Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S25

Our Verdict: iPhone 16 Plus has the clearer appeal for a bigger screen, with the larger 6.7" screen and the larger 4,674 mAh battery. Galaxy S25 answers with the lower contract price from £25.29/mo and the cheaper SIM-free price from £399.99, so it can be the better fit if contract value is what you will notice most. The decision should come down to whether value and handling or the stronger headline specs matter more.

The S25 is the cheaper one to own: around £633 over a typical contract, £163 less than the iPhone 16 Plus.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
4.1
11 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.2"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
2796 x 1290 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
460 416
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
4,674 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm
Weight
199 grams 162 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
£32.79/mo (£9.00 upfront) £22.99/mo (£59.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£510.00 £439.99

Prices updated 27 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus Samsung Galaxy S25 Samsung Galaxy S25
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
4.1
11 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.2"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 2796 x 1290 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 460 416
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 4,674 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm
Weight 199 grams 162 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 £32.79/mo
£9.00 upfront
£22.99/mo
£59.00 upfront
SIM-free £510.00 £439.99
Prices updated 27 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Plus

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£32.79 per month, £9 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25

24 Months

128GB

Silver Shadow

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£22.99 per month, £59 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper on contract at £633.16 over the life of the deal from £22.99 per month with £59.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25's 6.2", the Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 416, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S25 has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 has a 50 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 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £439.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25 use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the more portable of the two: it's 37g lighter at 162 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm, and is slimmer at 7.2mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25 run?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S25 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.