iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: The 2025 Showdown Begins!

Updated: Sep 24, 2025, 10:32 AM

Introduction

The iPhone 17 series is now available, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max positioned as Apple’s new flagship. Featuring a redesigned look, an innovative "camera plateau," improved zoom capabilities, and enhanced nighttime performance, along with a faster processor, it faces off against Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra, which launched about eight months ago. The Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts two zoom cameras, enhanced AI-powered digital zoom, and a wealth of Galaxy AI features. Plus, it runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, finely tuned for Samsung.

So, does the iPhone 17 Pro Max have enough upgrades to slow down Samsung's momentum? Or will the Galaxy S25 Ultra attract loyal Apple fans? To find out, we’ll put these two flagships through a series of tests covering battery life, camera performance, processing power, and display quality, along with some personal insights. Let’s get started!

Design and Size

The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium-coated frame, while its cameras maintain a “floating” style that can lead to slight wobble. In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a Ceramic Shield matte glass back, which is four times more crack-resistant than previous models. The glass panel is smaller, revealing more aluminum, while the front is protected by a new Ceramic Shield 2 that offers three times better scratch resistance than the original.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra sports a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back and a Gorilla Armor 2 front panel. In hand, the experience should be similar with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which also features a flat metal frame. The iPhone has more buttons, including a programmable Action button, while the Galaxy opts for a simpler layout with just power and volume controls.

Regarding color options, the iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in Silver, Deep Blue, and Cosmic Orange— a limited selection that has disappointed some fans.

Display Differences

No surprises here—the iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, rivaled by the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED x2, both supporting dynamic refresh rates from 1 to 120 Hz. Apple introduces a new seven-layer anti-reflective coating, hoping to match Samsung's impressive display technology.

Performance and Software

Apple's A-series chips have been at the top for years, but Qualcomm has recently closed the gap. The Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Galaxy S25 Ultra is an excellent performer, but the A19 in the iPhone 17 Pro Max could provide notable improvements. Rumors suggest the iPhone might feature 12 GB of RAM, matching the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers storage options up to 2 TB, while the Galaxy maxes out at 1 TB. With iOS 26, Apple introduces a Liquid Glass design, along with practical features like call screening and real-time translation.

Camera

Both smartphones excel in photography. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features three 48 MP Fusion cameras, capable of "lossless" zoom up to 8x, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra retains its lead with a Space Zoom reaching 100x. The iPhone's upgraded selfie camera also enhances the shooting experience.

Battery Life and Charging

Apple typically doesn’t disclose battery capacities, but sources suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max may have a 5,000 mAh battery, offering up to two days of use. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, with a similar capacity, manages about a day and a half of typical usage.

Summary

The iPhone 17 Pro Max appears to be a solid upgrade, featuring better thermal performance and camera enhancements. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, while redesigned, doesn’t bring significant changes from its predecessor. The verdict on which flagship reigns supreme in 2025 remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the rivalry between these two giants will continue to fuel debates among fans.