iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – which phone will be best, according to the rumored specs?
Apple’s next product showcase is set for September 9, and we’ll surely see a new iPhone lineup, likely including the iPhone 17 Pro Max, announced on that date.
But how might Apple’s biggest and best iPhone of 2025 line up against the top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is considered by many to be the best Android phone money can buy?
Based on rumors, the two phones appear similar in some ways, but quite different in others. So, in this guide, we’ve compared the predicted specs of the iPhone 17 Pro Max to what we already know about the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Cameras
Cameras have always been an important feature of flagship smartphones made by Apple and Samsung, and the latest rumors tell us that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could have a 48MP telephoto lens.
The current iPhone 16 Pro already has a 48MP main and ultra-wide lens, but a 48MP telephoto sensor would mark a step up from the current 12MP telephoto lens.
We’ve also been hearing about a possible 24MP front-facing camera for the iPhone 17 Pro, up from the current 12MP lens on the iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max. Plus, there’s a slight possibility that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might have a mechanical aperture, which would allow you to change the aperture and depth of field. We also may see support for 8K video recording, as opposed to 4K on the 16 Pro lineup.
Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is no slouch on the camera front. It boasts a 200MP f/1.7 main camera, a 50MP f/3.4 periscope camera (with 5x optical zoom), a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera (with 3x optical zoom), a 50MP f/1.9 ultra-wide camera (with a 120-degree field of view), and a 100x Space Zoom lens. The phone’s front camera has 12MP and video recording clocks in at UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 30fps.
There’s no denying that Samsung is the king of zoom, and is likely to remain so even after the iPhone 17 Pro hits shelves. If you’re looking for a powerful distance camera, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the obvious choice.
However, iPhones generally tend to balance colors in a more natural way, and that’s likely to be true of the iPhone 17 Pro. Plus, you can usually get impressive results when you just point and shoot with an iPhone; with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, there’s more of a learning curve.
Power & performance
Numerous leaks indicate that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will sport an A19 Pro chipset, which will allow it to run even smoother and faster than its A18-equipped predecessor. Additionally, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might also have 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Both of these upgrades will likely facilitate a cleaner Apple Intelligence experience on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, meanwhile, uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB RAM, and an Octa-Core CPU with speeds up to 3.5GHz. Samsung’s well-regarded and powerful Galaxy AI is also baked into this handset.
Going by previous Apple chipsets, the A19 Pro will match or potentially even surpass the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but you’ll absolutely get flagship-grade performance from whichever model you choose.
Comparing software between iOS and Android is like comparing, well, apples and oranges. Without knowing much about the specific handsets, you probably already know which operating system you prefer. Apple famously keeps you within its walled garden, which can feel either comforting or suffocating, depending on your preferences. Samsung’s One UI may not feel as cohesive as iOS, but you will generally have more control over your experience.
It’s worth pointing out that Android is currently ahead of Apple in the AI sphere. Features like Circle to Search, Gemini, and AI image manipulation are more advanced than anything happening in Apple Intelligence at this time, and while Apple will undoubtedly improve the AI experience on the iPhone 17 Pro, we do know that Siri’s AI improvements won’t appear until 2026.
Design & display
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to have a different look from previous iPhone models, with a camera module running across the entire width of the back of the phone. We expect to see at least the same 6.9-inch OLED 1320 x 2868 display (with ProMotion) as on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Storage options will be at least the current 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.9-inch 3120 x 1440 (Quad HD+) OLED display, a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Storage options are 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
One very different design feature that the Galaxy S25 Ultra has is support for the S Pen, Samsung’s built-in stylus. It’s a fairly niche accessory, but for those who enjoy drawing or taking notes on their smartphone, it’s an attractive option.
Battery
Apple is reportedly testing the iPhone 17 Pro with reverse wireless charging, which would allow you to charge your AirPods, Apple Watch, and perhaps other smartphones via the phone’s rear panel. That doesn’t necessarily mean this feature will show up on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but it’s possible. The Galaxy S25 Ultra already supports reverse wireless charging up to 4.5W.
The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max could also have a vapor chamber, which would keep the phones cooler during demanding tasks. Again, this is already a feature of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, allowing the phone to work at peak speeds for longer and deliver impressive battery life.
As for charging accessory compatibility, the iPhone 17 Pro will almost certainly have true Qi2 magnetic wireless charging support, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is only “Qi2-ready” and requires a special case to work as expected.
Price
Pricewise, the two phones are likely to be pretty similar. The 256GB variant of the Galaxy S25 Ultra retails for $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149, the 512GB model for $1,419 / £1,349 / AU$2,349, and the 1TB model for $1,659 / £1,549 / AU$2,749.
Assuming Apple maintains its iPhone 16 Pro Max price structure with this year’s model, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will run at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 for 256GB of storage, $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,499 for 512GB, and $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,849 for 1TB.
You might also like
