Galaxy S25 Ultra
Early benchmark tests seemingly from Samsung’s upcoming flagship imply it would easily outbench the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Leaked benchmark results of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hint at this flagship being a game-changer in terms of performance standards, probably edging out the iPhone 16 Pro Max on some key parameters, with what has come up so far being a turning point in the never-ending battle between Apple and Samsung. Early tests indicate a significant leap in processing power, and Samsung’s new flagship appears well-positioned to take on Apple’s long-held dominance in the mobile computing space.
Well, if leaked benchmarks shared by popular leaker @Jukanlosreve are anything to go by, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is packing a real wallop-in both Single-Core and Multi-Core performances-it reaches quite astonishing numbers in tests conducted via Geekbench, as can be viewed below.
Breaking Performance Barriers: Benchmark Results for Galaxy S25 Ultra
First leaked scores for the Galaxy S25 Ultra (US model) that come from Geekbench-a highly trusted benchmarking tool-are outstanding, indeed. The single-core score is 3,148; Multi-core: 10,236; RAM: 12GB, and these scores mean a serious jump over its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (which on its time posted scores of Single-core: 2,137 and Multi-core: 6,680).
Indeed, generational improvements are surprising: 47% in single-core performance and 53% in multi-core capabilities for the S25 Ultra, compared to the S24 Ultra. A gain like that in a competitive market, where even minor improvements can sometimes make a major difference, is a clear indication that Samsung is investing big in the processing power of its next flagship model.
But what really makes this performance noteworthy is not because of the leap this makes in Samsung’s lineup but because of what this could mean for the wider smartphone industry, particularly in the context of facing off against Apple’s flagships.
Performance Tussle: Apple vs. Samsung
Traditionally, the Apple A-series chips have been considered the gold standard when it comes to discussing smartphone performance, and generally, the iPhone outclasses most Android devices in most key benchmarks. For instance, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, powered by Apple’s A18 Bonic chip, scored 3,392 single-core and 8,352 multi-core. Meanwhile, while Apple’s A-series chips have taken the top of the single-core benchmark every year, this would be the first year when Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra might finally be well-positioned to give a serious run in both.
With these early results, the S25 Ultra’s multi-core score of 10,236 would leave the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s multi-core score of 8,352 in the dust, but it would also set a new high for any Android device-let’s call that a new benchmark in the mobile industry. As this becomes increasingly relevant to multitasking, gaming, and other power-intensive apps, this could hint at the seismic shift with which Android devices will be perceived when it comes to raw performance.
While single-core performance does indeed see the S25 Ultra lag behind the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the margin is small at 3,148 versus 3,392, which may not make much difference in most real-life use and with the far better multi-core performance of the S25 Ultra.
But let us not get too excited yet, since these benchmark results are based on early tests and therefore may or may not be representative of the final performance characteristics of the retail version of this phone. Many times such results get revised as the manufacturers fine-tune the hardware and software before actual launches of their products. Moreover, synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench can never be replicated in the real world since user experience is influenced by several factors such as optimization of software, thermal management, and battery life.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Chip: Heart of Performance Leap?
Perhaps one of the biggest contributors behind this huge performance leap could be the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which reportedly powers the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While Qualcomm hasn’t issued any formal details about the chipset, the initial leaks suggest huge upgrading in both processing power and efficiency compared to the previous generations. Improvement would be on CPU cores, a stronger GPU, and advancements on the AI processing that make such scores possible with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Smartphones Enter a New Dimension?
These potential performance boosts in Galaxy S25 Ultra are more than just raw numbers; they’re part of the greater trend within the mobile industry. If the S25 Ultra can really outperform the iPhone 16 Pro Max in multi-core, then that will surely mark the beginning of an entirely new era for Android devices where raw computing power and versatility are not secondary concerns anymore.
Of late, a key differentiator in which iPhones generally excel is performance, particularly single-core benchmarks. That’s because of Apple’s performance in chip design, translating to smooth and fast performance during daily and real-world tasks. That has also been the reason iPhones are usually considered the go-to device for power users and professionals. With the company closing in on performance, this could just be the year when competition between both these tech giants will get a lot more heated.
Coupled with recent enhancements in display technology, camera quality, and furtherohana battery life, Samsung’s edge in those areas, together with state-of-the-art AI features propped up by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, might very well make the Galaxy S25 Ultra an all-rounded contender able to match up to Apple across many different dimensions.
Caution in Interpretation: Early Results Are Not Final
While these leaked results are exciting for the fans of Samsung, industry experts will temper expectations. Results from benchmarks should always be taken as light up until the time real devices roll out and get tested in real-world usage scenarios.
Early benchmarks might not show final retail performance: There is a lot more work on optimization, software tweaks, and hardware tweaks occurring closer to launch, which could show entirely different results.
Synthetic Benchmarks sometimes don’t accurately represent real-world use: Geekbench scores are good to know for relative comparisons of processing power, but they often don’t show the nuances involved in everyday tasks-anything from how fast an app launches to how well the phone can multitask, and even how well it gamings.
Leaked Data: While the source of these leaks is well-known, full verification of the authenticity of these screenshots isn’t there just yet.
Launch Timeline and What to Expect
With that said, Samsung is going to announce the Galaxy S25 series early in 2025 if history is anything to go by, around January or February. This pits the device against Apple’s iPhone 16 series then, by that time several months old. Again, such rivalry along this timeline is likely to pitch both camps into a high stake in trying to impress the consumers with the best technologies and features as it tries to outdo the other to be outstanding in the premium sector of smartphones.
It’s for that reason that, as has been the case so many times in the past with flagship Samsung devices, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will undoubtedly launch its way into many advanced features beyond mere processing. Rumors include a new camera system continuing to push boundaries in mobile photography, improved battery efficiency, faster charging, and better integration with Samsung’s broader ecosystem of products. Meanwhile, Samsung will have new announcements to make on improvements in AI and machine learning, which it has already teased with work on smartphone intelligence.
Conclusion: The Tipping Point of Performance on Mobile?
Early benchmark leaks for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra hint at an exciting new turn in the mobile arena, with Samsung’s flagship finally outdoing Apple in the most salient aspects of its performance. If these early leaked benchmarks prove real, then the S25 Ultra will make a quantum leap in mobile computing with the potential of taking away Apple’s single-core throne and becoming one of the leaders in multi-core efficiency.
That competition between Apple and Samsung is hotter than ever, and consumers in 2025 might have more options than ever with flagship smartphones. Though it may be a bit early to make those kinds of judgments, these early leaks give us a fascinating glimpse into the future of smartphone performance, where both companies no doubt will keep raising the bar in mobile technology. As the launch date draws near, anticipation of its capabilities will only increase–a prelude to a very heated battle for mobile supremacy over the next several years.
Read More Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra…
Read More Samsung Galaxy…