Apple just announced its new iPhone 17 lineup at the Awe-Dropping Event in Cupertino, California. After years of playing it safe, the company is experimenting with the design of its phones.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max wears its most prominent (and potentially divisive) design updates in years. On the other hand, its closest rival, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, maintains its unmistakable look. The two top-tier phones come with versatile camera systems, tons of power, and a host of features. One will find a home with a certain kind of user.
If you’re debating which of the two Apple or Samsung devices should be your new daily driver, let me simplify it for you. This is how the new Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Specifications
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
| Display | 6.9″ AMOLED with 120Hz, 3000 nits peak | 6.9″ QHD AMOLED 120Hz, 2600 nits peak |
| Weight | 233 grams | 218 grams |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Dimensions | 78 x 163.4 x 8.75mm | 77.6 x 162.8 x 8.2mm |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Battery | N/A | 5000 mAh |
| Camera | 48MP Fusion / 48MP Ultra Wide / 48MP telephoto / 18MP front | 200MP wide / 50MP telephoto (5x) / 10MP telephoto (3x) / 50 MP ultrawide / 12MP front |
| Price | $1,199 | $1,299 |
You need to purchase the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
1. You capture lots of videos
iPhones have long been the first choice of smartphone for video capture, and Apple is making it a notch higher with the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. The latest Pro models offer ProRes RAW video recording features so that filmmakers can enjoy more artistic liberty in their captures. You can capture 4K Dolby Vision videos at 120 fps through the primary sensor and up to 60 fps on the other two.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Apple also improved the front camera to 18MP with Center Stage support. It also includes “ultrastabilized videos” from the front camera shooter, which would prove helpful to creators everywhere. If you are the type of person who needs a smartphone for video shooting, an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max is the phone to buy.
2. You have MagSafe-compatible accessories
If you have an iPhone, you most likely have MagSafe-compatible accessories, and these can only be compatible with the new iPhones. For those in the dark, MagSafe is not just wireless charging. I have a magnetic tripod that I greatly enjoy using with my iPhone 16 Pro, and a magnetic power bank, which is more convenient than a wired power bank.
If you choose to have a Galaxy S25 Ultra, none of them will be compatible with your new device. In order to maintain your old MagSafe investments usable and effective, you should have the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
You require 2TB of phone storage
For all creators who want a better video recording and space to store them locally in your phone, Apple has not only enhanced video recording feature but also offers the storage space to save them locally in your phone. A 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max may not make sense to many, but as a creator, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which limits to 1TB of storage. You will have to pay $1,999 for a 2TB model.
You must purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
1. You desire the best smartphone screen we have reviewed to date
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra screen has spoiled me. It boasts the best smartphone screen at present, courtesy of the anti-reflective and anti-smudge characteristics. Compared to my present iPhone 16 Pro, it is simpler to view and read outside.
2. You desire a more comprehensive AI feature set.
Samsung Galaxy AI is stronger than Apple Intelligence, according to my use of both this year. While Apple Intelligence provides some useful features such as notification summary and writing assist, Galaxy AI is superior and more convenient to utilize, through its sidebar and Android customizations.
By comparison, I never fail to wipe my iPhone screen when recording a video or attempting to navigate outside. That does not happen with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Samsung has really upped its smartphone screen game this year with its flagship. That being said, the iPhone 17 Pro offers a new anti-reflective screen, but we have not yet tested it.
Want to add an email invitation to the Calendar app? Swipe from the sidebar, click on AI Select, and you get a one-tap option ready to add the event to your Calendar app.
I am also a fan of Instant Slow-Mo videos at press and hold, and Samsung’s object eraser tool, which is more effective than Apple’s Clean Up. The Cupertino firm may do a better AI job this year but Samsung’s Galaxy AI provides a more comprehensive AI user experience currently.
3. You desire the S Pen.
Samsung has unpositioned the S Pen and eliminated its features over time. Galaxy Note enthusiasts remain fond of writing down spontaneous ideas and notes on their phones, though. If you find you enjoy writing on your phone screen, then the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the sole flagship smartphone to let you do so. Keep in mind that you no longer receive features such as a remote camera shutter button, but it’s still useful at meetings.
