Guess what? Apple and Samsung are going head-to-head again. Samsung launched its Galaxy S25 series in January, while Apple released the iPhone 16e in February. But which one gives you the best bang for your buck? In all fairness, the iPhone 16e is Appleโs budget-friendly option and costs less than the Galaxy S25. But should you spend a little more for a device packed with premium features? Here we compare.
iPhone 16e | Galaxy S25 | |
Display | 6.1โ Super Retina XDR OLED, 1200nits peak, 60Hz refresh rate | 6.2โ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2x, 2600nits, 120Hz refresh rate |
Processor | Apple A18 | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
Camera | 48MP wide / 12MP wide on front | 50MP wide + 10MP telephoto + 12MP ultrawide / 12MP wide on front |
Storage Variants | 128GB/8GB, 256/8GB, 512GB/8GB | 128GB/12GB, 256GB/12GB, 512GB/12GB (select regions) |
Battery | โ | 4,000mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless |
Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm | 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm |
Weight | 167g | 162g |
Colors | Black, White | Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, Blue Black |
Price | $599.99 | $799 |
Display
The iPhone 16e packs a 6.1โ Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 steps it up with a slightly larger 6.2โ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, boasting a brighter 2600 nits peak brightness and a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. Plus, the Galaxy S25 comes with an Always-On Display โ something the iPhone 16e skips out on. For protection, the iPhone 16e gets Ceramic Shield glass, while the Galaxy S25 gets a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Processor
The iPhone 16e runs on Appleโs A18 chip, but itโs not quite the same as the one in the standard iPhone 16. While both pack the same CPU, the 16e comes with a four-core GPU instead of the five-core version in its pricier sibling. It does support Apple Intelligence features, though itโs still up in the air whether theyโve improved since their bumpy debut.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a custom-tuned version of Qualcommโs Snapdragon 8 Elite. With an eight-core CPU and an Adreno 830 GPU under the hood, it promises top-tier performance.
Camera
The iPhone 16e and Galaxy S25 take very different approaches to cameras. The iPhone 16e sticks to a single 48 MP rear camera with PDAF and OIS, keeping things simple. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 goes all out with a more versatile triple-camera setup: a 50 MP main sensor with OIS, a 10 MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens with Super Steady video for smoother shots.
Up front, both phones sport a 12 MP selfie camera, but the Galaxy S25 has the edge with dual-pixel autofocus for sharper selfies. Thanks to its extra lenses, the Galaxy S25 offers more flexibility for photography.
RAM
The Galaxy S25 holds a clear advantage over the iPhone 16e when it comes to memory, packing 12GB of RAM compared to the iPhoneโs 8GB. More RAM means smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better handling of intensive tasks like gaming and video editing.
While Apple relies on software optimization to manage performance, the Galaxy S25 takes full advantage of its extra RAM, ensuring a more seamless experience. Itโs combined with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which means Galaxy S25 can deliver superior efficiency and better future-proofing.
Colors
The iPhone 16e keeps it simple with just two subtle color options, Black and White. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 offers several shades, including Icy Blue, Mint, Navy, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold, Coral Red, and Blue Black. With more colors, the Galaxy S25 gives you more ways to match style.
Which is a better value for money: iPhone 16e or Galaxy S25?
The Galaxy S25 stands out as the better choice over the iPhone 16e. While itโs $200 more, that extra cost gets you a more powerful processor, additional RAM, a better display, advanced AI features, and a significantly better camera system. Plus, Samsungโs ongoing free storage upgrade lets you snag the 256GB model for the price of 128 GB.
This offer wonโt last forever, and popular colors tend to sell out fast, so acting quickly is the way. As a bonus, you can also score a free Mystery Box on top of Samsungโs promotions. This exclusive deal is available until March 1st. So if youโre thinking about the Galaxy S25, nowโs the best time to grab one.