Iphone 17 Pro Max Vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design, Camera, Performance, Price And More Compared In Flagship Battle

Apple and Samsung are once again going head-to-head in the ultra-premium smartphone market, with both tech giants rolling out their latest flagships. On one side is Apple's freshly launched iPhone 17 Pro Max, revealed at the company's annual“Awe-Dropping” event. On the other is Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has already hit the shelves. For consumers, the question is simple but tough: which of these two heavyweights deserves your money?

Design and Display

Apple has pushed boundaries with a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, now boasting a blistering 3,000 nits peak brightness-a big leap from its predecessor's capability. The device is built tougher too, thanks to Ceramic Shield 2 on both front and back, which Apple claims delivers three times more scratch resistance and quadruple the crack resistance. The ProMotion display refreshes up to 120Hz and includes Always-On functionality.

Samsung, however, isn't standing still. The Galaxy S25 Ultra matches the display size at 6.9 inches but opts for a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 2,600 nits peak brightness. It features a variable 1Hz–120Hz refresh rate and durability via Corning Gorilla Armor 2. Its subtle curved edges introduce a slightly softer design language, while One UI 7 atop Android 15 rounds things out with heavy customization options.

Power, AI, and Performance

At the core of Apple's latest iPhone is the A19 Pro chip, paired with iOS 26, and a brand-new vapour chamber cooling system for sustained performance. A 16-core Neural Engine drives Apple Intelligence, handling advanced AI tasks such as offline translations, smart screenshot recognition, and real-time machine learning - all executed with Apple's trademark emphasis on privacy.

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra comes powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, delivering raw performance with up to 12GB RAM and 1TB storage. The Ultra embraces Galaxy AI and integrates closely with Google's Gemini AI assistant. Moreover, Samsung offers seven years of software support, making it one of the longest commitments in the Android space.

Camera Systems

Apple's triple 48MP“Fusion” camera setup centers on a redesigned telephoto lens with a 56% larger sensor and a tetraprism design, enabling up to 8x optical zoom. The Photonic Engine enhances low-light performance across primary and ultra-wide lenses, while the 18MP front“Centre Stage” camera supports dynamic dual-capture video and adaptive framing.

Samsung flexes its strength in megapixels. The S25 Ultra sports four cameras, including a 200MP main sensor offering 2x in-sensor zoom. It offers dual telephoto zooms at 3x and 5x, paired with a 50MP ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree field of view. Its 12MP selfie camera rounds out the package. The Galaxy excels in imaging versatility, while the iPhone doubles down on AI-enhanced photography and cinematic creativity.

Battery and Charging

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max is billed as having the longest battery life of any iPhone to date, thanks to efficiency gains on the A19 Pro chip and optimised iOS. With Apple's 40W USB-C charger, the phone juices up to 50% in only 20 minutes.

Samsung sticks with a 5,000mAh battery, offering 45W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and Wireless PowerShare for reverse charging accessories or other phones. Both promise all-day endurance, but Apple leans on longevity while Samsung prioritises flexibility.

Connectivity and Extras

The iPhone 17 Pro Max supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 via its new N1 chip, boosting reliability for AirDrop and Hotspot features. Samsung matches with 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, UWB, GPS, and still includes S Pen support, which continues to be a hallmark productivity tool for Ultra owners.

Price in India

Pricing is where the two flagships diverge starkly. The Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at Rs 1,29,999 for 256GB, with higher variants at Rs 1,41,999 (512GB) and Rs 1,65,999 (1TB). Apple, meanwhile, positions the iPhone 17 Pro Max higher, starting at Rs 1,49,900 for 256GB, climbing to Rs 1,69,900 (512GB), Rs 1,89,900 (1TB), and topping out at Rs 2,29,900 for 2TB. Samsung, therefore, undercuts Apple at every storage tier.

Verdict

Both phones embody the finest in smartphone technology but focus on different strengths. The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers polished design, advanced AI-driven features, and outstanding video creativity, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers unmatched camera resolution, zoom flexibility, and industry-leading software longevity.

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