The iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25 comparison highlights two top-tier flagship smartphones launched in 2025, both starting at $799. This showdown focuses on their display quality, camera capabilities, performance, and unique features to help consumers decide the better choice.
Display and Design
Both phones offer stunning displays with 120Hz refresh rates—a first for Apple’s base model iPhone 17. The Galaxy S25 sports a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with 1,789 nits peak brightness and a wide DCI-P3 color gamut (up to 108.2% in Vivid mode). Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 has a slightly larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with 1,505 nits peak brightness and superior color accuracy, as indicated by a lower Delta-E score (0.20 vs 0.25 for Galaxy’s Vivid mode). Both feature durable glass coatings—Ceramic Shield 2 for the iPhone and Gorilla Glass for the Galaxy—and IP68 water resistance. The Galaxy S25 is marginally smaller and lighter, offering a slightly more comfortable grip.
Camera Systems and Performance
The Galaxy S25 comes with a versatile triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8), 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, giving it an edge in lens variety and resolution. The iPhone 17 features dual 48MP rear cameras (main and ultrawide) and an 18MP front camera, compared to the Galaxy’s 12MP front sensor. Historically, both brands excel in camera quality, though Samsung’s additional telephoto lens and higher megapixel count suggest more zoom flexibility and detail on paper.
Performance, Battery, and Features
Powered by Apple’s A19 chip and iOS 26, the iPhone 17 balances performance and power efficiency impressively, despite having 8GB RAM versus the Galaxy S25’s 12GB and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor on Android 15. This efficiency translates into longer battery life per charge, with the iPhone reportedly delivering around 8 hours of screen-on time compared to Galaxy’s 6-6.5 hours, even though Samsung’s 4,000mAh battery is physically larger. Connectivity options are comparable, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and NFC, but the iPhone 17 also introduces Satellite SOS for emergency communication.
In summary, the iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25 comparison reveals two closely matched flagships. Samsung leads in RAM, camera versatility, and display brightness, while Apple excels in color accuracy, battery efficiency, and software integration. Buyers prioritizing camera options and display vibrancy may lean toward the Galaxy S25, while those valuing power efficiency and color precision might prefer the iPhone 17.