Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the cheaper of the two at $800 versus $1,199, a difference of about $399. Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max stands out for 48mp periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom, while Samsung Galaxy S25 is praised for compact and pocketable flagship. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- →48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- →4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- →Up to 2TB storage
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 if…
- →Compact and pocketable flagship
- →Same Snapdragon 8 Elite as the Ultra model
- →12 GB RAM upgraded from prior generation
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Pros
- 48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- 4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- Up to 2TB storage
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- Spatial Video recording
Cons
- 227g is heavy
- Still 27W wired charging
- $1199 starting price
- Aluminum unibody less premium feel than titanium
Samsung Galaxy S25
Pros
- Compact and pocketable flagship
- Same Snapdragon 8 Elite as the Ultra model
- 12 GB RAM upgraded from prior generation
- Excellent 120Hz AMOLED display
- Long 7-year software support promise
Cons
- Small 4000 mAh battery limits endurance
- Slow 25W charging
- 1080p resolution instead of QHD
- No major camera hardware upgrades
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 15, One UI 7 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 162 g |
| Material | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 78 x 8.3 mm | 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@120fps ProRes, Spatial Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, f/2.8, 8x optical zoom, periscope | 10 MP 3x optical |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4823 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W Qi2 |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | 6-core GPU | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 (Thunderbolt) | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
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Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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