Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max
Between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the Galaxy S25 Ultra comes out ahead in main camera and wired charging, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on wireless charging. Overall, the Galaxy S25 Ultra scores 73.9 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 67.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra edges ahead on the Mars Score (73.9 vs 67.5), but the 6.4-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the Galaxy S25 Ultra if you photograph or shoot video regularly and want the better imaging pipeline of the two. The biggest gaps in its favor are main camera, wired charging, weight, among others.
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you care most about wireless charging. Its strongest claims are wireless charging.
Both ship with comparable ram, screen size, refresh rate, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra wins
- ▲Main camera — 316.67% more. 200 MP vs 48 MP.
- ▲Wired charging — 50.00% more. 45 W vs 30 W.
- ▲Weight — 9.00 g less. 218 vs 227.
- ▲Pixel density — 8.91% more. 501 ppi vs 460 ppi.
- ▲Battery capacity — 6.72% more. 5000 mAh vs 4685 mAh.
- ▲AnTuTu — 2.38% more. 2150000 vs 2100000.
- ▲Promised OS updates: 7 (vs 6).
Why Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max wins
- ▲Wireless charging — 66.67% more. 25 W vs 15 W.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 218 glead | 227 g |
| Thickness | 8.2 mmlead | 8.3 mm |
| Water resistanceⓘ | IP68 | IP68 |
| Form factor | bar | bar |
Display
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Screen sizeⓘ | 6.9 " | 6.9 " |
| Pixel densityⓘ | 501 ppilead | 460 ppi |
| Refresh rateⓘ | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightnessⓘ | 2600 nitslead | 2200 nits |
Performance
Cameras
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main cameraⓘ | 200 MPlead | 48 MP |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Optical image stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Battery
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 5000 mAhlead | 4685 mAh |
| Wired chargingⓘ | 45 Wlead | 30 W |
| Wireless chargingⓘ | 15 W | 25 Wlead |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| 5G supportⓘ | true | true |
| Headphone jack | false | false |
| microSD slot | false | false |
Operating System
| Spec | Samsung - Galaxy S25 Ultra | Apple - iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Android | iOSlead |
| Promised OS updates | 7 yearslead | 6 years |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max?+
Galaxy S25 Ultra has 6.7% more battery — 5000 mAh vs 4685 mAh.
Which is lighter, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max?+
Galaxy S25 Ultra is 9g lighter — 218g vs 227g.
Is Galaxy S25 Ultra waterproof?+
Galaxy S25 Ultra has an IP68 rating.
Does iPhone 17 Pro Max support 5G?+
Yes, iPhone 17 Pro Max supports 5G.
Which has a better camera, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max?+
Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 200 MP main camera vs 48 MP.
Spec-level deep dives
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