Genshin Impact & Wuthering Waves Mobile Gaming FPS Test: Is iPhone 16 Pro Max better Than Galaxy S25 Ultra

Gaming Showdown: Galaxy S25 Ultra’s Steady 60 FPS vs iPhone 16 Pro Max’s Volatile 120 FPS in Genshin Impact & More

In the ever-evolving battle for mobile gaming supremacy, two titans have emerged to claim the crown: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. With both phones rocking top-tier chipsets and premium hardware, mobile gamers everywhere are dying to know — which one actually delivers better gaming performance in real-world tests?

In this in-depth article, we’ll break down an FPS-focused gaming comparison between these two devices using two of the most demanding action RPGs available today: Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. These games push GPUs to their limits, making them perfect tools for benchmarking thermal performance, frame rates, and battery draw.

So grab your snacks and buckle in, because this is the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max Gaming Showdown you’ve been waiting for! 🎮🔥

📱 Specs Showdown – What’s Under the Hood?

Before diving into the gameplay, let’s talk specs.

• Galaxy S25 Ultra is powered by the latest Snapdragon Elite Gen 3 processor, with exclusive access to ultra-high resolution settings on select Android games. It’s also equipped with a massive vapor chamber for heat dissipation and an adaptive refresh rate display up to 144Hz.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max comes packed with the A18 Pro chip, boasting Apple’s top-notch single-core and multi-core performance, paired with iOS-native game optimizations that give it an edge in real-world scenarios. And yes, it still supports native 120FPS gameplay in select titles.

🎮 Wuthering Waves FPS Test – Snapdragon Elite vs Apple Optimization

Test Setup:
To ensure fairness, both phones were set to maximum graphical settings. Due to software differences, iOS’s high resolution is roughly equivalent to Android’s ultra-high resolution. So both phones were configured to their highest equal setting across textures, shadows, draw distance, and FPS.

🔍 Real-World Observations:

• Initial Gameplay (0:54–8:49):
  The S25 Ultra showed off its raw power, running Wuthering Waves buttery smooth during early battles. Combat scenes, special effects, and quick transitions rendered flawlessly.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max, however, delivered slightly better clarity in pixel count according to pixel-counting tools (Digital Foundry-style). The visuals were just a bit more crisp even at matched settings, showcasing Apple’s superior image rendering and screen processing.

🌡️ Thermals & Power Usage:

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Peaked at 46°C and drew a whopping 7.2W in just 15 minutes. This is a red flag for power-hungry gaming sessions — the phone runs hot and eats battery.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Stayed cooler at 41°C and consumed significantly less power — again highlighting iOS’s efficiency.

🎯 Verdict for Wuthering Waves:

• Although the S25 Ultra beat the iPhone in average FPS for the first time, its high thermals and power draw hold it back from being the clear winner.
• Winner: Tie (Depends on your priorities — raw FPS vs efficiency & heat management)

🌌 Genshin Impact FPS Test – Native 120FPS vs Brute Force

Test Setup:
Both phones were set to max settings + max frame rates, ensuring the most demanding environment possible.

🔥 Real-Time Gameplay (9:09–17:04):

• Galaxy S25 Ultra handled Genshin Impact significantly better than its predecessor (S24 Ultra), showing Samsung’s genuine commitment to improving gaming performance.
• Combat responsiveness, particle effects, and large open-world transitions all remained fluid throughout the test.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max, meanwhile, outperformed overall due to native 120FPS support. Despite both phones being set to the same max settings, Apple’s device simply ran smoother, especially in intense combat sequences.

🌡️ Thermal & Power Behavior:

• Galaxy S25 Ultra: Stayed cooler here, only reaching 43°C, a clear improvement over Wuthering Waves’ performance.
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Peaked at 41°C, showing excellent thermal management — even better than its performance vs the S24 Ultra, thanks to iOS 18.5.3 optimizations.

🏆 Verdict for Genshin Impact:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max wins due to native support for 120FPS, consistent thermals, and lower power consumption.
• S25 Ultra is a huge leap forward and proves Samsung is finally serious about mobile gaming.

📊 Final FPS Summary – Which Phone Wins?

🔥 The Bottom Line – Mobile Gaming Has a New Contender

If you’re a hardcore mobile gamer, here’s the takeaway:

• The Galaxy S25 Ultra has closed the gap and even surpassed the iPhone in pure FPS under certain conditions — a feat no Samsung phone has previously achieved.
• The iPhone 16 Pro Max remains the king of thermal control, power efficiency, and native iOS optimizations, giving it the edge in extended gaming sessions.

Ultimately, your choice comes down to what you value more:

• Prefer raw frame rate and bigger displays? Go Galaxy S25 Ultra.
• Want consistent smooth gameplay with cooler temps and better optimization? Stick with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Let us know in the comments which phone you think performed better — and which one you’d take on your next mobile adventure. Don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated on all our future gaming tests! 🎮📱🔥