AI that understands your personal context. Google’s Recorder app, as mentioned, is AI gold: it transcribes meetings in real-time and can even summarize them (Pixel 9 makes these summaries more concise and useful). And we can’t forget the camera’s AI: features like Best Take (choosing best faces in group photos), Magic Editor, and Cinematic wallpapers (using AI to animate a still photo subtly) all show Google’s AI flair. The Pixel’s Now Playing feature deserves a shoutout too: it uses AI to identify songs playing around you entirely offline and show the track name on your lock screen – a little thing, but magic when you use it. With 7 years of “AI innovations” promised in updates store.google.com, the Pixel 9 Pro is going to keep gaining new AI features over time. In essence, the Pixel is the phone that most directly embeds AI at its core – from helping screen calls to writing texts for you. It’s like having Google’s best AI researcher in your pocket, tinkering to make the phone anticipate your needs. If you are excited by the future of AI, Pixel gives you the bleeding-edge experience (and arguably uses AI in more everyday-useful ways than any other, especially for call management and photo editing). The gap between it and Samsung’s approach is narrowing (since both use Google’s Gemini now), but Pixel retains some exclusive Google AI perks and gets them first.

Pricing and Availability

Finally, let’s talk dollars and launch details:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Launched in September 2024 as Apple’s flagship, it hit stores shortly after announcement (mid-September in most regions). Pricing starts at $1,199 USD for the base 256GB model (Apple actually doubled the Pro Max base storage this generation) macrumors.com macrumors.com. Higher capacities (512GB, 1TB) cost more, reaching up to around $1,599 for the 1TB edition. In Europe and other markets, prices are similarly premium (e.g. ~£1,199 in the UK, €1,399 in much of the EU for base). The iPhone 16 Pro Max is widely available through Apple Stores, carriers, and retailers globally – Apple launched it in all its usual markets (North America, Europe, most of Asia, etc.) simultaneously. Given Apple’s production scale, it’s not hard to get one unless initial demand causes temporary sell-outs. There are four color options (Black, White, Natural Titanium, and a new Desert (gold) Titanium) macrumors.com. As an iPhone, it will hold its value well and Apple typically sells the Pro Max variant until the next model arrives (and often beyond, through resellers). One thing to note: in the US it’s eSIM-only (no physical SIM tray), which is something international travelers should consider, though in most other countries Apple still includes a nano-SIM slot.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Announced in early 2025 and released on February 7, 2025 tomsguide.com. Samsung kept pricing the same as the last generation: it starts at $1,299 USD for 256GB (with 12GB RAM) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. You can bump to 512GB for about $120 more (often Samsung promos will double your storage for free during pre-orders), and there’s a 1TB model around $1,659. In the UK it’s ~£1,249 and Europe ~€1,399 for base, roughly on par with the iPhone’s pricing. Samsung offered aggressive trade-in deals at launch (up to $900 off with device trade-ins plus Samsung credit) tomsguide.com, making it possible to snag the Ultra for much less if you had an older device. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is sold through all major carriers, electronics stores, and Samsung’s own website. It launched in a few slick colors: Phantom Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Silverblue, and Titanium Whitesilver (the names reflecting the new titanium frame) tomsguide.com. Additionally, Samsung’s site often has exclusive colors like Jade Green or Pink Gold for those who want something different tomsguide.com. Being an Android, it has both physical dual SIM (in most regions) and eSIM support. Availability is global – Samsung pushed it in the US, Europe, India, Korea, etc., basically anywhere premium Galaxy phones are sold. If you’re in the market, note that new Galaxy S devices often see a price drop or at least frequent discounts a few months after release, unlike iPhones which rarely get marked down quickly. Also, by late summer 2025, Samsung tends to offer promos as it prepares for the next Note/Z series or the S26 the following year.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro (and 9 Pro XL): Google took a slightly different launch strategy in 2024. The Pixel 9 Pro XL (6.8-inch) actually released first in August 2024, while the regular Pixel 9 Pro (6.3-inch) came a few weeks later in September 2024 businessinsider.com. This staggered launch was new for Google – perhaps to give the XL its own spotlight as the big battery champ. The pricing undercuts Apple and Samsung: Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999 USD (128GB), and Pixel 9 Pro XL at $1,099 USD (128GB) businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. So essentially, Google is offering a similar top-tier experience for a couple hundred less than the others – though keep in mind the base storage on Pixel is 128GB (vs 256GB on iPhone Pro Max and S25 Ultra). If you match 256GB, the Pixel 9 Pro is $1,099 and the XL $1,199, still a bit cheaper than equivalent Apple/Samsung. In the UK, base Pixel 9 Pro was £899 and Pixel 9 Pro XL £999, which was considered very competitive. Google sells Pixels in its own online Google Store, as well as through carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, etc., and retailers like Best Buy. However, availability by country is more limited – Google officially sells Pixels in select markets (US, Canada, UK, parts of Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.), but notably not in many regions that Samsung/Apple cover (for example, no official Pixel presence in large markets like China or India as of 2025). So depending on where you live, a Pixel might be an import-only option. Color options for the Pixel 9 Pro series included standard Google whimsical names (e.g. Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), and a Sky blue shade). One advantage with Pixel – it often goes on sale or has promotions (Google isn’t shy about $100 off deals a few months in, or bundling Pixel Buds or Google One subscriptions). Also worth noting, Google phones come unlocked by default when bought from Google Store, giving flexibility with carriers. In terms of availability, initial stock was decent but the Pro XL saw some backorder delays (likely due to that big new display). By early 2025, you can find both readily available in their launch countries.

Each of these phones is a significant investment, but they also offer top-tier longevity: the iPhone will get iOS updates for ~5+ years, and notably the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro are promised 7 years of updates tomsguide.com – an unprecedented level of support in Android land that adds value for the long term. So whichever you choose, it’s built to last.

Conclusion: Which Superphone is Right for You?

Choosing a “dominator” among the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Pixel 9 Pro is tough – all three are exceptional ultra-premium phones, but each targets a slightly different user:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max is the refinement king. It doesn’t have wild new form-factors or the flashiest spec sheet, but it delivers a consistently excellent experience across the board – blistering CPU performance tomsguide.com, a top-notch camera that particularly shines for video and ease of use, and the deep Apple ecosystem integration that many find invaluable. It’s the phone for those who want polish and reliability, creative professionals who shoot lots of video or edit on the go (the App Store still has the edge in pro apps), and anyone already embedded in Apple’s world of services and devices. Its new features like the Camera button and Visual Intelligence show Apple is thinking about pro users (photographers, etc.) and augmented reality (with spatial photos for Vision Pro). While it may not wow with an AI that writes your texts for you, it wows in nailing the fundamentals – display, battery life, build quality, and a smooth, privacy-focused software experience. If you value long-term software support, strong resale value, and that feeling of things “just working,” the iPhone 16 Pro Max is an outstanding choice macrumors.com. It’s a phone that will still feel high-end years from now, and with Apple’s silicon lead, it’s arguably the most future-proof in raw performance.
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the feature powerhouse. It’s the phone that tries to do everything – and largely succeeds. Want the best zoom in the business? It has it phonearena.com. Want a pen to jot notes or sketch? It’s built-in. Want a massive, vibrant screen that’s a joy for movies and multitasking? Done tomsguide.com. And now, with Samsung’s embrace of AI, it also wants to be your personal assistant, linking tasks across your digital life with a simple voice command tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The S25 Ultra is ideal for power users and Android enthusiasts: those who push their device to the limit, whether in productivity (thanks to DeX and S Pen), media consumption (stereo speakers, expandable storage via USB-C drives), or customization. It’s also the safest choice on Android if you want a bit of everything – best-in-class hardware, a very capable camera system, and now guaranteed updates matching Google’s timeline tomsguide.com. Samsung’s ecosystem may not be as closed-loop as Apple’s, but it offers flexibility: use any wireless earbuds or watches you like, customize your phone’s look and feel freely, and enjoy integration with a wide array of third-party services. The Galaxy S25 Ultra will appeal to those who look at an iPhone and feel constrained – it’s the antidote, brimming with toggles and settings to tweak. That said, all those features add complexity, and not everyone needs an S Pen or cares about 100× zoom. You pay for it in price and a device that’s physically large (though lighter than before). But if you want the most advanced Android phone on the planet – one that basically has no weak point – the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a strong contender for dominating 2025.
• Google Pixel 9 Pro / Pro XL is the smart companion. It might not have as much glitz as the other two, but it’s arguably the most user-centric phone. Google prioritizes the things that make daily use easier: the calls you don’t want to take, the photos you want to fix, the information you need at your fingertips. The Pixel 9 Pro is for camera buffs who love Google’s image processing and for AI enthusiasts who want the latest tricks (having the new Gemini AI at your beck and call is a huge plus) businessinsider.com businessinsider.com. It’s also a great value proposition – slightly more affordable, while not compromising on any core experience. The design has finally reached a premium grade, and the screen is the best Google’s ever put in a phone (truly, that 3000-nit brightness is a sleeper spec that you’ll appreciate outdoors). Where the Pixel may fall short for some is raw performance (gamers might prefer the iPhone or Galaxy’s extra GPU power) and the lack of some “extras” (no stylus, no expandable storage, no 8K video, etc.). But it excels at the everyday: fantastic battery life in real use droid-life.com, clean software with day-one updates, and genuinely useful features you won’t find elsewhere (spam call screening, on-device translation, Magic Eraser, etc.). It’s the phone that quietly does a lot for you without fanfare. If you’re someone who just wants your phone to be helpful and hassle-free, the Pixel is extremely appealing. Plus, you’re effectively buying into Google’s roadmap of AI advancements for the next several years – this device will likely get even smarter with each Feature Drop.

In the end, “Which superphone will dominate 2025?” might come down to what you value most:

• For the best ecosystem and all-around dependable choice, many will gravitate to the iPhone 16 Pro Max – it’s a safe bet with stellar performance and no real weaknesses macrumors.com.
• For the most innovative features and all-in-one productivity device, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is hard to beat – it’s pushing boundaries in AI, camera tech, and versatility (it’s basically trying to replace your need for a laptop, a notepad, and a DSLR in one go).
• For the smartest software experience and photography perfection, the Pixel 9 Pro/XL makes a compelling case – it’s slightly understated but incredibly savvy, and it gives you almost all the flagship perks at a lower price point.

All three will likely be among the best phones of 2025, period. There’s no outright flop in this bunch – whichever you pick, you’re getting a top-tier smartphone that should serve you well for years. The real winner of this showdown is you, the user: with Apple, Samsung, and Google fiercely competing, 2025’s smartphones are delivering more power and smarts than ever before. Your choice will dominate your pocket, and hopefully this comparison helps make that decision a bit clearer.

Sources: Key specifications and claims have been sourced from official announcements and respected tech reviews for accuracy – including MacRumors (for Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max features) macrumors.com macrumors.com, Tom’s Guide and PhoneArena (for Galaxy S25 Ultra performance, camera, and AI features) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com, and Business Insider and Droid-Life (for Pixel 9 Pro series design, battery, and camera insights) businessinsider.com droid-life.com, among others. Each platform’s strengths – from Apple’s A18 Pro chip to Samsung’s cross-app AI and Google’s Gemini assistant – have been cross-referenced with these reputable sources to provide a reliable and up-to-date comparison. The result is a comprehensive look at how these “superphones” stack up in the race to rule 2025.