Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

Our verdict: You'll pay £40.69 less overall on contract with the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. Display is a trade-off — 7.6" on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 versus 458 PPI on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. If the camera matters most, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 has the edge at 50MP. For video calls and selfies, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max offers a 18MP front camera.

Expert Rating
4.4
11 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Screen
6.9" 7.6"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1320 x 2868 1856 x 2160
Pixels Per Inch
458 375
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 4 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm
Weight
233 grams 239 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Contracts
£38.99/mo (£199.00 upfront) £96.50/mo (£30.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£1088.00 £639.99
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Expert Rating 4.4
11 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Screen 6.9" 7.6"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1320 x 2868 1856 x 2160
Pixels Per Inch 458 375
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 4 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm
Weight 233 grams 239 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Contracts £38.99/mo
£199.00 upfront
£96.50/mo
£30.00 upfront
SIM-free £1088.00 £639.99
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is cheaper on contract at £1149.49 over the life of the deal from £38.99 per month with £199.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 has the bigger screen at 7.6" compared to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max's 6.9", the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the sharper display at 458 pixels per inch versus 375, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 has a Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 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 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £639.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 uses the Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

It's a trade-off: the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is lighter but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is more compact. It's 6g lighter at 233 grams, though the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is actually the more compact phone at 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is slimmer at 8.8mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 is rated IPX8 - water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.