Apple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26+
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPhone 17 is the cheaper of the two at $799 versus $1,000, a difference of about $201. The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 17 stands out for a19 chip with improved efficiency, while Samsung Galaxy S26+ is praised for larger 6.7-inch qhd+ display. 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 if…
- →A19 chip with improved efficiency
- →Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- →48MP main camera with improved processing
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26+ if…
- →Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- →45W fast charging
- →4900 mAh battery
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17
Pros
- A19 chip with improved efficiency
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- 48MP main camera with improved processing
- ProMotion 120Hz display
Cons
- Still only 27W wired charging
- No telephoto lens
- 8GB RAM vs 12GB on Pro models
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Pros
- Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- 45W fast charging
- 4900 mAh battery
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Cons
- Same 12MP ultrawide as base S26
- No S Pen support
- Incremental upgrade over S25+
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy S26+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 174 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Armor Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147 x 71 x 7.8 mm | 157 x 75 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9, Center Stage | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Cinematic mode | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3600 mAh | 4900 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | 5-core GPU | Adreno |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
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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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