Galaxy S25 Ultra Outperforms iPhone 17 Pro Max in Recent Speed Test, Even with Faster A19 Pro Chip and Equal RAM

The ongoing debate about smartphone performance has taken an intriguing turn this year, particularly with the impressive results of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in a direct speed test against Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. What is remarkable is that Samsung’s flagship not only stood its ground but also significantly outperformed its rival by a notable margin.

Galaxy S25 Ultra Outperforms iPhone 17 Pro Max in Speed Tests

In a recent benchmarking exercise conducted by PhoneBuff, the two smartphone titans underwent rigorous speed testing after previously undergoing comparative drop tests, which resulted in a tie for durability. This latest round of evaluation pits the iPhone 17 Pro Max against the highly capable Galaxy S25 Ultra, at least until the anticipated Galaxy S26 Ultra is released early next year.

While some might assume that the Galaxy S25 Ultra would lag due to its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset—rather than the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5—this expectation is not reflected in performance. Contrary to initial assumptions, the software of the Galaxy S25 Ultra has been fine-tuned over time, leading to quicker app launches and smoother performance in practical use. This was staunchly highlighted during the recent tests.

Interestingly, the iPhone 17 Pro Max struggled in this comparison, trailing the Galaxy S25 Ultra by three apps during the speed test and showing delays in the video export test as well. Historically, the iPhone has excelled in such scenarios, suggesting that upcoming updates, particularly iOS 26.1 beta 1—released to developers on September 22—may have considerable room for improvement.

Speed Test Results: iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra

In the primary lap of the speed test, the iPhone 17 Pro Max recorded a time of 2 minutes 16 seconds, finishing 14 seconds after the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The situation remained consistent through the second lap, with Samsung’s flagship maintaining its lead and concluding the test several seconds ahead.

Speed Test Results Summary:

iPhone 17 Pro Max:

Lap 1 – 2 minutes 16 seconds (02:16.18)
Lap 2 – 47 seconds (00:47.51)

Galaxy S25 Ultra:

Lap 1 – 2 minutes 2 seconds (02:02.59)
Lap 2 – 49 seconds (00:49.53)

Both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra are undoubtedly powerful devices capable of meeting the demands of the average user. However, this speed test underscores the pivotal role of software optimization in delivering exceptional performance, in addition to just top-tier specifications.

For further insights, check the detailed analysis from PhoneBuff.

For additional information and images, visit Wccftech.