Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Our Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple iPhone Air suit different priorities. The Samsung is stronger for display quality, helped by a larger 6.8-inch screen, a sharper 505 PPI display, and its Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel, while the iPhone is better suited to its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, a higher-resolution 18MP front camera, and a lighter 165g body. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Software may decide it too: the Samsung is the Android choice, while the iPhone keeps you in Apple's iOS ecosystem. Choose the Samsung for display quality; choose the iPhone if portability matters more.

Total contract costs are about level, around £840 for either phone.

Expert Rating
3.9
12 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen
6.5" 6.8"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
444 505
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
3,149 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
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/7
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm
Weight
165 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
£70.97/mo (£0.00 upfront) £33.79/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£599.99 £579.00
Apple iPhone Air Apple iPhone Air Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Expert Rating 3.9
12 reviews
4.4
12 reviews
Screen 6.5" 6.8"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 444 505
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 3,149 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type 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/7
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm
Weight 165 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 £70.97/mo
£0.00 upfront
£33.79/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £599.99 £579.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone Air

12 Months

256GB

Space Black

3GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£70.97 per month, with FREE phone.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

24 Months

256GB

Titanium Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£33.79 per month, £29 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is cheaper on contract at £839.96 over the life of the deal from £33.79 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has the bigger screen at 6.8" compared to the Apple iPhone Air's 6.5", the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has the sharper display at 505 pixels per inch versus 444, and the Apple iPhone Air 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 Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone Air 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 Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £579.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

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

What processors do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra use?

The Apple iPhone Air is powered by the Apple A19 Pro (3 nm), 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 Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone Air is the more portable of the two: it's 54g lighter at 165 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm, and is slimmer at 5.6mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone Air 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 Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra run?

The Apple iPhone Air 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.