Apple iPhone 13 vs Samsung Galaxy A17 4G

Our Verdict: Cost-conscious buyers should notice the SIM-free split between Samsung Galaxy A17 4G and Apple iPhone 13. Samsung Galaxy A17 4G starts at £109.00; Apple iPhone 13 starts at £199.95. Screen quality leans toward Apple iPhone 13 for sharpness, with 457 PPI compared with Samsung Galaxy A17 4G's 385 PPI. Samsung Galaxy A17 4G has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Apple iPhone 13's 12MP, Apple iPhone 13 offers more headroom at up to 512GB rather than Samsung Galaxy A17 4G's 128GB. Buy Samsung Galaxy A17 4G if cost is the deciding factor, and move to Apple iPhone 13 only if the specific hardware gains above are worth the extra outlay to you.

Over a full contract, the A17 4G works out around £291 all-in, about £96 less than the iPhone 13.

Screen
6.1" 6.7"
Display
OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
457 385
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Exynos 1330 (5 nm)
Battery
3,227 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 4G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.5 mm
Weight
173 grams 192 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54, dust and splash resistant
Contracts
£13.99/mo (£29.00 upfront) £9.99/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£173.00 £137.00

Prices updated 27 July 2026

Apple iPhone 13 Apple iPhone 13 Samsung Galaxy A17  4G Samsung Galaxy A17 4G
Screen 6.1" 6.7"
Display OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 457 385
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Exynos 1330 (5 nm)
Battery 3,227 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 4G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.5 mm
Weight 173 grams 192 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54, dust and splash resistant
Contracts £13.99/mo
£29.00 upfront
£9.99/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £173.00 £137.00
Prices updated 27 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13

24 Months

128GB

Midnight

Refurbished

50GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£13.99 per month, £29 upfront.

Use code: SAVING10 (£10)

Samsung Galaxy A17 4G
Samsung Galaxy A17  4G

24 Months

128GB

Grey

25GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£9.99 per month, £29 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G is cheaper on contract at £291.16 over the life of the deal from £9.99 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Samsung Galaxy A17 4G has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 13's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 13 has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 13 uses a OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Apple iPhone 13 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Samsung Galaxy A17 4G is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £137.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Apple iPhone 13 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G comes in 128GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A17 4G use?

The Apple iPhone 13 is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G uses the Exynos 1330 (5 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Apple iPhone 13 is the more portable of the two: it's 19g lighter at 173 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 or Samsung Galaxy A17 4G?

The Apple iPhone 13 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G is rated IP54, dust and splash resistant.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy A17 4G run?

The Apple iPhone 13 runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A17 4G runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.