S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max A Close Look at Gaming Power
This piece takes you through a gaming fight between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. We tried many hard games to see which phone gives a better and more even game feel. Some finds were not as we thought, showing true strong and weak points for each phone.
Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max tested in games side by side.
How Each Phone Performed in Various Games
Let’s see how each phone did in many famous games.
PUBG Mobile
On both, the game went smooth at 120 FPS on the lowest settings. Both were stable when the map first loaded and during fast car rides. The S25 Ultra looked a bit better, with a sharper screen that made far foes easier to see than on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Call of Duty Mobile
The S25 Ultra was held at just 60 FPS in the 40-player map mode, a shock. But, the iPhone 16 Pro Max did this mode at a smooth 120 FPS on medium settings. In common multiplayer games, both kept a cool 120 FPS.
Warzone Mobile
The S25 Ultra started the game at about 50 FPS when landing, changing between 60 and 100 FPS on normal settings. On low settings, it went up to 120 FPS but then fell under 100. The iPhone 16 Pro Max gave a smoother run at the top settings, though we could not track the exact FPS. The S25 Ultra’s screen was again good for hitting far aims.
Arena Breakout
Here, the S25 Ultra had a clear lead, using ray tracing at 1080p for a steady 60 FPS. Without ray tracing, it stayed at a steady 120 FPS in UHD. The iPhone 16 Pro Max did not offer ray tracing. It kept near 120 FPS on high settings most of the time but fell to about 100 FPS now and then.
Delta Force
On the S25 Ultra, the game kept a cool 120 FPS on HD settings. On Max settings, it held a very steady 60 FPS. The iPhone 16 Pro Max ran at 120 FPS on "Standard" settings (lower than HD), but was less steady than the S25's. On Max settings, it too was set at a steady 60 FPS.
Genshin Impact
The S25 had a weird lock at 60 FPS, odd since the GPU hinted at more power. The iPhone 16 Pro Max went to 120 FPS, but ran with many ups and downs between 80-110 FPS and sometimes fell into the 60s.
Honkai Star Rail
Much the same. The S25 gave a steady, cool 60 FPS. The iPhone 16 Pro Max could go 120 FPS, but ran poorly, with many dips below 60 FPS, making play rough and near unplayable.
Zenless Zone Zero
The S25 kept a perfect 60 FPS at the top settings, even in hard scenes after 30 minutes of play. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, aiming for 120 FPS, had sharp stops when new places loaded. Its FPS was mostly in the 80s but dipped into the 60s.
Wuthering Waves
Both the S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max were set at 60 FPS in this game. Both kept this FPS well, giving equal play quality.
Infinity Nikki
A shock here. The S25 Ultra was oddly set to just 30 FPS. The iPhone 16 Pro Max ran at 60 FPS, but in busy places, it dropped to 30 FPS. Here, a steady 30 FPS is better than a shaky 60 FPS.
ARK Survival Evolved
Both had bad runs. The S25 Ultra had a strange, steady 37 FPS. The iPhone 16 Pro Max was locked to 30 FPS on high settings but fell as low as 16 FPS, making it unplayable and very hot. On low settings, it kept a good 30 FPS. The odd but steady 37 FPS of the S25 was seen as better.
CarX Street
The S25 Ultra gave a firm 60 FPS at the top settings. The iPhone 16 Pro Max also began at 60 FPS but dropped fast into the 50s and then stayed near a much lower 40 FPS. Even after cooling it and starting full, the outcome stayed the same. The S25 Ultra came out on top.
Full Review Recap
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Good Points Works very well all the time, often with no drop in frame rate. The clear screen helps a lot in seeing enemies. Keeps cool, so no slow-downs in long game plays.
- Bad Points Some games stay at only 60 FPS or even 30 FPS. This is when the phone can do more, but doesn't. It seems like a soft or game maker problem.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Good Points Can run games at higher frame rates (120 FPS) in some places where the S25 Ultra can't. It starts off super smooth.
- Bad Points Drops in how well it works are big. It can't keep up its high FPS, leading to stuttering, slow-downs, and big drops. This makes the game less fun and less smooth to play.
End Thought and Summary
Though the iPhone 16 Pro Max often shows higher FPS on paper, it doesn't work well in real life due to it being unstable. High FPS that keeps changing is not as good as a lower, but steady one.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, even with its tough low FPS in some games, gives a much more even and good game every time. Its best thing is how steady it is, making sure the game stays easy and smooth to play for hours.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Game Score: 8.5 / 10
iPhone 16 Pro Max Game Score: 6.5 / 10
For those who play a lot on phones, steady game play is most important. In this full can test, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the top game phone.
