Samsung Galaxy S25+
SD8 Elite · 6.7″ QHD+ · 45 W charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Samsung Galaxy S25+ lands at 92 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Samsung Galaxy S25+ if…
- ✓Sharp 6.7″ QHD+ AMOLED at 120 Hz
- ✓45 W super fast wired charging
- ✓4900 mAh battery for all-day use
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
iPhone 17 Pro MaxStills and video quality across lenses
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 89).
Battery life
iPhone 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 89).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
TiePanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Samsung Galaxy S25+Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Samsung Galaxy S25+ more score per dollar ($999 vs $1,199).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25+ | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7″ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 3120×1440, 120 Hz, 2600 nits peak | ▲ 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB UFS 4.0 | 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP wide + 10 MP 3× tele + 12 MP UW | — |
| Front camera | 12 MP | — |
| Battery | 4900 mAh | — |
| Charging | 45 W wired, 15 W Qi2 wireless, 4.5 W reverse | ▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| Weight | ▲ 190 g | 233 g |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | iOS 26 |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
Samsung Galaxy S25+
- +Sharp 6.7″ QHD+ AMOLED at 120 Hz
- +45 W super fast wired charging
- +4900 mAh battery for all-day use
- −Same camera hardware as base S25
- −No periscope telephoto (Ultra-only)
- −25% pricier than base for similar core specs
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
FAQ: Samsung Galaxy S25+ vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, Samsung Galaxy S25+ or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Samsung Galaxy S25+ worth the price? +
At $999, Samsung Galaxy S25+ delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Samsung Galaxy S25+ or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for photography, Samsung Galaxy S25+ or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 89). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Samsung Galaxy S25+ or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 89). Screen-on time and charging.