Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra fails to beat iPhone 16 Pro Max in a head-to-head battery test

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra features the same 5,000 mAh battery as its predecessor. However, with a more efficient chip, this battery should last longer than the last-gen flagship. But even with the efficiency gain, Samsung's latest top-end phone failed to beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max in PhoneBuff's comprehensive battery test.

Of course, the iPhone 16 Pro Max didn't really have a big lead, as there was only a difference of 11 minutes. More specifically, the latest Apple flagship phone lasted for 28 hours and 1 minute, having an active time of 12 hours and 1 minute in the test. The S25 Ultra, on the other hand, lasted for 27 hours and 50 minutes, with an active time of 11 hours and 50 minutes in the test.

It's worth noting that Apple's flagship has a lower battery capacity than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (order from Amazon and get a $200 free gift card). To be specific, the former has a rated capacity of 4,685 mAh, while the latter has a 5,000 mAh capacity rating. So, while the 11-minute difference may not seem much, it adds a good amount of weight when you consider the battery capacities.

That being said, the fact that the iPhone 16 Pro Max barely edged the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in this test shows how efficient the Snapdragon 8 Elite is. It's also worth noting that Samsung's flagship held up really well during the gaming phase of the test.

Samsung's 2026 flagship phones may tell a different story in the same test, as they are rumored to sport silicon-carbon (SiC) batteries. This upgrade would lead to faster charging speeds and, most importantly, higher battery capacities. Check out PhoneBuff's video attached below to learn more about the test.