Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: worth jumping ship?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 has launched to a crowded arena, where it competes against multiple generations of iPhone. Don’t get me wrong — all are fantastic devices with specs that make expert guesses from a decade ago look wildly inaccurate — but with every new phone generation, there are objectively better picks. The Apple iPhone 15 may not be the latest version of Apple’s flagship, but it’s a strong smartphone, and if you’re using a iPhone 15, you may be wondering if it’s worth jumping ship when it’s time to upgrade.

So which one of these two phones is the better choice? There are a lot of factors involved, and it ultimately depends on what you’re most interested in: performance, storage, AI functionality, photographic potential, or something else. We’ll break down the differences between the two options, but as for which of the two phones is the better choice, that is up to you. Here’s what we think.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: specs

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: design and display

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Although each new phone generation introduces a few subtle changes in design, both the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the iPhone 15 maintain the same design elements as previous generations. The S25 is slightly lighter than the S24, but only by a matter of a few grams. Even the rear camera setup is virtually the same.

The displays are also quite similar, with the S25 sporting a 6.2-inch screen and the iPhone 15 a 6.1-inch screen. Despite having a smaller screen, the iPhone 15 has a higher resolution and greater pixel density, but S25 beats it in terms of refresh rate and brightness. The iPhone 15 has Apple’s Dynamic Island feature, but the Galaxy S25 has something similar in the Now Bar.

Both handsets are sleek and the culmination of many previous generations, but there aren’t really a lot of improvements on either front. The better design boils down to personal preference and whether you like the look of an iPhone or a Galaxy. The S25 absolutely has a better display though, and the continued use of a 60Hz panel on the basic iPhone range is a crime.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: performance

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Galaxy S25 is a brand-new flagship, replete with all the bells and whistles users expect from a new device. Comparatively speaking, the iPhone 15 lags a bit behind, especially when compared to the S25.

The Galaxy S25 comes with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, while the iPhone 15 tops out at 6GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is going to be a lot faster than the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic chip, but that’s largely when it comes down to things like benchmarks. Real life performance may not show as large as gulf when it comes to how the device feels.

Demanding apps and 3D games will be the real tests here though, and if you love to play games or juggle a lot of big apps at once, then the winner will be obvious. The newer device, with newer technology, is the clear victor.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: battery and charging

Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

The Galaxy S25 comes with a 4,000mAh battery. Samsung hasn’t provided an estimate for what that translates to in hours, but the Galaxy S24 also had a 4,000mAh battery. We found it to last around a day under moderate to heavy use, and we expect roughly the same from the Galaxy S25. Perhaps even slightly better performance given the newer hardware and improved power efficiency.

The iPhone 15 sports a 3,349mAh battery. The winner is clear, in this case, especially since the S25 requires a little extra power to keep its AI features running. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 has been plagued by battery life issues experienced by many different users. Though estimates give the iPhone 15 an estimated max of 20 or so hours, its longevity under real conditions is closer to 11 hours.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: artificial intelligence

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Artificial intelligence is the next great frontier for technology, and there are already quite a few names in the arena. Between ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini all working together with mobile device assistants, your phone is capable of much more than it ever has been before — but there are limits.

The Galaxy S25 is built around AI. Tools like Circle to Search, Call Transcript, Writing Assist and Drawing Assist make it easy to generate text or images as you need, perform searches for something you aren’t sure how to describe, or just review an important phone call. The S25 takes advantage of its ProScaler feature for AI image upscaling, resulting in a 40% improvement in image clarity.

The iPhone 15 has more limited AI functionality. It’s still capable of quite a bit, including image and text generation, but the S25 is on a completely different level. The iPhone 15 received AI features as sort of an afterthought, with most of those aimed at the iPhone 16.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: software

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The iPhone 15 shipped with iOS 17, but it currently still runs the most recent version of iOS 18. Though a generation older, the handset is still quick and smooth, able to handle the more modern OS with ease. As an added bonus, the jump to iOS 18 brought with it Apple Intelligence features like Genmoji, Image Playground, and more. It’ll even summarize some messages for you, although that feature has had varying (and sometimes shocking) results.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 will come with One UI 7. Thanks to many months spent in beta, we have a solid idea of what that will look like. For starters, the Now Bar is Samsung’s answer to the Dynamic Island, providing much of the same information on the go. It disappears when not in use, giving you back your screen. It also comes with several notable UI improvements and offers more customization options for your own layout. Perhaps one of the most exciting perks of One UI 7 is that you can choose between different charging speeds that let you top off your battery quickly, or charge at a lower speed in exchange for a healthier battery.

Samsung also has Galaxy AI, its take on artificial intelligence. It also integrates Gemini for easy access. Like Apple Intelligence, Galaxy AI has many useful features like Call Transcript, a tool that keeps your calls organized, as well as writing and drawing assist tools. Want to find out more information about something you saw on screen? Circle to Search will find the answer quickly. With these benefits in mind — and assuming the Galaxy S25 performs the way it’s expected — it takes home the prize.

Winner: Galaxy S25

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: pricing and availability

Samsung Galaxy S25 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 15 carry a not-insignificant price tag, but the Galaxy S25 is new, whereas the iPhone 15 is one generation behind.

The Galaxy S25 starts from $800, and is currently available for pre-order. Samsung does offer a few programs to help mitigate the cost, like the New Galaxy Club early upgrade program. You can sign up for a small amount each month and receive a new phone now, with the option to upgrade to the latest device after 12 months. The program includes one year of Samsung Care+, too.

The iPhone 15 is more affordable than the Galaxy S25, with prices now starting from $699. It’s available pretty much anywhere phones are sold, and you shouldn’t have an issue finding one. Apple offers financing programs to help mitigate the cost, too. Another reason Apple is more affordable is because the company has discontinued the Pro options from the iPhone 15. Ultimately, it’s the less expensive option of the two.

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 15: verdict

Both phones are solid choices, but in the end, it’s hard to recommend anything except the Galaxy S25 from a purely technical standpoint. If you already use an iPad and Mac on a daily basis, then the iPhone might be a better pick for you (if only because it slots right into the ecosystem), but only if you use those integrations.

If you’re after a powerful, more modern phone, the Galaxy S25 can’t be beat. It’s also future-proofed for the next seven years thanks to software and security updates, so you won’t have to think about an upgrade for a long time to come.