Galaxy S25 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite · 6.9″ · 200 MP
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Galaxy S25 Ultra lands at 93 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- ✓Huge anti-reflective 6.9″ display
- ✓200 MP sensor with 5× tele
- ✓S-Pen productivity
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
TieStills and video quality across lenses
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
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
iPhone 17 Pro MaxSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
iPhone 17 Pro Max more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $1,299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 3120×1440 | 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 / 512 GB / 1 TB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| Rear camera | 200 MP + 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× + 50 MP UW | — |
| Front camera | 12 MP | — |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless | ▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| OS | Android 15, One UI 7 | iOS 26 |
| Weight | ▲ 218 g | 233 g |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
Galaxy S25 Ultra
- +Huge anti-reflective 6.9″ display
- +200 MP sensor with 5× tele
- +S-Pen productivity
- −Pricey storage tiers
- −AI features still maturing
- −Heavier in hand
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: Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Galaxy S25 Ultra worth the price? +
At $1,299, Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in gpu.
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 Galaxy S25 Ultra 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 battery life, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 89). Screen-on time and charging.
Which is the better value, Galaxy S25 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $1,299). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.