Phones
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Samsung’s biggest challenge in 2025
Apple is launching the iPhone 16 series next month but Samsung’s biggest challenge could come in 2025. Apple analyst recently shed light on expected specifications of the next year’s iPhone models, pointing to some notable upgrades.
Ming-Chi Kuo leak suggests the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be Samsung’s biggest challenge in 2025. The high-end device could be equipped with 12GB RAM and upgraded cooling technology – Vapor Chamber combined with graphite sheets.
Bigger RAM will improve the overall performance of the most expensive iPhone next year. In addition, the upgraded vapor chamber cooling technology will offer enhanced thermal dissipation, ultimately improving the user experience.
Samsung’s various Galaxy devices have been using vapor chamber cooling tech for years. Despite using a dedicated thermal management component, Android flagships lag behind Apple’s iPhone models in performance and efficiency.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra coming early next year should get a better cooling component. Apple could be adopting the technology years after Android. Hence, a mature and stable performing thermal management is likely in the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Qualcomm is fueling the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 with on-device AI and Oryon CPU. The chip may consume more power than previous ones to offer better performance. It would be interesting to see how the chip designer handled the thermal management.
Other iPhone models of the lineup alongside the SE could use 8GB RAM. These handsets are unlikely to feature upgraded vapor chamber cooling technology. The Pro Max could remain the most-selling iPhone in 2025 as well, seizing around 40% share.
Apple’s going to ship the first iPhones pre-loaded with AI-powered features. The next year’s lineup could introduce notable upgrades in the AI segment. It would make the iPhone 17 Pro Max a major selling point in the global market.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra would be super sleek against the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple recently launched its new iPhone lineup, with shipments starting on the 20th. Samsung will likely debut the new flagship phones in January 2025.
A new rumor suggests that the Galaxy S25 Ultra camera lens is greatly sleek as compared to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Leaker IceUniverse compared the thickness of both flagships’ camera lenses, suggesting a notable difference.
Per the info, the Galaxy S25 Ultra lens could be just 2.4mm thick. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max comes with a 4.3mm thick camera module. It’s over 1.5x of the camera thickness of Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Despite equipping better camera hardware, the Galaxy S25 Ultra could maintain its thickness. Camera modules on Chinese phones are already monstrous (in size), which won’t create a sleekness load against the upcoming S25 Ultra.
If the rumor is true, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the finest and sleekest flagship in 2025. The company has reportedly upscaled the hardware game, with the design department also working hard to make the device vastly acceptable.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is said to be 8 grams heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Samsung reduced the thickness of the middle frame, as part of reducing the weight. However, things may be cleared as the time of official debut comes close.
S25 Ultra lens is only 2.4mm, and that of iPhone16 Pro Max is 4.3 mm. pic.twitter.com/KSMVsCICpS
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) September 17, 2024
At least three Android vendors set to copy iPhone 16’s Camera Control button. I wish Samsung to bring a camera control button to Galaxy phones. Meanwhile, we might see it on at least three different Android phones this year.
Realme, Oppo, and Nubia could debut the iPhone 16-like Camera Control button on their upcoming device. After confirmation from Oppo and Nubia, a Realme exec has posted a video of a camera button on one of the brand’s phones.
The camera button on that Realme model works quite similarly to the iPhone 16. It’s a touch feedback button, which offers different adjustment tools. Zoom in and Zoom out in the camera viewfinder will be the most useful addition.
It isn’t the first time Chinese vendors blindly stealing Apple’s iPhone features. When the Dynamic Island was introduced by iPhone 14 Pro, many Chinese phone makers brought a replica on their entry-level smartphones.
In particular, Nubia has confirmed that its next smartphone will offer a camera shutter button. OPPO is also said to offer a camera shutter button on the Find X8 series. Beyond that, Realme demonstrated the feature in a real-life unit.
Sony has kept a physical camera shutter button alive on its flagship models. Apple just made good use of the key, fueling it with additional controls. The software magic is worth praise, triggering a notch-like area on the screen for visibility.
Apple says the iPhone 16’s Camera Control is a tactile switch that powers the click experience. The button has a high-precision force sensor, which realizes the light press gesture, and a capacitive sensor to offer touch-based interactions.
Samsung waits and replicates Apple?
One UI 6 copied a lot of features and customization tools from iOS 17 last year. We are hearing that the Galaxy S25 series could debut iPhonified design. The frame could go flat, with Samsung already ditched its iconic curved screen.
Apple iPhone 16 reportedly supports faster charging than the iPhone 15 series. The company never discloses charging support in watts on official product sites. Well, the iPhone 16 seemingly supports 39W fast charging, which is still less than the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
According to the info, Apple brought 39W charging support to the iPhone 16 series. Reports are circulating of 45W fast charging functionality. However, practical testing (via IceUniverse) indicates that the max charging speed is 39W.
CQC results suggest that the iPhone 16 features 45W wired charging. This is about 50% faster than the iPhone 15 series, which supports up to 29W charging. Meanwhile, the maximum support is 39W as tested by reliable industry sources.
Samsung continues to bring 45W charging support in select Galaxy devices. The Galaxy S24 Plus, S24 Ultra, and M55 are some of those. It’s not much higher than the 39W but shows Samsung is already ahead of Apple’s boosted charging function.
The newest S24 series is designed with convenience in mind and super fast charging is a key part. To ensure you can make the most of the S24’s rapid charging capability, there are some requirements for that such as compatible adapter and cable.
Packed with a 5000mAh battery, Samsung’s S24 Ultra typically takes around 78 minutes to fully charge from 0% using a 45W charger. Various factors can impact the charging speed and time to get the battery charged 100%.
Next year, Samsung will launch the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Early rumors indicate that there will be no charging upgrade in the Plus and Ultra models. Yet, we expect improvements in that particular aspect through artificial intelligence.