Both iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra feature 6.9-inch OLED panels; iPhone adds Ceramic Shield 2, Samsung hits 2,600 nits brightness.
iPhone runs A19 Pro chip with up to 2TB storage, while Galaxy uses Snapdragon 8 Elite with 7 years of updates.
iPhone packs triple 48MP setup; Galaxy sports a 200MP quad camera. Samsung offers 5,000mAh, iPhone promises longest-ever battery life.
Apple’s iPhone 17 series is now official with four handsets in the lineup – the standard iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Out of all four models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is once again the most talked-about model, featuring its most noticeable design change in years. The newly launched handset is all set to take on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has been here for seven months now. The two flagship phones feature versatile camera setups, plenty of power, and a slew of impressive features.
SurveyHowever, if you are wondering which one you should go for, we have compared both devices in terms of design, display, camera and other aspects here to help you choose the one that suits you best.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design
This year, Apple has opted for a bold refresh design for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Unlike its predecessors that carried the familiar square camera island, the new iPhone 17 Pro Max introduces a rectangular “full-width camera island” at the top rear. The device further sports an aluminium body, measuring 163.4×78×8.75mm and 231g, slightly larger and heavier than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 162.8×77.6×8.2mm and 218g weight. Furthermore, the latter continues the minimalist floating camera design, featuring three lenses stacked vertically and an additional cut-out for the flash and another sensor. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 protection. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, offers Ceramic Shield 2 protection and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Display
In terms of display, the iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Additionally, you’ll also get Apple’s signature Dynamic Island, Always-On Display, True Tone, HDR support, wide P3 colour gamut, and an oleophobic plus anti-reflective coating.
Samsung, however, ups the brightness game with a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, sharper 1,400×3,120 pixels resolution, and an eye-searing 2,600 nits peak brightness. We have already seen the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the latter has an edge in outdoor conditions. However, we have yet to see the real-world performance of the newly launched iPhone 17 Pro Max.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance
Performance is where both handsets are claimed to offer a best-in-class experience; however, which one has an edge when compared? Apple debuts the A19 Pro chipset, boasting 40% better sustained performance over its predecessor. Backed by 12GB RAM and up to 2TB storage, this iPhone is aimed at power users. Plus, Apple has also introduced the long-standing vapour chamber cooling system. Further, iOS 26 brings Apple’s tightly integrated ecosystem advantages.
Samsung, on the other hand, counters with the customised Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SoC paired with 12GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. It is equipped with a 40% larger vapour cooling chamber than the S24 Ultra for better sustained gaming and multitasking performance. Running Android 15 with One UI 7, Samsung also promises seven years of OS and security updates.
While both chipsets are known to be robust and efficient, the choice depends on ecosystem loyalty.
Also read: Apple iPhone 17 series price in India vs US, Dubai, China, Canada and other countries: Full list
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Cameras
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has received a massive upgrade in terms of camera setup with a triple 48MP setup comprising a main sensor, an ultrawide, and a 2x telephoto. The handset has a stronghold over videos with 4K Dolby Vision at 24fps, delivering cinematic quality. Further, it also gets an improved 18MP selfie camera with autofocus, Retina Flash, and Centre Stage support.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, however, ships with a quad-camera setup comprising a 200MP primary camera with 2x in-sensor zoom and OIS, supported by a 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 10MP 3x telephoto. It offers 8K UHD video support at 30fps, something Apple still avoids. Though the 12MP selfie camera may sound modest, Samsung’s hardware versatility clearly has an edge with zoom capabilities.
The real-world testing of iPhone 17 Pro Max’s camera is yet to be seen.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery and Charging
Apple makes big claims this year, calling the iPhone 17 Pro Max the “longest-lasting iPhone ever.” Though Apple hasn’t revealed capacity, it promises up to 37 hours of offline video playback and 33 hours of streaming. Charging speeds also get a bump as the handset is said to get 50% charged in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter, or 30 minutes with MagSafe at 30W.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, on the other hand, ships with a 5,000mAh battery supported by 45W wired charging, plus 15W wireless and Wireless PowerShare for reverse charging. Though Apple has narrowed the charging speed gap, Samsung still has the upper hand.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Price
iPhone 17 Pro Max is launched at a starting price of Rs 1,49,900 for the 256GB model, whereas the Galaxy S25 Ultra is cheaper with a price of Rs 1,29,999 for the base 256 GB model.
Follow Us
Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
