Galaxy S25+ • Unlocked vs iPhone 16 Plus • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, released in February 2025, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus, launched in September 2024, represent two prominent large-screen smartphones from their respective manufacturers. While both devices offer robust performance and advanced features, they differentiate themselves through their operating systems, display technologies, and camera philosophies. This comparison aims to highlight the practical distinctions between these two devices to assist consumers in making an informed choice.

Both the Galaxy S25 Plus and the iPhone 16 Plus are designed for extended use, with strong commitments to software support and durable builds.

• Software Longevity: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus was released with Android 15 and One UI 7, with Samsung promising seven years of OS and security updates, extending support well into the future. The iPhone 16 Plus, running iOS 18 at launch and currently on iOS 26.4, typically receives iOS updates for approximately five to six years from its release date, offering a slightly shorter but still substantial support period.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S25 Plus has demonstrated strong repairability, with a PBKreviews score of 9 out of 10, attributed to its use of Philips screws, accessible flex cables, and improved battery removal process. The iPhone 16 Plus has also seen significant improvements in repairability, earning an iFixit score of 7 out of 10, a notable increase from previous generations, thanks to a more modular design and easier battery access.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature robust construction. The Galaxy S25 Plus incorporates a recycled Armor aluminum frame and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back for scratch protection. The iPhone 16 Plus also uses an aluminum frame with glass on the front and back. Both phones carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, though the iPhone 16 Plus is rated to survive in deeper water (up to 6 meters for 30 minutes) compared to the Galaxy S25 Plus (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes).

Both smartphones deliver high-level performance suitable for demanding applications and multitasking, though they achieve this through different hardware and software optimizations.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S25 Plus is equipped with a current-generation processor designed for efficient multitasking and gaming, with user reports indicating smooth performance across various applications. The iPhone 16 Plus features Apple's A18 chip, which provides responsive operation and handles intensive tasks with ease, ensuring a fluid user experience.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: The Galaxy S25 Plus comes with 12GB of RAM across all models, contributing to its ability to manage numerous applications simultaneously without slowdowns. The iPhone 16 Plus includes 8GB of RAM, which, combined with iOS optimizations, allows for efficient app switching and consistent responsiveness in daily use.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S25 Plus houses a 4900 mAh battery, with users frequently reporting excellent battery life, often lasting 24-36 hours on a single charge with moderate use. The iPhone 16 Plus, with its 4674 mAh battery, is also noted for its very long battery life, often providing a full day of heavy use or more.

The display is a key interaction point for any smartphone, and both devices offer large, vibrant screens with distinct characteristics.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a high resolution of 3120x1440 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 513 ppi, offering sharp and detailed visuals. The iPhone 16 Plus also has a 6.7-inch OLED display, known as Super Retina XDR, with a resolution of 2796x1290 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 460 ppi, providing clear and vibrant images.
• Refresh Rate and Brightness: The Galaxy S25 Plus boasts an adaptive refresh rate that can vary from 1Hz to 120Hz, contributing to smoother scrolling and animations, and can reach a peak brightness of 2600 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus maintains a 60Hz refresh rate, which some users might find less fluid compared to higher refresh rate displays, and offers a peak brightness of 2000 nits.
• Viewing Experience: Both displays offer strong color accuracy and contrast typical of OLED technology, making them suitable for media consumption and general use. The higher resolution and variable refresh rate of the Galaxy S25 Plus may appeal to users who prioritize the smoothest visual experience and maximum detail, while the iPhone 16 Plus still provides a high-quality viewing experience with deep blacks and vibrant colors.

Photography capabilities are a significant factor for many users, and both devices offer advanced camera systems with different strengths.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 50 MP wide-angle primary camera, a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. The iPhone 16 Plus comes with a dual-camera system, featuring a 48 MP Fusion Ultrawide main camera and a 12 MP telephoto camera, with vertically aligned lenses for spatial capture.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S25 Plus leverages software enhancements for its camera system, producing photos with vibrant colors and good detail in favorable lighting conditions, though some reviews note occasional inconsistencies or softness in image quality. The iPhone 16 Plus offers improved low-light performance compared to its predecessor and excels in close-up photography, with reliable and generally great-looking photos.
• Video and Audio: Both devices are capable of high-quality video recording. The Galaxy S25 Plus supports 8K video recording at 30 frames per second. The iPhone 16 Plus can shoot spatial photos and videos and includes an impressive audio mix feature for video. Both phones offer good speaker output for media consumption, though the Galaxy S25 Plus's speakers might lack some bass according to user feedback.