Samsung faces criticism from its dedicated fans for opting to use the same 5, 000mAh battery in the new Galaxy S25 Ultra. Nevertheless, the South Korean tech giant has made significant advancements in various features that enhance overall energy efficiency, aiming to set a new standard in battery life. In a recent showdown, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was put to the test against Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, with the latter narrowly clinching victory in this head-to-head battery endurance comparison.
Battery Performance Comparison: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs.iPhone 16 Pro Max
During PhoneBuff’s rigorous battery drain test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max secured an early advantage over the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It is important to note, however, that Samsung has equipped its flagship with an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which operates its performance cores at 4.47GHz rather than the standard 4.32GHz. This enhancement, while boosting performance, also increases the rate of battery consumption at times, impacting overall endurance.
When looking at the findings from the browser segment of the test, it’s evident that both smartphones experience significant battery drain, particularly during resource-intensive tasks such as scrolling through Instagram. The key moment comes during the standby test, where both devices were left idle for 16 hours. Interestingly, it was the Galaxy S25 Ultra that managed to overtake the iPhone 16 Pro Max for the first time, demonstrating superior performance across successive battery drain phases.
Furthermore, the Galaxy S25 Ultra showed impressive stamina during gaming sessions when pitted against the iPhone 16 Pro Max. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra had similarly claimed an early lead in the previous year’s comparison, it ultimately lost ground to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Regrettably, history seems to repeat itself in this latest test as well.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max found its stride again, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra powering down just 11 minutes earlier. The final results reveal that the Galaxy S25 Ultra operated for a total of 27 hours and 50 minutes, with an active screen time of 11 hours and 50 minutes. On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro Max achieved an overall runtime of 28 hours and 1 minute, with its screen on time matching its total runtime. Speculation suggests that if Samsung had increased the battery size to 5, 500mAh, it would have had a substantial advantage over Apple’s flagship model.
Looking ahead, industry trends indicate that Samsung may indeed shift towards the adoption of silicon-carbon battery technology, following in the footsteps of several Chinese manufacturers. There are rumors pointing towards this innovative approach debuting with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. Such advancements could potentially allow both Samsung and Apple to integrate larger batteries, as further optimization might only yield limited improvements. We invite you to watch PhoneBuff’s complete battery drain test linked above and share your thoughts in the comments below.
News Source: PhoneBuff
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