Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Our verdict: Over a typical contract, expect to pay £24.70 less with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra than the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you care about a crisp screen, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra wins at 505 PPI. Photography fans should note the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a 200MP main sensor. Without a contract, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better deal at £456.00 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.8"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1290 x 2796 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
460 505
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A17 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm
Weight
221 grams 219 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
£69.50/mo (£30.00 upfront) £11.95/mo (£585.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£456.00 £709.00
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.8"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1290 x 2796 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 460 505
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A17 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type Nano SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.3 with A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm
Weight 221 grams 219 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts £69.50/mo
£30.00 upfront
£11.95/mo
£585.00 upfront
SIM-free £456.00 £709.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is cheaper on contract at £841.80 over the life of the deal from £11.95 per month with £585.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has the sharper display at 505 pixels per inch versus 460, and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 200 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £456.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra use?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A17 Pro , while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the more portable of the two — they weigh about the same (221 grams vs 219 grams), it's also the more compact phone at 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra run?

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.