Apple Iphone 17 Pro Max Vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I Compared Both, And Here's The Winner

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Apple announced its caller iPhone 17 lineup astatine nan Awe-Dropping Event successful Cupertino, California, connected Tuesday. After years of playing it safe, nan institution is experimenting pinch nan creation of its phones. The iPhone 17 Pro Max sports its astir noticeable (and possibly controversial) creation changes successful years. By contrast, its closest competitor, nan Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, retains its signature look. The 2 flagship phones characteristic versatile camera setups, plentifulness of power, and are filled to nan brim pinch features. Each of them will suit a circumstantial type of user. 

If you're wondering which of nan 2 Apple aliases Samsung phones should beryllium your adjacent regular driver, fto maine break it down for you. Here's really nan caller Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max compares to nan Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Also: Apple Event unrecorded updates 2025

Specifications

Buy nan Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if…

Apple

1. You grounds a batch of videos

iPhones person been nan go-to smartphone for video signaling for a agelong time, and Apple is taking it a measurement further pinch nan iPhone 17 Pro series. The caller Pro models support ProRes RAW video signaling capabilities, allowing filmmakers to person greater imaginative state complete their recordings. You tin grounds 4K Dolby Vision videos astatine up to 120 fps via nan main camera and up to 60 fps connected nan different 2 sensors. 

Apple besides upgraded nan beforehand camera to 18MP pinch Center Stage support. It besides supports "ultrastabilized videos" from nan selfie shooter, which would beryllium useful for creators astir nan world. If you are personification who wants a smartphone for shooting videos, an iPhone 17 Pro aliases iPhone 17 Pro Max is nan telephone to spell for.

2. You person MagSafe-compatible accessories

If you are an iPhone user, you astir apt person MagSafe-compatible accessories, and these will only beryllium compatible pinch nan caller iPhones. For nan unaware, MagSafe is much than conscionable wireless charging. I person a magnetic tripod that I emotion utilizing pinch my iPhone 16 Pro, arsenic good arsenic a magnetic powerfulness bank, which offers much convenience than a wired powerfulness bank.

 If you opt for a Galaxy S25 Ultra, nary of them will activity pinch your caller phone. To support your aged MagSafe investments intact and usable, you should spell pinch nan iPhone 17 Pro Max.   

3. You request 2TB of retention connected your phone 

For each nan creators retired there, Apple has not only improved video signaling capabilities but besides provides abstraction to shop them locally connected your phone. A 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max mightiness not impressment many, but if you are a creator, nan iPhone 17 Pro Max will service you amended than nan Galaxy S25 Ultra, which maxes retired astatine 1TB of storage. However, you'll request to walk $1,999 to get a 2TB variant.

Buy nan Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You want nan champion surface connected a smartphone that we've tested truthful far

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra's show has spoiled me. It features nan champion surface connected a smartphone currently, acknowledgment to nan anti-reflective and anti-smudge properties. When compared to my existent iPhone 16 Pro, it is easier to position and publication outdoors. 

In comparison, I ever person to swipe my iPhone's surface erstwhile shooting a video aliases trying to navigate outdoors. There's nary specified rumor connected nan Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Samsung has genuinely taken its smartphone surface crippled to nan adjacent level pinch its flagship this year. That said, nan iPhone 17 Pro introduces a caller anti-reflective display, but we've yet to trial it.

2. You want a much complete AI characteristic set

Samsung's Galaxy AI is much robust than Apple Intelligence, based connected my acquisition pinch nan 2 this year. While Apple Intelligence offers immoderate nifty features for illustration notification summary and penning tools, Galaxy AI is amended and easier to use, acknowledgment to its sidebar and Android customizations.

Also: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was astir unusable for maine - until I downloaded this 1 app

Need to adhd an email induce to nan Calendar app? Swipe from nan sidebar, pat connected AI Select, and you person a one-tap action fresh to adhd that arena to your Calendar app. I besides emotion Instant Slow-Mo videos astatine a property and hold, arsenic good arsenic Samsung's entity eraser tool, which useful amended than Apple's Clean Up. The Cupertino institution mightiness amended its AI crippled this twelvemonth but Samsung's Galaxy AI offers a much complete AI personification acquisition arsenic of now.

3. You want nan S Pen

Samsung has repositioned nan S Pen and removed its features complete nan years. However, Galaxy Note fans still for illustration jotting down speedy ideas and notes connected their smartphones. If you for illustration nan thought of penning connected your phone's display, nan Galaxy S25 Ultra is nan only flagship telephone to connection that experience. Remember, you nary longer get features for illustration a distant camera shutter button, but it still comes successful useful astatine meetings.

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