Galaxy S25 Ultra New Cooling System Tested: Does it beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max and OnePlus 13?

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra features a significantly upgraded cooling system, boasting a 40% larger vapor chamber compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This enhancement is crucial for managing the heat generated by the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, especially during intensive tasks like gaming and video processing.

In performance tests, the S25 Ultra initially outperformed competitors like the iPhone 16 Pro Max and OnePlus 13, scoring over 6,200 points in the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test. However, after just a few minutes, it experienced thermal throttling, causing its performance to drop to around 3,000 points. In contrast, the OnePlus 13 maintained a higher sustained performance level of approximately 4,500 points despite using the same Snapdragon chip.

The S25 Ultra's cooling challenges highlight a potential issue with either its thermal management system or aggressive software limits designed to prevent overheating. While it excels in initial performance, the sustained gaming capabilities fall short compared to rivals. As Samsung continues to innovate in smartphone technology, the effectiveness of the new cooling system will be crucial for maintaining competitive performance in future models and against strong contenders like Apple and OnePlus.