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Ultimate Flagship Showdown 2025: iPhone 16 Pro vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Ultimate Flagship Showdown 2025: iPhone 16 Pro vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Ultimate Flagship Showdown 2025: iPhone 16 Pro vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 15 Ultra

In 2025, three “ultra” smartphones rule the high-end roost: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra. Each is a technological powerhouse available as of August 15, 2025, and each targets the most demanding users. This comprehensive comparison examines every aspect – from design, hardware and performance to cameras, software, AI features, battery life, pricing, and beyond – to see how these titans stack up. We’ll also peek at what’s coming next from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi.

(Spoiler: all three phones are phenomenal, but key differences in cameras, charging, software, and ecosystem could sway your choice.) Let’s dive in.

Design, Build Quality & Displays

All three phones exude a premium look and feel, with big vibrant screens and high-end materials:

  • Build Materials: Apple and Samsung have turned to titanium for their flagships. The iPhone 16 Pro’s frame is made of titanium (with a matte textured glass back) and comes in new “Titanium” finishes (Black, White, Natural, Desert) en.wikipedia.org hothardware.com. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also sports a titanium alloy frame with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 front/back panels for improved durability en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi sticks with a metal frame (aluminum alloy) and sturdy build; its 15 Ultra offers glass or ceramic back options (including a striking “Silver Chrome” edition) and Xiaomi’s Shield Glass 2.0 for drop resistance techradar.com techradar.com. All three are IP68 water and dust resistant – iPhone and Galaxy up to 6m for 30 min en.wikipedia.org, Samsung officially 1.5m for 30 min en.wikipedia.org, and Xiaomi similarly rated for daily splashes.
  • Dimensions & Weight: The iPhone is the most compact. Its 6.3″ iPhone 16 Pro measures 149.6×71.5×8.25 mm and 199 g en.wikipedia.org – significantly smaller and lighter than the big-screen rivals. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is a behemoth at 6.9″ display, 163.0×77.6×8.25 mm, 227 g en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra falls in between: 6.73″ display, ~161.3×75.3×9.35 mm, 226–229 g (depending on finish) mi.com mi.com. The Xiaomi is the thickest due to its huge camera module and battery. In the hand, the iPhone Pro feels noticeably more compact and manageable, whereas the S25 Ultra and 15 Ultra are huge slab phones with broad footprint – great for media, but two-handed use is often needed.
  • Design Aesthetics: Apple’s design is familiar – flat edges, a Ceramic Shield front, and that Dynamic Island at the top of the display. The 16 Pro looks almost identical to the 15 Pro, just slightly larger with thinner bezels hothardware.com hothardware.com. Samsung’s S25 Ultra has softened its formerly boxy Note-like design: it now has rounded corners and a less aggressive camera bump design en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, while still maintaining the distinct quad-camera layout on the back. Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra goes for bold camera-centric styling – a massive circular Leica-branded camera module dominates the rear (“bombastic” in TechRadar’s words) techradar.com. All three come in subdued professional colors (black/gray, silvers, etc.), with some special hues: e.g. Samsung offers online-exclusive colors like Titanium Jade Green and Pink Gold en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, Xiaomi has Black, White, and a mirror-like Silver Chrome mi.com, and Apple’s palette includes a unique Desert Titanium tan en.wikipedia.org.
  • Display Specs: You get gorgeous OLED panels either way, but sizes differ:
    • iPhone 16 Pro: 6.3″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz LTPO ProMotion, Always-On display, with a slightly unusual 2622×1206 resolution (~460 ppi) apple.com apple.com. Peak brightness hits 2000 nits for HDR (like its predecessor) – superb outdoor visibility.
    • Galaxy S25 Ultra: 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO, 1–120Hz, HDR10+, with a sharp QHD+ resolution (3120×1440, ~498 ppi) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Samsung pushed peak brightness to a blinding 2600 nits en.wikipedia.org, currently among the brightest displays in any phone.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra: 6.73″ WQHD+ LTPO AMOLED, 1–120Hz, supporting Dolby Vision/HDR10+. Resolution 3200×1440 (522 ppi) techradar.com techradar.com. Astonishing peak brightness up to 3200 nits in highlights mi.com – even higher than Samsung’s – making it extremely viewable in sunlight. Xiaomi uses a slightly curved “all-around liquid” display design at the edges mi.com, whereas the iPhone is flat and Samsung’s is nearly flat (very subtle curve).
    All three screens are top-tier: vibrant colors, deep blacks, and adaptive high refresh rates for smooth scrolling. The Galaxy and Xiaomi gain an edge for sheer size and resolution (great for productivity or movies), while the iPhone’s smaller screen might be easier on battery and one-handed use. Samsung and Xiaomi also support pen input (the S25 Ultra’s built-in S Pen, and Xiaomi’s optional Smart Pen), whereas the iPhone relies on touch and doesn’t work with Apple Pencil.
  • Biometrics & Extras: Apple sticks with Face ID facial recognition (enabled by the TrueDepth camera in the Dynamic Island) apple.com – fast and seamless, but no fingerprint option. Samsung and Xiaomi opt for fingerprint scanners: both use ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors (fast and reliable) en.wikipedia.org mi.com, plus have 2D face unlock (less secure). The S25 Ultra retains the S Pen stylus silo – a hallmark for note-takers and sketchers – though it controversially dropped the Bluetooth functions (no more remote camera shutter or air gestures) to simplify the pen en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. The iPhone has Mute/Action Button that can be customized (Apple added a new “Camera Control” half-press shutter feature to help frame shots, acting like a two-stage camera button) hothardware.com. Xiaomi lacks a stylus or specialized button, but it does include an IR blaster for controlling appliances and even an under-display 32MP selfie camera (an “in-display” camera) on its 15 Ultra mi.com – meaning no visible hole-punch on the front. (Samsung uses a standard punch-hole 12MP selfie, Apple’s is in the pill-shaped cutout.)

Overall, each phone’s design reflects its DNA: iPhone is sleek and secure with Face ID and refined build, Galaxy is feature-packed with a huge screen and stylus in tow, and Xiaomi is a camera-focused slab with extreme display specs. No matter which you pick, you’re getting a durable premium device with an incredible screen.

Performance, Hardware & Benchmarks

Under the hood, these flagships run on the latest and greatest processors of 2025, but there are some differences in approach:

  • Chipsets (SoC):
    • Apple A18 Pro (3 nm): The iPhone 16 Pro is powered by Apple’s custom A18 Pro chip en.wikipedia.org. It’s a 6‑core CPU design (2 performance cores @ ~4.0 GHz + 4 efficiency cores @ ~2.4 GHz) with a 6‑core Apple GPU en.wikipedia.org and a 16‑core Neural Engine apple.com. Apple dropped the “Bionic” naming; the A18 Pro is built on TSMC’s N3E 3nm process and focuses on both speed and on-chip AI processing hothardware.com hothardware.com. It also features Apple’s second-gen hardware ray tracing for gaming hothardware.com. Historically, Apple’s A-series chips excel in CPU power – and that continues here.
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy): Samsung’s S25 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 “Elite” chipset, Qualcomm’s 2025 flagship processor en.wikipedia.org. Notably, Samsung standardized this chip globally – no more Exynos vs. Snapdragon split en.wikipedia.org. In fact, it’s a special “for Galaxy” edition that’s slightly tuned for extra performance techradar.com techradar.com. The 8 Elite is also built on 3 nm and packs an octa-core CPU. Early reports suggested one prime core plus multiple big cores, but Samsung actually revealed it runs an octa-core design with very high clocks (up to ~3.7 GHz on prime) tomsguide.com. It also has an upgraded Adreno GPU with hardware ray tracing. In short, it’s Qualcomm’s fastest chip yet – and Samsung doesn’t throttle it by region.
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (standard): Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra likewise uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite (same generation), but without Samsung’s tweaks. Essentially, it’s the same top-tier 3 nm chip driving the Xiaomi’s Android experience techradar.com. Xiaomi quotes peak clocks of 4.32 GHz for the prime cores and ~3.5 GHz for performance cores mi.com – indicating an 8-core setup (likely 2× prime + 6× performance, as rumored). So Xiaomi’s and Samsung’s CPUs are in the same class, with Samsung possibly having a slight edge due to partnership optimizations.
  • Memory (RAM): Here the Android phones pull ahead. The iPhone 16 Pro comes with 8 GB LPDDR5X RAM en.wikipedia.org – an increase for Apple (finally matching what some midrange Androids had years ago). In contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra packs 12 GB RAM standard (LPDDR5X), with an option for 16 GB on the 1 TB models in certain regions en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi one-ups both by making 16 GB LPDDR5X the default on the 15 Ultra mi.com – it’s literally the fastest mobile RAM available (8533 Mbps) and no smaller option exists. In practice, all three feel very snappy; even 8 GB on iOS is extremely optimized. But heavy multitaskers or those keeping tons of apps/games open will appreciate the extra headroom on Samsung and especially Xiaomi.
  • Storage: All three use speedy internal storage tech. The iPhone 16 Pro offers 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB NVMe storage options en.wikipedia.org. Samsung’s S25 Ultra starts at 256 GB (no 128 GB base) and goes up to 1 TB (UFS 4.0 storage) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi gives 512 GB or 1 TB UFS 4.0 in the 15 Ultra techradar.com techradar.com – notably, 512 GB is the “base” model for Xiaomi, which partly justifies its higher entry price. None of these flagships support microSD expansion (a trend in recent years), so choose your storage wisely. Xiaomi’s lack of a 256 GB tier means its base price is higher, but you’re also getting more storage and RAM at that price techradar.com techradar.com.
  • Wireless & Connectivity: All support the latest networks:
    • 5G: iPhone 16 Pro uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem (with 5G mmWave in US models) hothardware.com. The others use Qualcomm modems too (Snapdragon platform) – e.g. S25 Ultra has the Snapdragon X70 or equivalent. All have broad sub-6 GHz 5G and LTE band support, plus dual SIM capability (iPhone is eSIM-only in many countries) en.wikipedia.org apple.com.
    • Wi-Fi: All three are Wi-Fi 7 ready – tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 be) is supported on iPhone, Samsung, and Xiaomi en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org mi.com, ensuring future-proof wireless speeds (router permitting). They are backward compatible with Wi-Fi 6/6E of course.
    • Bluetooth: iPhone 16 Pro has Bluetooth 5.3, Samsung S25 Ultra actually has Bluetooth 5.4 en.wikipedia.org, and Xiaomi touts Bluetooth 6.0 support mi.com – likely one of the first with BT6 (enabling lower latency and even Dual-Bluetooth connections).
    • Ultra-Wideband (UWB): Both iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra include UWB radios for precise location and device-to-device communication (for things like AirTag/SmartTag tracking or digital car keys) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi notably omits UWB on the 15 Ultra – it has NFC and everything else, but no UWB was listed on its spec sheet.
    • Ports: iPhone 16 Pro switched to USB-C this generation (finally). It supports USB 3.0 speeds (10 Gb/s) and even outputting DisplayPort video over USB-C apple.com apple.com – a big upgrade from prior iPhones’ slow Lightning. Galaxy S25 Ultra also has USB-C (3.2) with video out/DeX support. Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s USB-C supports the latest fast charging but is likely USB 2.0 for data (Xiaomi doesn’t emphasize wired data speed; it’s geared more for charging).
    • Satellite Communication: Apple pioneered emergency satellite SOS – the iPhone 16 Pro can connect to Globalstar satellites for emergency texting, location sharing, and roadside assistance where you have no cellular signal apple.com. Samsung included no satellite messaging in the S25 Ultra (rumors swirl for future models, but nothing official in S25). Xiaomi likewise has no satellite comms on the 15 Ultra. So if off-grid emergency communication is a priority, the iPhone stands out with its Emergency SOS via satellite feature apple.com.
  • Benchmark Results: In real-world use all three phones are blazing fast, but objective benchmarks show some interesting splits:
    • CPU Performance: Apple’s A18 Pro continues to dominate single-core tests – it scored ~3457 in Geekbench 6 single-core vs ~3220 for the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 Ultra phonearena.com. However, the multi-core results favor Qualcomm’s 8 Elite (more cores): the S25 Ultra notched ~10,223 in Geekbench multi-core, about 20% higher than the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s ~8,553 phonearena.com. In other words, the Galaxy “blew away” the iPhone in multi-threaded CPU tasks phonearena.com, while the iPhone holds a slight edge on per-core strength. This is a reversal of previous years where Apple led in both; now the gap has closed and in multi-core, the Snapdragon chip pulls ahead.
    • GPU & Gaming: Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU has an advantage in graphics-intensive workloads. In a 3D benchmark, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s GPU outpaced the iPhone by around 36% reddit.com phonearena.com. Samsung’s phone is optimized for sustained performance (and has vapor chamber cooling) so it can push high frame rates longer without throttling. Apple’s GPU is no slouch – it enables console-quality games with ray tracing on iPhone – but sustained gaming can heat up the device. Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra, with the same Snapdragon 8 Elite and an advanced “IceLoop” vapor chamber cooling system techradar.com mi.com, likewise excels at heavy GPU tasks. Xiaomi specifically touts that its HyperCool tech keeps performance high in long sessions techradar.com. All three phones will handle any current mobile game at max settings; the Snapdragon’s GPU lead mostly shows in benchmarks or prolonged 3D gameplay where the iPhone might throttle sooner.
    • Thermals: The iPhone 15 Pro from 2023 had some reported overheating issues, which Apple addressed through software and the larger design of the 16 Pro. The iPhone 16 Pro runs cooler than its predecessor thanks to a slightly bigger chassis and internal changes reddit.com reddit.com, but under very heavy loads (e.g. 4K video recording on a hot day) it can still get toasty and dim the screen to protect itself – a long-standing iPhone quirk reddit.com reddit.com. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra both have more robust cooling systems and tend to distribute heat better in sustained use. Xiaomi, in particular, doubled down on thermal management (it even uses a 3D dual-channel vapor chamber design) mi.com. In day-to-day tasks, you won’t notice much difference – all are smooth. But if you push the CPU/GPU for extended periods (gaming, 4K video editing, etc.), the Galaxy and Xiaomi might maintain peak performance longer, whereas the iPhone might throttle slightly to keep cool. Still, Apple’s focus on efficiency means the iPhone rarely feels slow or hot in normal use.

In summary, all three phones deliver top-tier performance. The iPhone’s A18 Pro offers class-leading single-core speed and a very fast neural engine for on-device AI, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the S25 Ultra and 15 Ultra provides exceptional multi-core and GPU performance. Multitasking is strongest on Xiaomi (16 GB RAM) and Samsung (up to 16 GB), though iOS’s efficiency means 8 GB goes further than you’d expect. No matter which you choose, you’re getting one of the fastest smartphones ever made as of 2025 – but power users might lean toward the S25 Ultra or 15 Ultra for their higher RAM and graphics muscle, whereas those who prioritize snappy everyday performance and longevity will appreciate Apple’s chip efficiency and tight hardware-software integration.

Software Experience & AI Integration

These phones span two different software ecosystems: Apple’s iOS versus Android (with heavy OEM customization). Each has its own interface, features, and update policies that can greatly affect the user experience:

  • Operating System & UI:
    • iPhone 16 Pro: Runs iOS 18 out of the box apple.com. Apple’s UI is consistent across devices – you get the familiar icon grid, FaceTime/iMessage, and tight integration with Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, etc. New in iOS 18 is a focus on Apple Intelligence, Apple’s umbrella term for on-device AI features. Notably, at launch some of these AI features were announced but not fully active – Apple built a new neural engine and promised things like advanced personal voice generation, smart event summaries, and image handling, but much of the “Apple Intelligence” suite was slated to roll out in subsequent 18.x updates hothardware.com. (By iOS 18.1, Apple enabled an AI assistant that can summarize content and perform smart tasks on device appleinsider.com appleinsider.com.) iOS 18 also brings quality-of-life improvements and privacy features. Apple’s UI design is cohesive and fluid, though not as heavily customizable as Android. There’s no app drawer – all apps live on the home screen or App Library. Apple’s strength is a polished, optimized experience with exclusive apps and the largest ecosystem of high-quality mobile apps.
    • Galaxy S25 Ultra: Ships with Android 15 and Samsung’s One UI 7 overlay en.wikipedia.org. One UI is designed for feature-richness and ease on big screens – e.g. a one-handed mode, split-screen multitasking, and the DeX desktop-like mode when connected to a monitor. Samsung’s special sauce this year is “Galaxy AI.” The S25 series introduces new AI-powered features that Samsung managed to integrate without overwhelming the user en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. For example, One UI 7 can intelligently sort your photo gallery, transcribe voice notes, or provide offline AI suggestions. Samsung’s voice assistant Bixby has improved, and there’s even talk of deeper integration with AI services (Samsung was testing linking Bing AI/ChatGPT tech into its assistant) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Overall, One UI 7 on the S25 Ultra is fast and polished, with tons of customization (themes, widgets) and Samsung-exclusive perks (Secure Folder, Samsung Pay, etc.). Plus, the S Pen support adds a whole layer of functionality in Samsung’s software – from jotting notes on the lock screen to advanced sketching and remote camera controls (though the latter are now limited since the new S Pen doesn’t have Bluetooth) en.wikipedia.org.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Runs Xiaomi HyperOS 2.0 on top of Android 15 techradar.com. HyperOS is Xiaomi’s revamped take after MIUI, aiming to unify Xiaomi’s device ecosystem. It brings a modern look with plenty of customization, but reviewers note it is “feature-rich but convoluted” techradar.com techradar.com. There are tons of options and pre-installed Xiaomi (and some third-party) apps which can make the interface feel busy compared to the cleaner Pixel or iOS approaches. That said, Xiaomi has packed in a lot of AI-driven features: the 15 Ultra has HyperAI capabilities like real-time voice translation, AI image editing (e.g. one-tap object removal or “Reflection Removal” in photos), AI voice typing, and more techradar.com techradar.com. It even integrates with Google’s Gemini AI for visual search and other tasks right from the gallery or camera mi.com. While these features work, Xiaomi’s software can be inconsistent, with some translation in the UI and occasional quirks that remind you this is a China-origin OS tweaked for global markets techradar.com techradar.com. In short: tons of functionality, but a steeper learning curve.
  • Exclusive Features & Ecosystems:
    • Apple’s iOS shines in its ecosystem integration. If you have other Apple devices, the iPhone 16 Pro becomes a hub – Continuity features let you copy/paste or take calls across devices, AirDrop files effortlessly, hand off music between iPhone and HomePod, use an Apple Watch to unlock your phone, and so on. Apple-exclusive apps/services (FaceTime, iMessage with full quality media and encryption, Apple’s pro apps like Final Cut Mobile, etc.) may matter to some. The iPhone 16 Pro also introduces Spatial Video capture (using both rear cameras to record 3D videos for the Apple Vision Pro headset) apple.com – a niche but forward-looking feature. Apple’s new Camera Control button on the side (which doubles as the Action button) is an exclusive hardware/software integration, giving photographers a half-press focus and shutter experience akin to a real camera hothardware.com. And let’s not forget privacy – iOS is regarded for strong privacy safeguards (on-device Siri processing, mail privacy, etc.).
    • Samsung’s One UI brings deep customization and utility. The S25 Ultra supports Samsung DeX, which lets you connect the phone to a monitor/TV and use a desktop-like interface – great for productivity. It also has the best multitasking of the trio: split-screen and floating window apps are supported natively. The S Pen and its software (Samsung Notes, Air Command tools) remain unique – note-taking on the Ultra is second to none for those who value a stylus. Samsung also includes a lot of its own apps (Galaxy Store, Internet browser, Samsung Health, etc.), and while some duplicate Google services, they add value especially if you also use Samsung tablets, watches, or TVs. Galaxy AI features in One UI 7 include AI photo remastering, generative AI wallpapers, and an “AI Hub” app where you can access new smart features en.wikipedia.org. According to CNET, Samsung’s AI on the S25 is “enjoyable without being overwhelming” – it’s there if you want it, but doesn’t intrude en.wikipedia.org.
    • Xiaomi’s HyperOS2 has some unique tricks too. It features Leica Authentic/Vibrant photographic styles baked into the camera app (a partnership with Leica that extends to UI elements like the camera shutter sound and watermark) mi.com mi.com. Xiaomi’s AI features include a very handy AI interpreter that can do real-time voice and text translation – useful for international travelers. There’s also AI text generation (an “AI writing assistant”) and AI image editing integrated at the system level mi.com. However, Xiaomi’s major weakness is software polish: users and reviewers often encounter minor bugs or non-intuitive menus. For example, TechRadar praised the 15 Ultra’s capabilities but noted “Xiaomi’s interface remains one of the more convoluted and trickier to deal with” despite many refinements techradar.com techradar.com. If you love tinkering and customizing every aspect (and maybe installing custom launchers), Xiaomi’s flexibility is great. But out of the box it can feel less straightforward than Apple or Samsung’s approach.
  • Updates & Longevity: This is crucial for long-term value:
    • Apple provides about 5+ years of iOS updates for iPhones. The iPhone 16 Pro launched with iOS 18 in 2024 and will likely get updates through iOS 23 or later (into ~2029). Apple’s track record: e.g. the 2017 iPhone X received iOS 17 in 2023 (6 years of updates). So iPhone is a safe bet for long-term software support – often the best in the industry.
    • Samsung made a bombshell promise with the S25 series: 7 years of OS and security updates en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. This means the Galaxy S25 Ultra (launched on Android 15) is slated to get OS upgrades up to Android 22 and patches till 2032 en.wikipedia.org. That’s on par or even beyond Apple’s typical span, a huge selling point for Samsung and evidence of their confidence in the hardware’s longevity. If Samsung follows through (they announced it officially), the S25 Ultra will remain current for a very long time in phone years.
    • Xiaomi unfortunately lags here. The 15 Ultra comes with a commitment of 4 Android version updates and 6 years of security patches techradar.com. That means Android 15 → Android 19, roughly, and security fixes into 2031. While that’s better than Xiaomi’s past (they used to only guarantee 3 OS updates on flagships), it’s still notably behind Samsung’s 7-year policy and somewhat behind Apple’s typical support window. So in terms of staying up-to-date, Xiaomi is the weakest of the three.

In summary, software could be a deciding factor based on your preferences. The iPhone 16 Pro offers a smooth, secure iOS experience with emerging on-device AI and unbeatable integration into Apple’s ecosystem (and now with USB-C it plays nicer with non-Apple gear too). The Galaxy S25 Ultra provides the full Android experience plus Samsung’s enhancements – it’s feature-packed, arguably the most feature-rich phone here (stylus, desktop mode, etc.), and One UI has become refined and user-friendly while leading on update length in the Android world en.wikipedia.org. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra gives you cutting-edge Android hardware with a heavily customized OS – you get a lot of AI and customization features, but the software can feel a bit cluttered and Xiaomi’s update promise isn’t as strong. If you prioritize simplicity and reliability, iOS wins. If you love customization and productivity features (and don’t mind some duplicate apps or slightly slower major updates), Samsung’s approach is hard to beat. And if you’re a power user who isn’t afraid to dig into settings – and you want that Leica camera tuning and Google-connected AI smarts – Xiaomi’s HyperOS can be very rewarding.

Camera Systems & Image/Video Quality

One of the most important (and hotly contested) areas is the camera. All three phones have impressive multi-camera setups, but each takes a different path in hardware and image processing philosophy:

  • Rear Camera Hardware:
    • iPhone 16 Pro: Triple camera system + LiDAR. It features a 48 MP main wide camera (24 mm equivalent) with a large sensor and second-gen sensor-shift stabilization apple.com. By default it bins to 24 MP images for balance of detail and file size apple.com. There’s a 48 MP ultrawide (13 mm, 120° FoV) for sweeping shots or macro (it can do 48 MP macro photos now) apple.com apple.com. And the big upgrade: a 12 MP 5× telephoto periscope lens (120 mm equivalent) with 3D sensor-shift OIS apple.com. This 5× optical zoom was previously only on the 15 Pro Max; now on the 16 Pro Apple managed to include a periscope lens for far sharper zoom than older 3× telephotos en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. In fact, Apple’s 5× uses a tetraprism design in the light path to fold optics without a huge bump apple.com. Digital zoom goes up to 25× on the iPhone apple.com. Apple also uses the 48 MP sensor to provide a 2× lossless zoom (by cropping the center to 12 MP) – effectively giving you 0.5×, 1×, 2×, and 5× preset options optically. The LiDAR scanner aids autofocus in low light and enables Night mode portraits. Overall, Apple’s hardware isn’t about chasing megapixels but rather sensor quality and clever use of that 48MP main for multiple focal lengths.
    • Galaxy S25 Ultra: Penta camera setup (if we count lasers – technically quad cameras + laser AF). Samsung stuck with its strategy: a super high-res main and multiple zoom lenses. The S25 Ultra’s main camera is a 200 MP wide sensor (24 mm, f/1.7) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org – likely a refined version of the HP2 sensor used in S23 Ultra, 1/1.3″ in size with multi-directional PDAF and OIS. It bins down to 12 MP or 50 MP by default for amazing detail. Then a 50 MP ultrawide camera (120° field, unusually high-res for an ultrawide) with dual pixel autofocus en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org – this is actually a new upgrade from the previous 12 MP ultrawide, and as The Verge noted, it improves low-light ultrawide shots with a wider aperture (f/1.9) and more detail theverge.com theverge.com. For zoom, the S25 Ultra has two telephoto lenses: a 10 MP 3× tele (around 70 mm, f/2.4) for mid-range zoom portraits en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, and a 50 MP 5× periscope tele (around 115 mm, f/3.4) for long range en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Yes, Samsung actually swapped the typical 10× periscope for a 5× but made it 50 MP to preserve detail – an interesting choice. This 5× lens plus the high-res sensor allows up to 50× or 100× digital “Space Zoom” with AI upscaling. In practice, you get sharp optical coverage at 0.6×, 1×, 3×, 5×, and then digital up to 100×. Samsung also includes a laser autofocus module to assist in low-light focusing. This whole setup makes the S25 Ultra one of the most versatile camera phones, covering an immense focal range and high resolutions at multiple focal lengths en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Quad camera system co-engineered with Leica. Xiaomi went all-out on sensor sizes rather than sheer count. The main camera is a 50 MP wide with a huge 1-inch sensor (the Sony LYT900) and a bright f/1.63 lens mi.com mi.com. This is the same sensor size as last year’s Xiaomi 13 Ultra – massive, letting in lots of light and producing creamy natural bokeh. Then an ultrawide 50 MP (14 mm, f/2.2, 115°) mi.com, which doubles for macro as it can focus close. The Xiaomi’s special sauce is in its telephotos: it has two. A 50 MP 3× “floating” telephoto (70 mm, f/1.8) for portraits and mid-zoom techradar.com, which has a moving lens element allowing it to focus at 10 cm for macro shots – very clever design for 2-in-1 tele/macro use techradar.com. And then a unique 200 MP periscope telephoto (100 mm, ~4.3×, f/2.6) with OIS techradar.com techradar.com. This 200 MP shooter (Samsung HP9 sensor) is about 1/1.4″ in size – incredibly large for a zoom lens. Xiaomi basically sacrificed the 10× extreme zoom in favor of making the ~5× lens extremely high-res. The idea is to capture so much detail at 4–5× that even digitally cropping to, say, 10× or 12× yields usable images (and indeed Xiaomi advertises up to 120× digital zoom) mi.com. The camera module also includes multi-spectrum color sensors for better color accuracy and a flicker sensor. With Leica’s involvement, Xiaomi offers two color tuning profiles (Leica Authentic for true-to-life, Leica Vibrant for punchier shots) and even Leica-style watermarks and filters mi.com. The hardware here is arguably the most ambitious: two very large sensors (1″ and 1/1.4″) and two additional 50 MP sensors – nothing under 50 MP. This pays off in image quality (see below), though the complexity makes Xiaomi’s camera app one of the most feature-packed around.
  • Image Quality (Photos):
    • Daylight: All three can capture stunning photos in good light, but with different styles. The iPhone is known for a balanced, natural look – Apple’s Smart HDR 5 and Photonic Engine processing yield true-to-life colors and excellent dynamic range apple.com apple.com. The 16 Pro’s images have rich detail (especially using the 48MP ProRAW option) without looking overprocessed. The Galaxy S25 Ultra tends to produce punchier colors (especially vibrant blues and reds) and slightly higher contrast. As The Verge noted, “This camera loves its vibrant reds and blues”, and Samsung’s processing can be crowd-pleasing if not always strictly accurate theverge.com theverge.com. Samsung also has the advantage of that 200MP mode if you want insanely detailed shots of landscapes (file sizes are huge though). Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra with Leica tuning often goes for a more artful, SLR-like rendering – the Leica Authentic mode avoids excessive sharpening or saturation, yielding images that can look a bit softer but more organic (some might say “cinematic”). TechRadar observed that the 15 Ultra “takes superb shots that don’t look as processed or technically ‘perfect’ as Pixel’s, but potentially better for it” techradar.com. In essence, Xiaomi’s photos have character: slightly warmer tones and subtle vignetting in Leica mode, and the large sensor gives a natural depth of field. There’s plenty of detail too (50MP main sensor with no shortage of resolving power). In bright light, you can’t really go wrong – it’s more about preference: Apple for consistency and ease, Samsung for vibrant detail and zoom flexibility, Xiaomi for a Leica-inspired aesthetic with shallow depth of field.
    • Low Light & Night Mode: All three have dedicated night modes and large sensors to pull in light. The iPhone’s Night mode (with LiDAR assisting on portraits) produces clean, color-accurate low-light shots – often with less noise thanks to smart stacking and Deep Fusion processing apple.com apple.com. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, thanks to pixel binning (200MP to 12MP), also excels in low light; it tends to brighten scenes aggressively, sometimes more than reality, but you get a very clear photo. Samsung claimed improved low-light video and processing for moving subjects at night with the S25, and in testing, fine detail in dim video was indeed slightly better than the S24 Ultra theverge.com theverge.com. Xiaomi’s huge main sensor arguably gives it an edge in the darkest conditions – it can often capture a shot with less need for long exposure. Reviewers found the Xiaomi can preserve highlights and shadows very well in challenging light. However, Xiaomi’s auto-night mode decisions aren’t as consistent – sometimes it might not fire when needed or vice versa. Still, the 15 Ultra’s night shots are excellent, and the Leica “Authentic” profile avoids the over-brightened look, keeping the atmosphere of the scene. All three can do night sky / astro photography with specific modes (Samsung has an Astro Hyperlapse and dedicated mode in its Expert RAW app; Xiaomi has a Starry Sky mode; iPhone can do up to 30s Night Mode exposures when on a tripod).
    • Zoom & Telephoto: This is where you see more divergence:
      • The iPhone 16 Pro’s 5× tele is outstanding at its sweet spot (120 mm). It’s great for daytime long-range shots – you get sharp images at 5× that were simply not possible on prior small iPhones. However, beyond 5× the iPhone relies on digital zoom up to 25×, which can’t compete with the optical reach of Samsung. Also, for mid-range (around 3×), the iPhone crops from the 48MP sensor – still good, but not as optically perfect as having a dedicated 3× lens. So the iPhone is best at 1×, 2×, and 5×, but something like 10× will be a fuzzy digital crop.
      • The Galaxy S25 Ultra, with dual tele lenses, covers 3× and 5× optically. At 10× zoom, it doesn’t have the 10× optical lens of the S23 Ultra, but it can combine data from the 5× 50MP to produce a very decent 10× shot (somewhat lower detail than the old 10×, but still good). Up to about 30× digital, the S25 Ultra yields surprisingly usable images thanks to the AI Super Resolution – e.g. you can read distant signs or get a clear moon shot (Samsung’s “Space Zoom” tricks are well-known). At extreme 50–100×, it’s more of a party trick, but Samsung retains the crown for long zoom versatility. If you need to zoom in further than ~25×, Samsung is your only real choice here.
      • Xiaomi’s approach is different: its 200MP 4.3× periscope, when binned to 12MP, provides a lot of detail at 5× and even 10× (via in-sensor crop). Users report that at 10×, Xiaomi’s output can rival or beat Samsung’s digitally upscaled 10×, because Xiaomi is essentially doing a 200MP -> 50MP crop to achieve ~10× without interpolation. Xiaomi claims up to 120× digital zoom, but realistically after ~30× it’s mostly for bragging rights. That said, if you mostly shoot in the 5× to 15× range, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra might produce the clearest images thanks to that high-res periscope. For portrait photography, Xiaomi’s 3× lens (75 mm) with f/1.8 aperture creates lovely depth of field and has a 50MP sensor to boot. The Galaxy’s 3× (around 70 mm) is only 10MP but does very well too and now has dual-pixel AF for faster focus en.wikipedia.org. The iPhone doesn’t have a 3× lens, but it uses 2× crop or 5× depending on situation – Apple actually introduced a feature to automatically choose the best lens for mid-range (they call it “customizable default lens”) apple.com. Still, for classic portrait focal length (~3×), the Samsung and Xiaomi have an edge with dedicated optics.
    • Ultrawide & Macro: All three ultrawides are autofocus-enabled, meaning they can do macro photography by focusing on close subjects. The iPhone’s ultrawide (48MP) is excellent for macro – you can get detailed 48MP macro shots of tiny subjects now apple.com. Samsung’s new 50MP ultrawide also focuses close and even supports the “Super Steady” video for action shots en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi’s ultrawide is 50MP and has a relatively large sensor too; it can focus quite close, but Xiaomi often prefers using the 3× tele for macro because of the floating lens design (for extreme close-ups with 3× magnification). In terms of field of view, iPhone ~120°, Samsung ~120°, Xiaomi ~115° – all plenty wide for big group shots or landscapes. The Verge noted the S25 Ultra’s new ultrawide captures more fine detail and lower noise in low light than the previous gen theverge.com theverge.com, so Samsung closed one gap where iPhone used to lead (ultrawide night shots).
    • Color & Processing: Each brand has its tuning. Apple aims for consistency across all lenses – colors and exposure remain very similar between the main, 2×, and 5×, which is commendable. Samsung historically had issues with consistency, but the S25 Ultra improved – though some minor differences remain (the ultrawide now has the new sensor, so it actually sometimes captures better detail than the tele lenses at night). Xiaomi’s Leica modes intentionally allow slight shifts: Leica Vibrant might boost saturation a tad, Leica Authentic might have a contrasty look. These are artistic choices. In standard mode, Xiaomi’s processing is close to natural with maybe a slight warmth. One area Xiaomi shines is portrait mode – leveraging those big sensors, Xiaomi can create a very DSLR-like bokeh and has Leica portrait lens simulations (35mm black & white, 50mm Swirly bokeh, 90mm soft focus, etc.). Meanwhile, Samsung’s portrait mode segmentation (cutting out the subject) is “still some of the best in the game” as per The Verge theverge.com theverge.com – it does an excellent job separating hair, etc., and now you can even adjust blur after the fact. Apple’s portrait mode got smarter in iOS 17/18 (automatically activating if a person is detected and you can adjust focus after shooting). Apple’s edge detection is very good too, and it now allows portrait mode at 1× and 2× (using the main sensor) or 5× (telephoto) – giving flexibility.
  • Video Recording: Apple’s iPhone has long been the gold standard for video, and the 16 Pro only cements that. It supports up to 4K@60fps HDR (Dolby Vision) on all cameras, and even a new Log video mode for pros who want to color grade apple.com apple.com. Apple’s video is known for its stability and natural processing. The 16 Pro also offers ProRes 4K@60fps if you have at least the 256GB model (and even ProRes RAW or 4K@120fps ProRes if output to an external SSD) apple.com apple.com. That’s a feature aimed at filmmakers. There’s also the unique Cinematic Mode (1080p or now 4K HDR) that gives a movie-like shallow focus and can shift focus between subjects – a fun creative tool. A new Spatial Video mode uses the ultrawide and main camera together to film 3D clips (1080p@30) for viewing on the Vision Pro headset apple.com. Additionally, iPhone has an Action mode for extra stabilization (up to 2.8K@60) for extreme motion. Audio capture is top-notch too, with Apple using 4 beamforming mics and even enabling Spatial Audio recording apple.com apple.com.
    • Samsung’s S25 Ultra is no slouch on video. It can shoot up to 8K@30fps video on the main camera (with decent stabilization), or 4K60 on all lenses. Samsung’s colors in video are vivid, and they also support HDR10+ recording. The S25 Ultra improved its low-light video algorithm to reduce noise – in side-by-side tests, it retained more detail in dim scenes than its predecessor theverge.com theverge.com. Samsung also has a Super Steady mode (using ultrawide crop) for extra stabilization at 1440p, and offers a Pro Video mode for manual controls, plus the option to record 360-audio when paired with Galaxy Buds Pro. While Apple’s top resolution is 4K (albeit very polished), Samsung gives the option for 8K for those who want maximum detail (e.g., to crop in post). The gap in video between iPhone and Samsung has narrowed – but Apple still often has more consistent focus and exposure in challenging scenes.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra pushes boundaries with 8K@30fps as well (leveraging that big sensor) mi.com. In fact, Xiaomi, like Samsung, claims to surpass Apple in certain areas: TechRadar noted the 15 Ultra’s videography “has been tailored to meet and beat the likes of the iPhone 16 Pro series” in resolution and control techradar.com. Xiaomi offers a 10-bit LOG video recording option for professionals, similar to Apple’s ProRes Log, giving a flat color profile for grading techradar.com. It also has HyperOIS stabilization and supports Dolby Vision HDR recording. One cool trick: Xiaomi can do Ultra Night Video, brightening video in near-dark conditions using AI (Apple tends to avoid overly brightening night video to keep it realistic, whereas Xiaomi will try to make night look like day if desired). Xiaomi’s video quality in daylight is excellent – very detailed and with a natural depth from that 1″ sensor. In low light, it’s competitive, though Apple’s consistency might edge it out. One limitation: Xiaomi’s autofocus in video can sometimes hunt (a software thing that could improve via updates). Audio recording on Xiaomi is fine, but not as rich as Apple’s spatial audio. Overall though, Xiaomi’s inclusion of robust pro video modes (LOG, LUTs) is a boon for creators.
  • Selfie Cameras: Quick note – iPhone 16 Pro uses a 12 MP front camera with autofocus (f/1.9) and can do 4K60 (even Dolby Vision HDR) selfies apple.com apple.com. Samsung has a 12 MP selfie (f/2.2) that can do 4K60 and even supports HDR10+ video en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi has a 32 MP under-display selfie – which is innovative but comes with some quality trade-offs (under-display cameras usually aren’t as sharp due to the screen layer). Xiaomi’s front cam maxes at 1080p video. For the best reliable selfie quality, iPhone and Samsung might be better; Xiaomi’s is good for casual use but not standout. However, Xiaomi probably expects you to use that amazing rear camera for important selfies (it even supports turning the rear screen of a Xiaomi Mix Fold into a preview – but on the 15 Ultra, no second display, so not applicable).

Camera Verdict: These are arguably the three best camera phones in the world right now. The iPhone 16 Pro is a tremendous camera system that combines ease-of-use with pro-level capabilities – reviewers have called it “tremendous” especially due to new features like Camera Control and zero shutter lag capturing more moments lux.camera. Its strengths: natural-looking photos, class-leading video, and reliable performance in all conditions. The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings zoom supremacy and all-around versatility – you can capture anything from ultrawide to 100× moon shots, and its image quality is right at the top, with Samsung’s familiar vibrant signature and improved low-light performance theverge.com theverge.com. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is like a photographer’s dream: huge sensors, Leica color science, and manual controls, producing shots that can rival dedicated cameras in some scenarios (and it beat the Galaxy and iPhone in some blind camera tests, according to anecdotal reports). However, Xiaomi’s camera app can be complex and its processing might not be as perfectly consistent shot-to-shot as Apple’s.

For everyday point-and-shoot, iPhone might give the most consistently great result with no tweaking. For the maximal camera hardware and creative flexibility, Xiaomi stands out (if you’re willing to tweak settings or edit RAW/Log files). And for a balance – especially if you love zoom or need an all-in-one travel camera – the Galaxy S25 Ultra is still the zoom king and an excellent shooter in any category.

(For a visual side-by-side, see our Comparison Table below with major camera specs and sample benchmark results.)

Battery Life & Charging

All three phones pack large batteries, but their capacities and charging tech differ. Here’s how they compare in endurance and topping-up speed:

  • Battery Capacity: The iPhone 16 Pro has the smallest battery here: ~3,582 mAh (13.94 Wh) en.wikipedia.org. Apple never advertises mAh, but teardowns confirm ~3580. This is a bump up from the 15 Pro, owing to the slightly larger chassis. Apple quotes “up to 27 hours” video playback on the 16 Pro (and 33 hours on the 16 Pro Max) apple.com apple.com – real-world, the 16 Pro easily lasts a full day of typical use, and moderate users can get into a second day thanks to iOS optimizations. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery – a standard for Samsung’s Ultras since the S21 Ultra en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. It provides all-day battery life as well; with the efficient 3 nm chip, many users get 6-8 hours of screen-on time and still end the day with charge. Xiaomi actually ships two variants: the Chinese model has ~5,700–6,000 mAh, but the global Xiaomi 15 Ultra has 5,410 mAh (typical) techradar.com. Xiaomi had to slightly reduce battery size in Europe (likely due to regulations on battery density or fast-charge limits) – still, 5,410 mAh is huge. Surprisingly though, Xiaomi’s battery life was a bit under expectations: TechRadar found “the new Si-C battery lasts less time than expected” techradar.com. Likely the high-res screen and hungry chip offset the capacity. It’s safe to say the Xiaomi will last a full day, but perhaps not dramatically more than the Samsung which has a slightly smaller battery but very optimized software.
  • Real-World Endurance: In everyday scenarios, the Galaxy S25 Ultra often comes out slightly ahead in battery longevity. Samsung’s adaptive refresh rate and aggressive background battery management (which you can adjust) yield excellent standby and usage times. The iPhone 16 Pro is extremely power-efficient at idle and in lightly interactive use (iOS aggressively idles cores), but heavy camera or gaming use can drain its smaller cell faster. The Xiaomi’s sheer size is balanced by potentially higher consumption (its screen can blast 3200 nits and the Snapdragon 8 Elite can draw a lot under load). If you stream videos, all will easily go 10+ hours. If you navigate with GPS or shoot 4K video, expect a faster drop: e.g. the iPhone might record ~3-4 hours of 4K before dying, the Samsung a bit more. Anecdotally: none of these phones are battery weaklings – they’re among the best. But if you must pick, the Galaxy S25 Ultra likely gives the longest use per charge for most people (especially with Samsung’s performance profile set to “light” mode for day-to-day, it sips power). Xiaomi’s can be equal or better if you limit that 3200 nit screen and aren’t in 5G fringe coverage (radio efficiency matters). We should note the iPhone 16 Pro Max (not the one we’re focusing on, but its bigger sibling with 4,685 mAh) actually beats the S25 Ultra in many battery tests – however the smaller 16 Pro is a step behind those two.
  • Charging Speeds:
    • Wired Charging: This is where Xiaomi leaves the others in the dust. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports 90W wired fast charging (via the USB-C port) mi.com. With a proper 90W Xiaomi adapter (sold separately, since no charger in box), it can go 0 to 100% in around 30–35 minutes – unbelievably fast for a 5,410 mAh cell. In China, the 6,000 mAh model does 120W < 30 minutes. Even the EU 90W is far ahead of Apple/Samsung. The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports 45W “Super Fast Charging 2.0” en.wikipedia.org. That gets it to ~70% in 30 minutes, ~100% in about 55–60 minutes in optimal conditions. It’s decently quick (faster than past 25W Samsungs), but notably behind Xiaomi’s speeds. The iPhone 16 Pro technically supports around 27W peak on USB-C PD techradar.com – Apple says 50% in 30 min with a 20W+ charger apple.com, and full charge takes ~1 hour 40 min. So Apple is the slowest here by a large margin. (Worth noting: Apple’s batteries also are smaller, but even the Pro Max with ~30W takes ~1h30 to fill 100%.) In practice, Xiaomi’s fast charging is a game-changer – a quick 10 minute top-up can give ~50% battery apple.com, whereas 10 minutes on iPhone is like 20%. Samsung sits in between.
    • Wireless Charging: Xiaomi also leads with 80W wireless charging support on the 15 Ultra (with a compatible Xiaomi wireless dock) mi.com. That’s faster wirelessly than the iPhone can do plugged in! It can fully charge in ~40 minutes on the 80W wireless pad – which is wild (note: due to EU regs, the global model might be capped to 50W wireless despite hardware being capable – but Xiaomi’s spec says 80W) mi.com. The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports the standard 15W Qi wireless (and Samsung’s older 15W Fast Wireless 2.0) en.wikipedia.org. That’s convenient but not nearly as fast – usually about 2 hours for full charge on a 15W pad. The iPhone 16 Pro, with its MagSafe magnet alignment, does 15W MagSafe and 7.5W on regular Qi apple.com apple.com. Apple did quietly add Qi2 support on the 16 Pro apple.com, which means newer Qi2 chargers can do 15W as well (same as MagSafe). So effectively: iPhone tops at 15W wireless (about 2 hours+ to full), Samsung 15W (similar 2 hours), Xiaomi up to 80W (under an hour). It’s clear Xiaomi prioritized the charging arms race – and it shows.
    • Reverse Wireless Charging: Both Samsung and Xiaomi can do reverse wireless charging to juice up earbuds or a smartwatch on the phone’s back. Samsung calls it Wireless PowerShare, up to 4.5W en.wikipedia.org. Xiaomi supports reverse at around 10W (likely 5W in global due to regulations) – not explicitly stated, but Xiaomi flagships typically do 10W. The iPhone does not offer reverse wireless charging (rumors persist it might enable it for accessories, but as of iOS 18 it’s not active).
  • Battery lifespan & tech: Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra uses a new Silicon-Carbide (Si-C) battery which allows higher energy density and faster charging with presumably less degradation techradar.com. Xiaomi claims it retains capacity well even with the rapid charging, and they have battery health management in software. Apple focuses on optimization – they slow down charging past 80% to preserve longevity and offer Optimized Charging to reduce wear. Samsung is similar, with an option to limit charging to 85% to extend battery lifespan (and their 45W is conservative enough not to fry the battery quickly). If you plan to keep the phone many years, extremely fast charging like Xiaomi’s could age the battery faster, but Xiaomi likely expects users to swap phones more frequently or replace battery if needed. All have lithium batteries that will lose capacity after a few years; Apple tends to keep about 80% after 500 cycles, Xiaomi claims something similar even with fast charge thanks to battery design.

In everyday life, if you value quick top-ups, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is unbeatable – you can practically watch the percentage climb. This mitigates its only average battery life – a 10 minute plug-in while you shower and you’re good for many more hours. The Galaxy S25 Ultra strikes a nice balance of very good battery endurance and moderately fast charging – not the fastest, but 45W can refill a big 5000mAh tank reasonably quickly, and you likely won’t need to charge midday anyway. The iPhone 16 Pro, while the slowest charger, gets by on efficiency – many users simply charge overnight and don’t mind the slower speed (or they’ll use a MagSafe wireless charger at their desk, etc.). It’s worth noting Apple’s battery life is still excellent for the size – the 16 Pro Max actually won some battery drain tests against the S25 Ultra, but the 16 Pro (small) will generally fall short of the other two big boys in screen-on time by a couple hours phonearena.com (and its smaller battery means heavy 5G use drains it faster).

Overall: If battery life is your sole focus, the Galaxy S25 Ultra might be the safest bet for lasting through a long day with buffer to spare. If you’re often near a charger and love the convenience of quick juice, Xiaomi’s 90W/80W system is a dream (zero battery anxiety – a short charge and you’re back to high percentage). The iPhone 16 Pro’s endurance is very good for its size and will meet most people’s daylong needs, but if you’re a road warrior needing multi-day use or superfast charging, it’s at a disadvantage.

Pricing, Value & Availability

When it comes to cost, these flagship phones are all premium-priced – though exact pricing and value-for-money depend on region and storage configurations:

  • Launch Prices (USD/EUR):
    • iPhone 16 Pro: Starts around $999 in the US for 128GB (Pro Max $1199 for 256GB) – Apple held similar pricing to previous Pro iPhones. In Europe it’s about €1,199 for base model. Adding storage drives the price up (the 1TB iPhone 16 Pro is roughly $1,499). The iPhone holds its value well, but you’re paying top dollar for incremental storage (no expandable memory).
    • Galaxy S25 Ultra: Launch price $1,299.99 in the US for 256GB/12GB model tomsguide.com. In the UK, £1,249; EU about €1,399. Essentially, same as last year’s Ultra pricing. Samsung often does carrier or trade-in deals (e.g. up to $580 off with trade-in at launch phonearena.com phonearena.com). There’s no 128GB option, which is good (256GB is a reasonable base at this price). The 512GB model usually comes with 12GB RAM (same RAM actually, since all S25 Ultra have 12GB except special 16GB editions in a few markets). Expect to pay ~$1,399 for 512GB, and ~$1,599 for the 1TB. Samsung’s prices also tend to drop a bit after a few months or have frequent promotions.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra: This phone is not officially sold in North America; it’s mainly in China, parts of Asia, and Europe via importers. In China, its base price (16GB+512GB) was CNY 8,999 (approx $1,240). In Europe, the international model was launched at €1,599 for 512GB, which in the UK was £1,299 techradar.com techradar.com. There’s also a 1TB version around €1,799/£1,499. That positions the 15 Ultra right around the S25 Ultra and iPhone Pro Max in European pricing. Importing it to the US would likely cost ~$1,500+. So Xiaomi is not a budget device – it’s as expensive as the big brands. However, note: the 512GB storage and 16GB RAM on the base model – if you compare like for like, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 512GB undercuts the equivalent Samsung and Apple models by a bit. TechRadar pointed out that in the UK the 15 Ultra “undercuts principal rivals – the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max – by £50 and £100 respectively, when comparing like-for-like storage” techradar.com techradar.com. The catch is Xiaomi doesn’t offer a cheaper 256GB tier; but it gives you more for what you pay in specs.
  • Value for Money:
    • The iPhone 16 Pro commands a slight premium for the Apple name, build, and iOS experience. You’re paying for the whole Apple ecosystem and long-term support. If those matter (and they often do for resale value – iPhones fetch high resale prices), it’s worth it. But pure spec-to-price, iPhone might seem costlier (e.g. $999 for 128GB, 8GB RAM, 6.3″ screen). However, its performance, camera, and software are extremely refined – so value comes in intangible quality. Also, iPhones typically come with at least 5 years of updates, which amortizes the cost over more years.
    • The Galaxy S25 Ultra provides a lot in the package: big high-res screen, S Pen, 256GB base storage, multiple cameras. At $1,299 it’s pricey, but Samsung often has deals. Considering it now promises 7 years updates en.wikipedia.org, the value proposition improves – you can use it far longer than most Androids. Samsung also appeals to productivity users (the cost might be justified if you effectively replace a small tablet or laptop in some tasks via DeX and S Pen). If you hunt, you might find street prices a couple hundred lower after it’s been out for a while.
    • The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a bit of a niche in the West. If you’re in Europe or Asia where it’s officially available, you’re looking at ultra-premium pricing indeed. For tech enthusiasts who want the absolute cutting-edge camera and charging tech, they might find it worth it – especially since you get maxed-out RAM/storage. Xiaomi doesn’t have the brand markup of Apple, but with Leica optics and all, they priced this to compete at the top. One consideration: Xiaomi phones (especially imported in unsupported regions) might not have warranty or robust customer service. So buying one in the US, for example, has an opportunity cost if anything goes wrong. That factors into value.
  • Availability:
    • Apple iPhone 16 Pro – broadly available in most regions through Apple Stores and carriers. Easy to purchase and get serviced worldwide (including in the US, Europe, Asia, etc.).
    • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – globally available too. Samsung even expanded manufacturing to new regions (Vietnam, India, even Egypt) to ensure wide availability en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. In the US, it’s sold unlocked and on all major carriers. In Europe/Asia, same. No issues getting one, and lots of accessories in the market.
    • Xiaomi 15 Ultra – officially sold in China (where it launched first late February 2025, selling out quickly) and a handful of global markets (Xiaomi had an international launch in March 2025 in Europe) techradar.com techradar.com. In Europe, you can buy it in certain countries (Xiaomi’s presence varies by country). However, it’s not sold in North America or Australia at all techradar.com techradar.com. Enthusiasts in those regions must resort to third-party importers. That means limited or no warranty and potentially no optimized carrier support (5G bands might be partially incompatible, etc., especially in the US). So availability is a big downside for Xiaomi in many markets. If you live in a region Xiaomi doesn’t officially serve, the 15 Ultra is a tough recommendation despite its prowess, unless you’re comfortable being an early adopter importing a device.
  • After-sales & Support: Apple likely has the best support infrastructure (Genius Bars, easy access to parts/service, software updates day-one globally, etc.). Samsung has improved in support, with many service centers and a robust online help system (and they deliver updates relatively quickly now, often within a month or two of Google releases for flagships). Xiaomi is the least clear – in China they have strong support, but elsewhere it could be limited. Also, community software support (like third-party ROMs) is something to consider: there’s an active community for Xiaomi devices if you want to mod, but Apple and Samsung discourage such modifications (and iOS can’t really be modded like Android can).

Value Summary: Each phone has a different value proposition. The iPhone 16 Pro offers premium experience and longevity at a premium price – if you’re entrenched in Apple’s world or want high resale value and support, it’s worth it, but you pay a bit extra for storage and accessories (no charger in box for any of these, by the way). The Galaxy S25 Ultra arguably gives the most features for the price – you get a complete package (256GB + S Pen included) and no major compromises, plus Samsung often discounts it. It’s a safe bet for an Android flagship that will serve you well for years – a strong value especially if you utilize the S Pen and top-tier zoom (things you’d otherwise need separate devices for). The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is for those who value bleeding-edge specs – 16GB/512GB, insane cameras, 90W charging – and are willing to pay flagship money but maybe get something more unique than your neighbor’s iPhone or Galaxy. Its value is a bit undermined by limited availability, but for a tech enthusiast in a supported region, it can actually be a better bang-for-buck than a similarly specced Samsung/Apple (since those would cost even more for equivalent RAM/storage). TechRadar gave the 15 Ultra a value score of 4.5/5, praising that you get more RAM and storage than rivals at the same price techradar.com techradar.com.

Advantages & Disadvantages: Quick Take

Finally, let’s distill the pros and cons of each device:

iPhone 16 Pro – Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Blazing fast A18 Pro chip and smooth iOS optimizations – leads in single-core performance and feels effortless in daily use phonearena.com.
  • Outstanding build quality (titanium frame, ceramic glass) and more compact, one-hand-friendly design than the Ultra-sized competitors en.wikipedia.org.
  • Excellent camera quality with zero shutter lag and natural processing – especially strong in video (4K Dolby Vision, ProRes, Cinematic mode) apple.com apple.com. New 5× telephoto adds needed range en.wikipedia.org.
  • Robust software ecosystem and long support – iOS updates for ~5+ years, highest-quality apps, and seamless integration with other Apple devices.
  • Top-notch display – color-accurate 120Hz OLED, very high brightness, always-on, and now with reduced bezels apple.com apple.com.
  • Privacy and security – Face ID is very convenient and secure apple.com; Apple’s stance on data privacy is a plus for many.
  • Resale value – tends to hold value better than Android phones if you plan to upgrade in a couple years.

Cons:

  • High price for given specs – expensive, and storage upgrades are costly (no expandable storage) techradar.com. You pay more to get what others include (256GB, etc.).
  • Limited zoom flexibility – 5× optical is great, but no intermediate tele lens means digital zoom between 2× and 5×, and max 25× digital can’t match rivals’ long-range zoom quality.
  • Slowest charging – 27W wired is behind competition (about 1.5+ hours for full charge) techradar.com, and only 15W wireless apple.com. No reverse wireless charging.
  • Less customizable OS – iOS is smooth but restrictive in customization compared to Android (no true theming, etc.), and no split-screen multitasking.
  • No per-app always-on display customization or advanced features like stylus or desktop mode – (could be irrelevant if you don’t need those).
  • Availability of some AI features still evolving – “Apple Intelligence” features were not fully realized at launch hothardware.com, so some AI functions lag behind what Google/Samsung offer until Apple rolls out updates.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Versatile quad-camera setup – superb 200MP main, dual telephotos (3× & 5×) for the best zoom range in the industry (up to 100× digital) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Consistently excellent results and improved low-light performance theverge.com.
  • Gorgeous 6.9″ AMOLED display – high-resolution, 120Hz LTPO, and class-leading 2600-nit brightness en.wikipedia.org, ideal for media and outdoor visibility.
  • Integrated S Pen stylus – unique to Samsung, great for note-taking, drawing, and productivity; stored in phone. A differentiator no other compares has.
  • Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite – excellent multi-core and gaming performance (even beating iPhone in multi-core) phonearena.com. 12GB RAM standard ensures smooth multitasking en.wikipedia.org.
  • Feature-packed One UI software – includes Samsung DeX desktop mode, robust multitasking, secure folder, etc. 7 years of updates promised, unmatched in Android world en.wikipedia.org.
  • Strong battery life – big 5000mAh cell + efficient tuning often yields all-day (and then some) usage. Plus decent 45W fast charging to top-up in under an hour en.wikipedia.org.
  • Excellent build and design – premium titanium frame, sturdy Gorilla Glass Armor 2, and more rounded, ergonomic design than previous Ultra en.wikipedia.org.
  • Universal availability and support – widely sold, with Samsung’s extensive service network and frequent software updates (monthly security patches, etc.).

Cons:

  • High price point – $1299+ is expensive (though you get 256GB base) and it’s a big investment. Depreciation is faster than iPhone (Samsung prices drop a few months after release).
  • Bulky and heavy – one of the largest phones; not pocket-friendly for everyone. The 6.9″ screen and 227g weight make one-handed use challenging.
  • Software bloat – One UI, while improved, still comes with duplicate apps (Samsung vs Google services) and plenty of features that can overwhelm casual users.
  • Stylus lost Bluetooth functions – the S25 Ultra’s S Pen can’t do air gestures or remote shutter now en.wikipedia.org, a downgrade that upset some power users (though core pen functions remain).
  • Slower charging than some rivals – 45W is good but not competitive with Chinese flagships’ 90W+ (it’s about ~1 hour full charge vs ~30 min for those) – could be seen as a minor con for spec-sheet enthusiasts.
  • Minor camera nitpicks – No 10× optical lens this year (5× instead), so extreme long-range shots rely on digital zoom (albeit improved AI zoom) theverge.com. Tends to saturate colors which not everyone loves (though many do).
  • Less “special” than before? – As one reviewer put it, recent Ultras feel a bit less differentiated theverge.com theverge.com. E.g. no unique design or feature like past (10× lens removed, etc.). This is subjective, but enthusiasts noticed the Ultra is now basically a larger S25 with pen and more cameras, not a completely separate class.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra – Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Groundbreaking camera hardware – huge 1″ 50MP main sensor + unique 200MP periscope tele techradar.com techradar.com give it arguably the best camera specs on paper. It excels in image quality, especially in low light and detailed zoom, producing “superb shots” (per TechRadar) that often rival or beat competitors techradar.com.
  • Leica collaboration – delivers beautiful color profiles (Authentic/Vibrant) and pro photography experience (Leica lenses, filters, watermark) built-in mi.com mi.com. Great for photography enthusiasts who want a distinct look.
  • Blistering fast charging – 90W wired and 80W wireless means practically no downtime mi.com. It charges incredibly fast – a full charge in ~35 min (wired) is a huge quality-of-life advantage.
  • Top-end performance and specs – Snapdragon 8 Elite with extensive cooling keeps it performing at peak techradar.com. Massive 16GB RAM standard + UFS4.0 storage mean it’s equipped for any heavy task now and in the future mi.com. It’s essentially maxed out spec-wise.
  • Stunning high-res display – 6.73″ 1440p AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO, with a record 3200 nit peak brightness mi.com. Also supports Dolby Vision and has advanced features like 1920Hz PWM dimming to reduce eye strain.
  • Robust build with premium materials – options for ceramic back, “Silver Chrome” finish, etc., and Xiaomi’s Shield Glass 2.0 for durability mi.com techradar.com. It feels every bit an ultra-premium device (and IP68 water-resistant too).
  • Innovative features – e.g. under-display 32MP selfie camera (for a notch-free front), the floating telephoto lens (doubles as a macro), and integration of Google’s AI (Gemini) directly – Xiaomi isn’t afraid to push new tech boundaries mi.com mi.com.
  • Price-per-spec advantage – in markets where sold, it often comes in slightly cheaper than equivalently specced rivals (e.g. 512GB model undercutting others by €50-100) techradar.com, effectively giving more RAM/Storage for the buck.

Cons:

  • Limited availability – Not officially available in many regions (no U.S. release), making it hard to buy and get serviced outside select markets techradar.com techradar.com. This alone disqualifies it for some.
  • Software can be complex – HyperOS (MIUI) is packed with features but “convoluted” UI/UX in places techradar.com techradar.com. Some bloatware and occasional translation oddities or bugs might frustrate those used to simpler interfaces.
  • Shorter software support – only guaranteed 4 years of Android updates vs 5-7 on rivals techradar.com. And historically, Xiaomi’s update speed is slower than Samsung’s. This phone may not feel as “fresh” after several years unless Xiaomi improves its support.
  • No official IP rating in some regions – (The spec didn’t explicitly mention IP68, but likely it is water-resistant. Still, Xiaomi’s track record on true waterproofing is mixed. The 15 Ultra is sealed, but caution is advised as warranty might not cover water damage.)
  • Hefty and thick – 226-229g and nearly 9.4mm thick (not including camera bump) mi.com. It’s a brick, partly due to that huge camera and battery. Ergonomics are not its selling point (though the curved back helps some).
  • Support and ecosystem – Xiaomi’s ecosystem (for wearables, laptops, etc.) is not as expansive or established in the West as Apple’s or even Samsung’s. Third-party accessory support (cases, etc.) can be harder to find. And finding Xiaomi-specific repair or support might be challenging outside Asia.
  • Selfie camera trade-off – Under-display selfie cam is cool but results are average – images can appear softer/hazy compared to traditional front cameras due to the screen layer. Not ideal for heavy selfie users or vloggers.
  • Unknowns about long-term durability – New battery tech (Si-C) and 90W charging are awesome, but we don’t have long-term data on battery health after a few years of such fast charging. Xiaomi says it’s fine, but it’s something to monitor.

Each of these devices has clear strengths and a few weaknesses. In summary:

  • The iPhone 16 Pro is a powerhouse of performance and polish, perfect for those in Apple’s ecosystem or anyone who values top-notch video, a more compact build, and rock-solid longevity (software and resale). Just be ready to pay Apple’s premium and live with slower charging.
  • The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the all-rounder champion – huge screen, versatile cameras with unmatched zoom, productivity features (S Pen, DeX), and now years of updates ensuring future-proofing en.wikipedia.org. It’s ideal for power users who want it all and don’t mind the big size. Downsides are few: essentially the cost and bulk.
  • The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the cutting-edge choice – for those who want bragging rights to say they have the most advanced camera system and fastest charging on a phone, and who don’t mind importing or tweaking software a bit. It’s the bold option that can reward the tech-savvy, but it’s a harder recommendation for the average consumer due to limited availability and shorter software support.

Comparison Table: Specs & Benchmarks

To wrap up, here’s a side-by-side comparison of key specifications and performance metrics for the iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Xiaomi 15 Ultra:

FeatureApple iPhone 16 Pro (2024)Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (2025)Xiaomi 15 Ultra (2025)
Design & BuildTitanium frame; glass back (Ceramic Shield); IP68 (6m 30min) en.wikipedia.org.
149.6×71.5×8.25 mm; 199 g en.wikipedia.org. Colors: Black, White, Natural, Desert Titanium en.wikipedia.org.
Titanium frame; Gorilla Glass Armor 2 front/back en.wikipedia.org; IP68 (1.5m 30min) en.wikipedia.org.
163.0×77.6×8.25 mm; 227 g en.wikipedia.org. Colors: Black, Gray, White, Blue (Titanium series) en.wikipedia.org.
Aluminum or ceramic frame; Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 mi.com; IP68 (unofficial).
161.3×75.3×9.35 mm; 226–229 g mi.com. Colors: Black, White, Silver (Chrome) mi.com.
Display6.3″ OLED (Super Retina XDR), flat.
2622×1206 (~460 ppi) @ up to 120Hz LTPO apple.com apple.com. Always-On & Dolby Vision HDR; ~2000 nit peak outdoors.
6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, slight curve.
3120×1440 (~498 ppi) @ 1–120Hz LTPO en.wikipedia.org. HDR10+; 2600 nit peak brightness en.wikipedia.org. S Pen support (Wacom digitizer).
6.73″ AMOLED, curved (“Liquid”).
3200×1440 (522 ppi) @ 1–120Hz LTPO techradar.com. Dolby Vision, HDR10+; 3200 nit peak brightness mi.com.
Processor (SoC)Apple A18 Pro (3 nm) – 6‑core (2× @4.0 GHz + 4× @2.4 GHz) en.wikipedia.org; 6-core Apple GPU; 16-core Neural Engine apple.com.
Geekbench 6: ~3457 single / 8553 multi phonearena.com phonearena.com.
Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) (3 nm) – 8‑core Kryo CPU; Adreno GPU (ray tracing). Uniform globally en.wikipedia.org.
Geekbench 6: ~3220 single / 10223 multi (wins multi-core) phonearena.com phonearena.com.
Snapdragon 8 Elite (standard) (3 nm) – same as S25 Ultra sans Samsung tweaks techradar.com. Xiaomi clocks up to 4.32 GHz prime mi.com. Advanced cooling for sustained perf. techradar.com. (Benchmarks ~similar to S25 Ultra).
Memory & Storage8 GB LPDDR5X RAM en.wikipedia.org.
128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB NVMe storage en.wikipedia.org (no microSD).
12 GB LPDDR5X RAM (16 GB on 1 TB special editions) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.
256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage en.wikipedia.org (no microSD).
16 GB LPDDR5X RAM (standard) mi.com.
512 GB or 1 TB UFS 4.0 (UFS 4.1) storage mi.com (no microSD).
Software & UIiOS 18 (Apple) – smooth, secure, limited customization. New “Apple Intelligence” on-device AI features (rolled out in iOS 18.x) hothardware.com. 5+ years of updates (to ~iOS 23).Android 15 + One UI 7 (Samsung) – feature-rich (DeX, theming, etc.) with Galaxy AI enhancements en.wikipedia.org. 7 years OS/security updates promised en.wikipedia.org (till Android 22).Android 15 + HyperOS 2.0 (Xiaomi) – heavily customized, many AI features (translator, voice AI, etc.) techradar.com. Can be convoluted techradar.com. 4 years OS / 6 years security updates techradar.com (lagging rivals).
Rear CamerasTriple: 48 MP main (24 mm, ƒ/1.78, 2nd-gen sensor shift OIS) apple.com; 48 MP ultrawide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2, 120°) apple.com; 12 MP 5× tele (120 mm periscope, ƒ/2.8, OIS) apple.com; plus LiDAR scanner en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.
2× crop zoom (using 48MP) + 5× optical; up to 25× digital apple.com.
Quad: 200 MP main (24 mm, ƒ/1.7, 1/1.3″, multi-D PDAF, OIS) en.wikipedia.org; 50 MP ultrawide (13 mm, ƒ/1.9, 120°, dual pixel AF) en.wikipedia.org theverge.com; 10 MP tele (67 mm, ƒ/2.4, 3× optical, OIS) en.wikipedia.org; 50 MP periscope (111 mm, ƒ/3.4, 5× optical, OIS) en.wikipedia.org; plus Laser AF.
Covers 0.6× to 5× optically; up to 100× Space Zoom.
Quad: 50 MP main (23 mm, ƒ/1.63, 1″ sensor, OIS) mi.com; 50 MP ultrawide (14 mm, ƒ/2.2, 115°, AF) mi.com; 50 MP tele (70 mm, ƒ/1.8, 3× optical, OIS, floating lens for macro) techradar.com; 200 MP periscope (100 mm, ƒ/2.6, ~4.3× optical, OIS) techradar.com techradar.com.
Superb sensor sizes (1″ & 1/1.4″); up to 120× digital zoom mi.com. Leica tuned (Authentic/Vibrant).
Front Camera12 MP (ƒ/1.9) TrueDepth, AF, 4K@60 HDR/Dolby Vision video apple.com apple.com. Face ID sensors in Dynamic Island.12 MP (ƒ/2.2) hole-punch, dual pixel AF, 4K@60 + HDR10+ video en.wikipedia.org. Supports face unlock (2D).32 MP under-display (ƒ/2.0) “in-display” camera mi.com, fixed-focus; up to 1080p video. Stealth design, but image quality slightly compromised.
Video RecordingUp to 4K@60fps Dolby Vision HDR on rear & front apple.com apple.com. ProRes up to 4K@60 (external for 4K@120) apple.com; LOG color profile apple.com; Cinematic Mode (4K30 HDR); Action Mode (2.8K60); Spatial Video (3D 1080p30) apple.com. Best-in-class stabilization (sensor-shift) and audio (Spatial Audio 3D capture) apple.com.Up to 8K@30fps (main sensor) en.wikipedia.org; 4K@60 on all cameras. HDR10+ video, Super Steady mode (1080p/1440p). Pro Video mode with manual controls. Excellent stabilization and improved low-light video (more detail vs S24) theverge.com theverge.com. Multi-mic audio recording and 360º audio support with Buds.Up to 8K@30fps (main/periscope) mi.com; 4K@120fps possible. 10-bit LOG video mode for pro editing techradar.com. Supports Dolby Vision HDR. Ultra Night Video mode for extreme low-light. Great stabilization (OIS + EIS). Audio recording is stereo; no spatial audio. Xiaomi claims video capabilities meet or beat iPhone in resolution/control techradar.com.
Battery3,582 mAh (typ) Li-ion en.wikipedia.org. Endurance: ~27 hrs video playback rating (Apple) apple.com – easily all-day use thanks to iOS efficiency.
Wired Charge: ~27W via USB-C PD (50% in ~30 min) apple.com. ~1.4 hrs full.
Wireless: MagSafe 15W / Qi2 15W / Qi 7.5W apple.com. No reverse wireless.
5,000 mAh Li-ion en.wikipedia.org. Endurance: Excellent – comfortably a full day+ (screen 6-8h SOT).
Wired Charge: 45W USB-C (50% ~20 min, ~60 min 0-100%) en.wikipedia.org.
Wireless: Qi2 up to 15W en.wikipedia.org; Reverse wireless 4.5W en.wikipedia.org.
5,410 mAh (global model) Si-C Li-ion techradar.com. Endurance: Very good, though high-end features can drain it (TechRadar expected slightly more) techradar.com.
Wired Charge: 90W (0-100% ~35 min) mi.com.
Wireless: 80W (full ~40 min) mi.com; Reverse ~10W. (Incredible charging speeds, but long-term battery health TBD.)
Price (USD)~$999 (128GB); $1099 (256GB); $1299 (512GB); $1499 (1TB).
UK: ~£1099 (256GB).
~$1299 (256GB); $1379 (512GB); $1619 (1TB).
UK: £1249 (256GB). (Frequent trade-in deals available) phonearena.com.
$1300 (import for 512GB model; not sold in US). <br>EU: €1599 (512GB); £1299 (512GB in UK) techradar.com techradar.com. China: CNY 8999 ($1240).
AvailabilityWidely available globally (carrier and unlocked).
Colors often in short supply at launch.
Widely available globally. Manufactured in multiple countries en.wikipedia.org. S25 Ultra, + and base released Feb 2025 en.wikipedia.org.Limited regions. China release Feb 27 2025; International Mar 2 2025 (select Europe/Asia) techradar.com techradar.com. Not officially in North America/Australia techradar.com.
Notable UpcomingRumors: iPhone 17 (Sept 2025) to introduce an ultra-thin “Air” model and possibly Apple’s own modem macrumors.com macrumors.com. All iPhone 17 models likely to get 120Hz and bigger displays (6.3″ base, 6.9″ Pro) macrumors.com macrumors.com. 17 Pro/Max expected with A19 chip, 12GB RAM 9to5mac.com, and possibly a periscope on both sizes.Next Galaxy: S26 Ultra (early 2026) rumored to use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 (4 nm) with some returning Exynos 2600 in some regions tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Expected 16GB RAM base tomsguide.com, same 5000 mAh (but maybe 60W charging) tomsguide.com. Camera to stick to ~50MP periscope (no 10× yet) but new sensor upgrades likely tomsguide.com.Next Xiaomi: Likely Xiaomi 16 Ultra (~2026). Xiaomi also teased developing its own high-end chip to rival Apple A18/Snapdragon techradar.com. We might see even faster charging or dual 1″ sensors. Also watch Xiaomi’s foldables and camera partnerships for future innovation.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org techradar.com theverge.com phonearena.com phonearena.com etc.

(All information is current as of August 15, 2025. Rumored future device info is speculative and cited where possible. Pricing may vary by region and promotions.)


Buyer’s Recommendation: Ultimately, the “best” phone depends on what you value:

  • Choose the iPhone 16 Pro if you want a reliable, top-performing phone that excels in video, has a more manageably sized build, and you’re invested in Apple’s ecosystem (or you prioritize software longevity and resale value). It’s a safe choice that “just works,” and now with USB-C and 5× zoom, it’s more versatile than previous iPhones. Just remember to pack a charger, as it doesn’t charge as blazingly fast as others.
  • Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the most complete Android experience – a big beautiful screen, the flexibility of the S Pen, powerful cameras that can do it all (from 0.5× ultrawide to 100× moon shots), and a phone that can genuinely replace a notebook or even a laptop in a pinch. It is a multitasking beast and now a long-haul software winner with Samsung’s update pledge en.wikipedia.org. You’ll pay a premium, but you’re getting arguably the pinnacle of what Android can offer in 2025.
  • Choose the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you are a tech enthusiast or camera buff who wants bleeding-edge hardware and you’re willing to work a bit for it (either by importing or dealing with Xiaomi’s software quirks). The camera system is its biggest draw – it’s a photographer’s playground – and that 90W charging will spoil you. It undercuts rivals on a specs-for-price basis techradar.com, making it a great value if you can fully utilize its features and don’t mind the weaker after-sales support. For mainstream consumers, it’s a tougher sell; but for geeks who crave something different and formidable, the 15 Ultra stands tall.

In the end, all three phones are outstanding ultra-flagships that live up to the “Ultra/Pro” name. Whether you pick the polished iOS experience, the feature-packed Galaxy, or the cutting-edge Xiaomi, you’ll be getting one of the best smartphones of 2025. Evaluate what matters most – be it ecosystem, camera prowess, battery/charging, or unique features – and you’ll know which “Ultra” is right for you.

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