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 could launch the Galaxy S25 series in early 2025. Meanwhile, work on future products is already underway as a routine process. Apple could debut its 2nm processor in the 2026 iPhone to rival Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series.
Ming-Chi Kuo revealed Apple’s tentative chipset strategy for future chips. The analyst claimed that the iPhone 17’s SoC will be produced on a 3nm TSMC N3P process. The company would debut an advanced 2nm chip with Pro models.
It is expected that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 will be made using 2nm process technology. Previously, Qualcomm approached Samsung Foundry on a 2nm production deal. However, TSMC will remain the primary producer of 2025 Snapdragon.
Samsung’s 2026 flagships will certainly use Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. This means the advanced semiconductor process product will first come to Android before Apple. The iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max could arrive in late 2026 with 2nm silicon.
The processors for 2025 iPhone 17 models will be made by TSMC's N3P process/3-nanometer technology. The processor for 2026 iPhone 18 models is anticipated to use TSMC's 2-nanometer technology. However, due to cost concerns, not all new iPhone 18 models may be equipped with a…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) September 19, 2024
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is manufactured using a second-gen 4nm process. Qualcomm stuck with 4nm despite Apple’s decision to opt for 3nm last year. This year’s Snapdragon will be the first Android chip to be made using a 3nm processor.
Rumors floated so far suggest that the 2026 Snapdragon could be based on a 2nm process node. The chip will be smaller than the upcoming Snapdragon, offering enhanced power efficiency and performance wonders.
Galaxy S25 x Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
Samsung’s upcoming flagships will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This processor will introduce Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU and newer GPU. It’s the biggest opportunity for Android vendors to beat Apple’s lead in chip performance.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus could look the same as S24 Plus from the front. The company has reportedly reduced side bezels on the vanilla and Ultra variants. Meanwhile, the lineup’s middle child could introduce no bezel refinements.
The Galaxy S25 Plus could have wider bezels than S25 and S25 Ultra. Tipster IceUniverse claims that the move is aligned with differentiating the Plus from Ultra. It’s also said that the recently leaked renders have frame appearance errors.
The S25 Ultra is said to be slightly thicker and more squarish than the S25 Plus. This is highly due to identical display size with a difference of only 0.1mm. The backplate will have notable differences due to distinct cameras and sensors.
Samsung’s next-gen flagships will likely debut in January next year. Details about the upcoming phones are floating heavily, fading the One UI 7 trend. However, things may change with time as early rumors couldn’t be considered final specs.
A bad news,S25+ will be the widest bezel among the three models, which is almost the same as S24+.
It may be that Samsung did this on purpose to make way for S25 Ultra.
Among the three models, the narrowest bezel is S25 Ultra. pic.twitter.com/CaEPyeooAC— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) September 17, 2024
I have a more accurate CAD than onleaks, which contains lines that were missing before, so I know this.
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) September 18, 2024
The Galaxy S25 Plus could be equipped with a 4900mAh battery. Similar to the S24 Plus, it would support 45W fast charging technology. Yet, you can expect even longer battery performance due to the enhanced application processor.
Samsung will either use Exynos 2500 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Both chipsets will be developed using the next-generation 3nm chipset. Improved display technology may further push the power efficiency, offering even more juice to run.
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