Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: I've used both phones, and there's a clear winner

Jason Hiner and Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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Apple announced its caller iPhone 17 lineup successful September astatine its Awe-Dropping Event, and it was met with overmuch fanfare. After years of playing it safe, the institution is erstwhile again experimenting with the plan of its phones. 

The iPhone 17 Pro Max sports its astir noticeable (and possibly controversial) plan alteration successful years. By contrast, its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, retains its signature look. The 2 flagship phones diagnostic versatile camera setups, plentifulness of power, and a slew of features. Each volition suit a circumstantial benignant of user. 

Also: I tested the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and this diagnostic unsocial justifies an upgrade from the 16

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

Specifications

You should bargain the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if…

Jason Hiner/ZDNET

1. You grounds a batch of videos

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

Also: I compared the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max: Here's which 1 to buy

Apple besides upgraded the beforehand camera to 18MP with Center Stage support. The selfie shooter present supports "ultrastabilized videos," which would beryllium utile for creators astir the world. If you privation a smartphone for shooting videos, an iPhone 17 Pro oregon iPhone 17 Pro Max is the 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 volition lone beryllium compatible with the caller iPhones. For the unaware, MagSafe is much than conscionable wireless charging. I person a magnetic tripod that I emotion utilizing with 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 volition enactment with your caller phone. To support your aged MagSafe investments intact and usable, you should spell with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.   

3. You request 2TB of retention connected your phone 

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

You should bargain the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You privation the champion surface connected a smartphone that we've tested truthful far

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

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

2. You privation a much implicit AI diagnostic set

Samsung's Galaxy AI is much robust than Apple Intelligence, based connected my acquisition with the 2 this year. While Apple Intelligence offers immoderate nifty features similar 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 invitation to the Calendar app? Swipe from the sidebar, pat connected AI Select, and you person a one-tap enactment acceptable to adhd that lawsuit 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 works amended than Apple's Clean Up. The Cupertino institution mightiness amended its AI crippled this twelvemonth but Samsung's Galaxy AI offers a much implicit AI idiosyncratic acquisition arsenic of now.

3. You privation the S Pen

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

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