Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max Gaming Test in Zenless Zone Zero & Honkai Star Rail – Which Reigns Supreme?

 Zenless Zone Zero & Honkai Star Rail  Gaming Test on Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

When it comes to mobile gaming in 2025, the debate rages on: iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra – which device truly delivers the best mobile gaming experience? In today’s detailed comparison, we’re diving into an intense 20-minute gaming showdown using two of the most visually demanding and performance-heavy titles on the mobile market: Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) and Honkai: Star Rail.

We’ve maxed out graphics, pushed frame rates to the limits, and analyzed thermal performance — all so you don’t have to. If you’re a serious mobile gamer eyeing one of these flagship devices, this is the comparison that could tip the scale.

🎮 The Setup: Battle of the Flagships

This is part two of our ongoing series comparing the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max in real-world gaming conditions. This time, we’re loading up Zenless Zone Zero, a chaotic urban ARPG with cinematic combat and particle effects galore, and Honkai: Star Rail, a turn-based space-fantasy RPG with rich environments and flashy animations.

Both games are visually demanding, regularly used to stress-test mobile GPUs. The goal? Push both devices to their limits, monitor FPS drops, overheating, and raw performance in real time.

🌆 Zenless Zone Zero Performance – Lumina Square and Combat Testing

✅ Graphics Settings:

• Graphics: Maxed out
• Frame Rate: Highest available (120 FPS where possible)
• Scene: Lumina Square (Open-world hub) + multiple combat sequences

📱 Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• The S25 Ultra uses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or Exynos 2500 depending on region).
• Zenless Zone Zero supports Vulkan API on Android, which should in theory give Android an optimization edge.

Results:

• Performance was mostly smooth, with consistent frame pacing in open-world scenes.
• However, FPS dips occurred during explosions and dense combat animations.
• Temperature remained under control but trended upward steadily (~43°C peak).

📱 iPhone 16 Pro Max:

• Powered by the A18 Pro chip, Apple’s silicon once again shows strong GPU optimization.
• Despite Vulkan not being native to iOS (ZZZ uses Metal on iPhones), Apple’s hardware manages to outperform expectations.

Results:

• Maintained a higher FPS average during both exploration and combat.
• Less thermal throttling, even under load, despite reaching slightly higher peak temps (~45°C).
• Battery consumption was slightly lower than S25 Ultra — a surprise given the performance boost.

Winner in ZZZ: iPhone 16 Pro Max
Despite Android’s Vulkan API advantage, the iPhone 16 Pro Max came out ahead with better FPS stability, power efficiency, and thermal handling.

🌌 Honkai: Star Rail – First-Time Test, Same Hardcore Settings

The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra were again pushed to the limit in Honkai: Star Rail, a game that is known for its graphically intense combat animations, massive area-of-effect skills, and elaborate battle transitions.

📱 Galaxy S25 Ultra:

• Unfortunately, no 120 FPS option available in Honkai on Android yet.
• With maxed graphics, the game remained playable but exhibited frequent frame drops, especially in transition-heavy sequences.

Performance Summary:

• FPS low points dropped to under 40 during high particle effects.
• Thermal performance was consistent (~42°C), but noticeable performance dip after the 7–8-minute mark.

📱 iPhone 16 Pro Max:

• iOS version supports 120 FPS, and the A18 Pro handled the game with remarkable efficiency.
• Despite unfamiliarity with the game, performance during fast-paced scenes was buttery smooth.

Performance Summary:

• FPS rarely dipped below 60, even in complex scenes.
• Peak temperature reached 44–45°C — hot, but stable.
• 1% lows were still ahead of S25 Ultra by a comfortable margin.

Winner in Honkai Star Rail: iPhone 16 Pro Max
While some may argue this isn’t a fair comparison (due to the S25 Ultra being locked at lower FPS), the iPhone clearly ran smoother, with better thermal handling and more consistent gameplay.

🔥 Peak Temperatures – Thermals & Cooling Observations

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Averaged 41–43°C, with a more gradual temperature climb over time.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Peaked at 44–45°C, with a faster ramp-up, especially during 120 FPS gameplay.

Verdict:
Neither device overheated or shut down, but we’d still recommend a gaming cooler, especially if you’re gaming for longer sessions on the iPhone — 120 FPS is a serious heat generator.

⚔️ Final FPS Verdict – iPhone Wins, But It’s Complicated

• Zenless Zone Zero: iPhone won with higher FPS averages and more power efficiency.
• Honkai: Star Rail: iPhone was the clear performance king thanks to its 120 FPS support and consistent frame pacing.
• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Still delivered great visuals and playable frame rates, but lacks optimization polish on some titles.

📱 Mobile Gaming Verdict – Which Should You Buy?

Overall Winner: 🏆 iPhone 16 Pro Max

If you’re a hardcore mobile gamer looking for the best experience in AAA titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Honkai: Star Rail, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is unmatched right now — thanks to Apple’s ecosystem optimization and 120 FPS capability.

However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is no slouch. It delivers solid performance, and with software updates and game optimization improvements, it could easily close the gap.