Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26+

Our Verdict: The Galaxy S26+ makes a strong case if you want more screen for less money: it has a 6.7-inch display, a sharper 513 PPI panel, a larger 4900mAh battery and a lower price on the page. The iPhone 17 Pro is more compact, keeps Apple iOS, offers an 18MP front camera and goes up to 1TB of storage where the Samsung stops at 512GB. Battery capacity favours Samsung, but real endurance still depends on how each platform manages power. Go with the S26+ for display size and value; stick with the iPhone 17 Pro for iOS, compactness and the extra storage tier.

Over a full contract, the S26+ works out around £864 all-in, about £255 less than the iPhone 17 Pro.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
3.9
10 reviews
Screen
6.3" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
458 513
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery
3,988 mAh 4,900 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 16
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/6e/7
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
Weight
206 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP 68
Contracts
£44.99/mo (£9.00 upfront) £12.00/mo (£565.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£899.00 £799.00

Prices updated 11 July 2026

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Apple iPhone 17 Pro Samsung Galaxy S26+ Samsung Galaxy S26+
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
3.9
10 reviews
Screen 6.3" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 458 513
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery 3,988 mAh 4,900 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 16
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/6e/7
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
Weight 206 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP 68
Contracts £44.99/mo
£9.00 upfront
£12.00/mo
£565.00 upfront
SIM-free £899.00 £799.00
Prices updated 11 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

24 Months

256GB

Deep Blue

10GB

Data

£44.99 per month, £9 upfront.

Use code: CASH2 (£2)

Samsung Galaxy S26+
Samsung Galaxy S26+

24 Months

256GB

Cobalt Violet

300GB

Data

£12 per month, £565 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26+ cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is cheaper on contract at £864.40 over the life of the deal from £12.00 per month with £565.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro's 6.3", the Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the sharper display at 513 pixels per inch versus 458, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ 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 or Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £799.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26+ use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ uses the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26+?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is lighter but the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is more compact. It's 16g lighter at 190 grams, though the Apple iPhone 17 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is slimmer at 7.3mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is rated IP 68.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26+ run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ runs Android 16. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.