iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung’s S25 Ultra: Who did AI better?

I bought an early, hands-on have a look at the brand new Samsung S25 lineup, most significantly the S25 Extremely. I used to be curious to see what one of the best of one of the best from Samsung was like in comparison with the Apple counterpart, the iPhone 16 Professional Max. What actually stood out to me about these telephones is that we’ve appeared to achieve a peak with regards to kind issue. The oblong, sweet bar design breathes a whole lot of similarities throughout each units and so do the interior specs. So the one factor left right here to actually evaluate goes to be the software program, person expertise, and, after all, their AI. Let’s get into.

If you wish to get a real hands-on have a look at the S25 Extremely and evaluate it to the iPhone 16 Professional Max, I extremely advocate testing the video under.

Design comparability

Once more, from a design standpoint, you will see a ton of similarities between these two telephones. Samsung made some modifications to their new S25 Extremely in comparison with final yr. They shrunk the bezels ever so barely to go from 6.8in on the display screen to six.9in on the display screen (sound acquainted?). In addition they curved the aspect railings a bit to make it a bit much less cumbersome to carry. Moreover, Samsung was capable of cut back the load of the machine by about 15g, which is fairly noticeable.

Each telephones use titanium supplies for the chassis, have the highest-quality glass, have a triple digicam array and really feel exceptionally premium within the hand. The largest visible distinction is that the S25 Extremely has extra squared-off corners whereas the iPhone is rounded off. So, it simply comes right down to visible preferences.

A18 Professional vs Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

I simply needed to offer a fast breakdown of the interior specs of every of those.

So, at a look, you’ll be able to see that these are going to be very comparable. The only-core rating goes to the iPhone, however the multicore rating goes to S25 as a result of it has 2 extra cores. Once more, these are simply numbers, however in actuality, with regards to day-to-day duties, each of those telephones will be capable to do all of it and do it tremendous effectively. In my video, I examined how briskly apps open and the way rapidly you’ll be able to mash the shutter button to take photographs, and each did nice. Viewing content material on these goes to be one of the best of one of the best. So nonetheless, this really comes right down to choice and familiarity. However what each of those chips allow goes to be all of the AI options which are coming.

Another specs to contemplate of the S25 Extremely:

• 3NM processor
• 40% NPU Improve
• 37% CPU improve 
• 30% GPU Improve
• 40% improve in ray tracing 
• 18% FPS improve

Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence

I wish to caveat this part by saying that Apple Intelligence remains to be not out in its fullest kind as of scripting this. We’re at present on iOS 18.2 with only some of the Apple Intelligence options obtainable. Most of the promised options from WWDC 2024 are nonetheless lacking, most significantly, the flexibility to take motion for you. And that’s the place Galaxy AI shines.

Cross-App actions

That is what I discovered probably the most thrilling and the place I feel Apple might take a degree or two. Galaxy AI permits for cross app actions to happen. There are a number of examples they gave however the gist is that you would be able to truly pull up the Galaxy AI help and inform it to do one thing for you even when it includes a number of functions.

• Ex: On the lookout for subsequent soccer recreation “hey discover when the following soccer recreation is, put it in my calendar, textual content it to my buddies”

On this occasion, it’s going to take you all the best way to the ultimate step, which might be to ship the textual content to buddies. One factor to notice is that it’s going to not truly ship the message with out asking for permission or prompting you to do it however it’s going to do the whole lot else.

There are cases the place it does go all the best way in finishing all the process although. Right here is one other instance.

• Ex: Taking a look at recipe video, Ask Galaxy AI agent to tug substances from the video and add it to the notes ap

This one is cool as a result of you’ll be able to pull up a recipe video and with out even having to look at it you’ll be able to ask Galaxy AI to extract all the data wanted and put it in a word to view later. I can see a ton of use instances for this.

As of proper now, this may work with all first-party Google and Samsung apps, and there’s an APK for third-party builders so as to add this to their movement.

Similarities to Apple Intelligence

Each of those telephones have the potential to make use of “for enjoyable” options like creating photographs from a sketch or producing an emoji. Each are additionally higher at conversational consciousness, so even should you stumble over your phrases it’s going to nonetheless be capable to get the context and perceive what you are attempting to do.

• Samsung has Generative Edit; Apple has Picture Playgrounds
• Samsung has Sketch to Picture; Apple has Picture Wand
• Samsung has Audio eraser; Apple has its personal Audio modifying

Concluding ideas on AI

Because it stands in the present day, I might give the sting to the S25 Extremely from an AI perspective. It could possibly simply do extra, and you’ll really feel extra assured utilizing it. I examined a number of easy prompts, and Galaxy was often quicker and at all times gave the proper solutions. It additionally appears extra contextually conscious and may use info from different apps to offer you a extra tailor-made reply. Apple is making an attempt to slowly roll out all of its points of Apple Intelligence, which can enable Samsung and Google to be a step forward. Additionally Google assistant has simply at all times been a bit higher than siri and that is no totally different.

Final tidbits

I needed to incorporate another cool tidbits that Samsung launched with their new S25 line.

• new 50MP Ultrawide with Macro mode
• 4k LOG video help
• Audio eraser
• Variable digital aperture
• Purchase Now Pay Later for Samsung Pay
• Faucet to pay throughout totally different units (even Samsung to iPhone)

Ultimate take

As I discussed in my intro, we are actually at a time when inner and exterior {hardware} are all at a really excessive degree. Materials science and {hardware} capabilities have all been largely commoditized. So it really comes down to 2 issues: software program(AI) and ecosystem. Because it stands in the present day, I might give the leg as much as Samsung and OneUI 7 with regards to AI integrations and truly helpful use instances and options. The Apple intelligence state of affairs nonetheless has a methods to go with a purpose to be as helpful as I and even Apple need it to be. I’m certain it’s going to get there earlier than the brand new iPhone 17 lineup comes out.

However should you requested me to modify to Samsung to make use of as my predominant machine, I personally can not do it due to my ecosystem funding. I’ve an iPhone, an iPad, an Apple Watch, a Mac mini, Homekit equipment, an Apple TV, a Homepod; the checklist goes on. All of those {hardware} units are purpose-built to speak to one another seamlessly. Introducing a non-Apple telephone to my ecosystem would most likely make my expertise worse. But when I used to be already within the Samsung ecosystem, then this S25 Extremely is one thing that may excite me.

The S25 Extremely is out there for pre-order in the present day beginning at $1299

What do you assume? Do you assume Apple will finally be capable to compete from an AI perspective? Would you make the ecosystem swap? Let’s focus on this under!