I bought an early, hands-on take a look at the brand new Samsung S25 lineup, most significantly the S25 Extremely. I used to be curious to see what the most effective of the most effective 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 in relation to type issue. The oblong, sweet bar design breathes loads of similarities throughout each gadgets and so do the inner specs. So the one factor left right here to really examine 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 take a look at the S25 Extremely and examine it to the iPhone 16 Professional Max, I extremely advocate trying out the video beneath.
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?). Additionally they curved the facet railings a bit to make it a bit much less cumbersome to carry. Moreover, Samsung was in a position to cut back the burden 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 all the way down to visible preferences.
A18 Professional vs Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
I simply wished to provide a fast breakdown of the inner specs of every of those.
S25 Extremely | iPhone 16 Professional Max | |
Single Core Geekbench | 3049 | 3539 |
Multi Core Geekbench | 9793 | 8772 |
Whole Cores | 8 | 6 |
Whole RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
Working System | OneUI 7 | iOS 18.X |
So, at a look, you’ll be able to see that these are going to be very related. The one-core rating goes to the iPhone, however the multicore rating goes to S25 as a result of it has 2 further cores. Once more, these are simply numbers, however in actuality, in relation 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 photos, and each did nice. Viewing content material on these goes to be the most effective of the most effective. So nonetheless, this actually comes all the way down to desire and familiarity. However what each of those chips allow goes to be all of the AI options which can be 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 need to caveat this part by saying that Apple Intelligence remains to be not out in its fullest type as of penning this. We’re at present on iOS 18.2 with just a few of the Apple Intelligence options obtainable. Most of the promised options from WWDC 2024 are nonetheless lacking, most significantly, the power 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 couple of examples they gave however the gist is you could 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: In search of subsequent soccer sport “hey discover when the following soccer sport is, put it in my calendar, textual content it to my mates”
On this occasion, it’ll take you all the best way to the ultimate step, which might be to ship the textual content to mates. One factor to notice is that it’ll not truly ship the message with out asking for permission or prompting you to do it however it’ll do every thing else.
There are cases the place it does go all the best way in finishing the whole activity 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 observe it you’ll be able to ask Galaxy AI to extract all the knowledge wanted and put it in a notice 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 may be an APK for third-party builders so as to add this to their stream.
Similarities to Apple Intelligence
Each of those telephones have the aptitude to make use of “for enjoyable” options like creating photos from a sketch or producing an emoji. Each are additionally higher at conversational consciousness, so even when you stumble over your phrases it’ll 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 enhancing
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 simply do extra, and you’ll really feel extra assured utilizing it. I examined a couple of easy prompts, and Galaxy was often sooner and at all times gave the proper solutions. It additionally appears extra contextually conscious and may use data from different apps to provide you a extra tailor-made reply. Apple is making an attempt to slowly roll out all of its features of Apple Intelligence, which is able to permit 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 completely different.
Final tidbits
I wished to incorporate another cool tidbits that Samsung launched with their new S25 line.
- new 50MP Ultrawide with Macro mode
- 4k LOG video assist
- Audio eraser
- Variable digital aperture
- Purchase Now Pay Later for Samsung Pay
- Faucet to pay throughout completely different gadgets (even Samsung to iPhone)
Ultimate take
As I discussed in my intro, we at the moment are 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 actually 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 in relation to AI integrations and truly helpful use instances and options. The Apple intelligence state of affairs nonetheless has a methods to go with a view to be as helpful as I and even Apple need it to be. I’m certain it’ll get there earlier than the brand new iPhone 17 lineup comes out.
However when you requested me to modify to Samsung to make use of as my principal machine, I personally can’t 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} gadgets are purpose-built to speak to one another seamlessly. Introducing a non-Apple telephone to my ecosystem would in all probability make my expertise worse. But when I used to be already within the Samsung ecosystem, then this S25 Extremely is one thing that might excite me.
The S25 Extremely is on the market for pre-order in the present day beginning at $1299
What do you suppose? Do you suppose Apple will ultimately be capable to compete from an AI perspective? Would you make the ecosystem change? Let’s focus on this beneath!
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