The performance benchmarks of the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra reveal strong competition between these two flagship smartphones, each excelling in different aspects.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by Apple's A19 Pro chip built on the 3nm process, featuring a hexa-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. It pairs with 12GB of RAM, uses vapor chamber cooling for thermal management, and offers multiple storage options, now including up to 2TB. The device supports a 6.9-inch OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.
On the other side, the Galaxy S25 Ultra runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 "Elite" variant, also manufactured on a 3nm process. It has an octa-core CPU with two power cores and six efficiency cores, coupled with 12GB RAM and vapor chamber cooling. The display is a 6.9-inch AMOLED panel also with 120Hz refresh rate but slightly lower peak brightness at 2,600 nits. Storage options go up to 1TB with LPDDR5X RAM.
Benchmark scores reveal that the iPhone 17 Pro Max generally outperforms in single-core CPU performance as indicated by Geekbench tests, which is particularly advantageous for everyday tasks and apps that are not fully optimized for multiple cores. The A19 Pro's single-core scores are higher than those of the Samsung Snapdragon 8 Elite. This translates to a smoother and faster response in day-to-day usage, app launches, and overall system fluidity.
Conversely, the Galaxy S25 Ultra tends to score better in multi-core benchmarks, reflecting its octa-core architecture optimized for parallel task processing. This multi-core advantage gives the S25 Ultra the edge in workloads benefiting from better multi-threading, such as gaming and video editing applications that utilize multiple cores effectively.
In gaming-specific benchmarks such as 3DMark WildLife tests, the S25 Ultra initially posts higher frame rates and scores due to its robust GPU architecture and slightly higher clock speeds. However, thermal throttling becomes a factor during extended intense gaming sessions. The Galaxy S25 Ultra throttles down more quickly and significantly compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which benefits from an upgraded vapor chamber cooling system allowing it to maintain higher sustained performance for longer periods. The iPhone's GPU performance stabilizes at a high level after some throttling, meaning it can deliver consistent gaming performance over extended use.
Battery capacities are fairly close, with the iPhone Pro Max having a 5,088 mAh battery for the eSIM variant and 4,832 mAh for international models, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a 5,000 mAh cell. In real-world usage, the iPhone 17 Pro Max shows better battery efficiency despite the large display and high brightness levels. However, Samsung has the advantage in wired charging speedsâits 45W wired charging is faster compared to the iPhone's roughly 40W. On the other hand, Apple supports faster wireless charging at up to 25W, whereas Samsung provides 15W wireless charging.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max features NVMe storage which contributes to faster app loading times and overall system responsiveness. The Galaxy S25 Ultra uses UFS 4.0 storage, which also offers fast data read/write speeds but generally benchmarks show NVMe storage on the iPhone to be slightly quicker, translating to a somewhat smoother user experience during file access and app management.
Software also plays an important role in the perception of performance. The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs iOS 26, which introduces a visually refined Liquid Glass design with dynamic wallpapers, animations, and a cleaner interface. The system optimization with Apple's hardware and software integration allows for highly efficient use of hardware resources. Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra runs the latest One UI 8.0 on top of Android 15, which provides customizability and multitasking but sometimes shows higher battery consumption due to background processes and additional features.
In real-world speed tests like app opening, switching tasks, and loading complex applications, the iPhone 17 Pro Max often comes out on top, attributed primarily to iOS's optimized app lifecycle management and superior single-core CPU performance. The Galaxy S25 Ultra excels in multitasking scenarios, benefitting from its higher core count and Android's multi-window support.
Thermal performance is also crucial for sustained usage. The iPhone 17 Pro Max's upgraded vapor chamber cooling allows it to throttle slower and maintain higher performance under prolonged load such as video editing or gaming sessions. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a vapor chamber as well, but handles heat differently, leading to earlier performance drops under sustained load.
To summarize the core differences from benchmarks and tests:
- CPU: iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro chip leads in single-core performance; Galaxy S25 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite leads in multi-core scores.
- GPU: Galaxy S25 Ultra edges out initially in graphical benchmarks but throttles faster; iPhone maintains steadier performance over time.
- RAM and Storage: Both have 12GB RAM; iPhone uses NVMe storage slightly faster than Galaxy's UFS 4.0.
- Battery: Similar battery sizes; iPhone more power efficient, Galaxy charges wired faster; Apple supports faster wireless charging.
- Cooling: Both use vapor chamber tech, iPhone's cooling system allows better sustained performance.
- Software Optimization: iPhone's iOS 26 is tightly integrated with hardware for smooth performance; Galaxy's One UI 8.0 offers versatile multitasking with some efficiency trade-offs.
In daily usage scenarios, the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers superior app launch speed, smoother animations, and extended peak performance. The Galaxy S25 Ultra shines in multi-tasking environments and complex, multi-threaded applications. Gaming is initially faster on the Galaxy but over long sessions, the iPhone maintains steadier frames and better thermal management.
Overall, both phones represent the peak of current smartphone performance, with the iPhone maximizing single-core speed and efficiency while Samsung balances multi-core power and high-level multitasking capabilities. The choice between them depends on the user's preference for either the ultimate single-core experience or a device optimized for multi-core performance and faster charging capabilities across the board.
These findings are based on comprehensive benchmark tests including Geekbench, 3DMark, Adobe Premiere Rush transcoding, real-world app usage tests, and battery performance evaluations conducted in controlled environments.