Design and screen: Each side has a style
In September, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 series with four models including iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
In particular, the Pro Max version is expected to be the top model, competing directly with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, the top flagship model launched earlier this year.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max promises to bring a new design with an expanded camera cluster and changed Apple logo positioning. Apple also switched from titanium to aluminum frames, helping to improve weight and handling.
The machine is 8.725mm thick and weighs about 227g. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra retains the titanium frame but has a thinner, lighter body with a thickness of 8.2mm and weight of 218g.
Both devices have 6.9-inch screens with a scanning frequency of 120Hz. The iPhone uses a OLED LTPO Super Retina XDR panel, while the Galaxy uses a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X with a maximum brightness of up to 2600 nits, better than Apple in outdoor display capabilities.
Camera: Apple improves while Samsung outperforms in quantity
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be equipped with three 48MP rear cameras, including a telephoto lens that supports 8x zoom optics, 8K video recording and has mechanical range. The 24MP Selfie camera is also a new highlight.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is superior in quantity with four 200MP wide-angle main cameras, 50MP super wide-west, 50MP potential telephoto (5xzoom) and a regular 10MP telephoto (3xzoom). The 12MP front camera may be more modest, but the rear system still gives Samsung an advantage in terms of photography flexibility.
Effectiveness and battery: balanced football
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to use the A19 Pro chip on TSMC's 3nm process, combined with 12GB of RAM, an increase of 8GB compared to the previous generation. The Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite and also has 12GB RAM.
Both devices have 5,000mAh batteries. However, the Galaxy supports 45W wired fast charging, surpassing the iPhone with only 35W. On the other hand, Apple supports faster wireless charging (25W compared to Samsung's 15W).
Apple's selling price is still higher
In the US market, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a starting price of 1,299 USD for the 256GB version. However, thanks to incentive programs from Samsung, Best Buy and Amazon, users can now buy this device at a discount of about 9491,069 USD, depending on the time and place of sale.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, expected to launch in September, is priced at around $1,249 for the 256GB version, a slight increase compared to the previous generation and there is currently no information about the official discount program.
Thus, if we consider the selling price, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is currently in an advantage thanks to strong incentives, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max retains the inherently high price of the Apple flagship line.
Which option is suitable for you?
If you prioritize fresh design, AI performance, and Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be your top choice.
On the contrary, if you like professional photography, flexible battery life and softer price, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a strong competitor not to be missed.
