Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra benchmark scores reportedly leaked — here's how they stack up to iPhone 16 Pro Max

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These are surprisingly low numbers

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra render leaked by Ice Universe
(Image credit: Ice Universe via Weibo)

I can't blame you if you're eagerly anticipating the Galaxy S25 Ultra launch, as it could end up being one of the best phones available. However, a new set of phone benchmarks has surfaced, and they do not look nearly as promising as the previous S25 Ultra benchmark leak. The last ones blew the iPhone 16 Pro Max out of the water, but this one is more mixed.

TECHINFOSOCIALS posted the benchmark scores on X on December 30, showing lackluster numbers. In the single-core test, the Galaxy S25 Ultra scored 3,049; in the multi-core test, it only had 9,793. The last batch of benchmarks for the Galaxy S25 Ultra were better, with 3,148 single-core and 10,236 multi-core.

Here's a look at how the current benchmark compares to the previous one, as well as the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
PhonesSingle CoreMulticore
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (current leak)3,0499,793
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (previous leak)3,14810,236
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max3,4008,341
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra2,3007,249

As you can see in the table above, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra benchmark was lower in the most recent test despite using the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. However, what's surprising is the clock score of the chip in this test. The Snapdragon 8 Elite has a 4.32GHz clock speed based on previous Geekbench tests, but the one in this benchmark is clocked at 4.47GHz for the primary cores.

It's odd that, despite what appears to be an overclocked processor, we saw worse numbers than last time. This test could just be an anomaly; if it were rerun, the results could be better. Suboptimal overclocking could also be affecting the Qualcomm chip's performance.

Another thing to note from this benchmark is that the Galaxy S25 Ultra had 12GB of RAM, so it doesn't look like Samsung will offer 16GB in all Ultra phone versions.

Even if these newer lower numbers were accurate, the multi-core score would handily beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max. And both scores would be a marked improvement over the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

It's worth remembering that benchmarks aren't the only thing that matters for performance. Optimization is just as important. Battery life is another consideration. Phone companies sometimes cut performance to squeeze extra battery life from a device.

Other notable rumored upgrades for the Galaxy S25 Ultra include a more rounded design, a possibly larger 6.9-inch display and a more powerful 50MP ultrawide camera. It could also offer Qi2 magnetic charging. Stay tuned to our Galaxy S25 Ultra rumors hub for all the latest updates and leaks.

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Dave LeClair
Dave LeClair
Senior News Editor

Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • emike09
    I'm 100% okay with lower benchmark results on a chip with a better process node. I don't need to edit multiple threads of 4k video on my phone. I don't need to run 100 tabs at once on my phone. I don't need to play 4k raytaced games on my phone.

    I need battery life, aligned with a smooth experience when using phones like 95% of us use them. Excellent cameras being in the equation as well.

    I love the Ultra experience - big, high quality screen, stylus, the best cameras, big battery, and a smooth experience with lots of storage for offline needs. But anytime I need processing power for a big workload, I use my laptop or desktop accordingly.

    Our needs are basic, and trying to cater to the 1% of those who try to replace a good laptop or desktop with a phone ruins it for everyone else.

    If it weren't for inferior camera quality, the old S10 my gf has still performs amazingly. Runs all apps just fine with zero delays. Running an S22U as my main phone, but looking forward to the S25U - mainly for the camera updates.

    Ultimately, it's not how much processing power a device has, but how efficiently the software utilizes it. Raw power does not equal performance if the software is poorly written, and throwing more power at something underscores what could actually be done if the software was efficient.
    Reply