Design & Build
Display: Brightness vs. Productivity
Both phones feature large 6.9-inch OLED screens with a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, delivering sharp images and extremely smooth scrolling.
Apple outperforms Samsung in terms of brightness. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits, making it one of the easiest phones to use in direct sunlight. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a maximum brightness of 2,600 nits, which is still excellent, but slightly behind Apple’s.
However, Samsung has a great option for boosting productivity: the S Pen. Built-in to the phone, it’s ideal for taking notes, drawing, and accessing AI features like Sketch to Image. Apple doesn’t have an equivalent feature, so Samsung maintains a distinct advantage for creatives and multitaskers.
Performance and Hardware
Memory and Storage
| Category | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display, 2868‑by‑1320-pixel resolution at 460 ppi, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, 3,000 nits peak brightness | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate |
| Memory | 12GB | 12GB |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Front Camera | 18MP, f/1.9 wide | 12MP wide |
| Rear Camera 1 | 48MP Fusion Main: 24 mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, OIS | 200MP Wide, AF, OIS |
| Rear Camera 2 | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view | 50MP Ultrawide, AF, OIS |
| Rear Camera 3 | 48MP, 4x optical zoom, 8x optical-quality zoom | 10MP 3x Telephoto, AF, OIS |
| Rear Camera 4 | N/A | 50MP 5x Telephoto, AF, OIS |
| Camera Features | Adaptive True Tone flash, Photonic Engine, Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 5, Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting with six effects, Night mode, Panorama (up to 63MP), Latest-generation Photographic Styles, Spatial photos, 48MP macro photography, ProRAW, Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos, Lens correction (Fusion Ultra Wide), Advanced red-eye correction, Auto image stabilization, Burst mode | HDR Portraits, Selfie AI ISP, Nightography, High-res Macro, High-res Zoom, Log Video |
| Battery | 5,088mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 40W wired, 25W MagSafe or Qi2.2 wireless | 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse-wireless |
| Connectivity | 5G, mmWave, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, UWB, Thread, NFC | 5G (sub-6GHz, mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, UWB |
| Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner, Face Recognition |
| Software | iOS 26 | One UI 7 w/ Android 15 |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 78 x 8.75mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm |
| Weight | 233 grams | 218 grams |
|
Ingress Protection |
IP68, Ceramic Shield 2 (front glass), Ceramic Shield (rear glass), Aluminum | IP68, Corning Gorilla Armor (front glass), Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (rear glass), Titanium |
Connectivity
Biometrics
Battery and Charging
Cameras: Apple’s smart cameras vs. Samsung’s variety
iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Software Experience
Naturally, no comparison would be complete without mentioning software.
iPhone 17 Pro Max uses iOS 26, which provides Apple’s hallmark smoothness, ecosystem cohesion, and frequent updates. It’s ideal for those who use Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches, as everything integrates flawlessly.
Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with One UI 7 based on Android 15, offering more customization, AI-enabled features, and productivity features—particularly when combined with the S Pen.
Ultimately, it is a matter of personal taste. If you adore Apple’s sleek, tidy ecosystem, iOS will come naturally to you. If you enjoy customization, multitasking in split-screen mode, and having greater control over hardware, Samsung is your ticket.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which to Buy?
Both these phones are the best of design and technology in 2025. But they cater to subtly different kind of users.
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you desire:
The brightest screen available.
Bigger storage capacities (up to 2TB).
Faster charging and integrated Qi2.2 magnets.
A new, rugged aluminum design.
Choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want:
A slimmer, lighter form factor with titanium strength.
The flexibility of the integrated S Pen.
Additional camera capabilities, particularly for zoom shots.
Faster wired data transfer with USB 3.2.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to one thing: iOS versus Android. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max is a polished powerhouse for fans of the Apple ecosystem, while Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra is a feature-laden beast that lives off versatility and productivity.
Final Thoughts
2025 is proving to be one of the most thrilling years for smartphones. Apple and Samsung have both produced phones that set new standards for design, performance, and functionality.
The fact is, neither the Galaxy S25 Ultra nor the iPhone 17 Pro Max is inherently “better.” They’re both class-leading flagships, and your choice is going to be based on what you care more about: Apple’s polish and charging improvements, or Samsung’s S Pen inspiration and additional camera flexibility.
Either way, you’ll be holding one of the most feature-forward smartphones yet.
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