Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy S25

Our Verdict: Start with the practical differences: the Apple iPhone Air offers the larger 6.5" screen versus 6.2", the sharper 18MP selfie camera, up to 1TB storage, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S25 gives you the larger 4000mAh battery, with the usual caveat that capacity is not the whole battery-life story. The Samsung Galaxy S25 is currently cheaper on the lowest total contract cost at about £400, roughly £220 less than the Apple iPhone Air. Software preference matters as well, because this is an iOS versus Android choice as much as a hardware comparison. That makes the Samsung Galaxy S25 the value-led pick, unless the larger 6.5" screen versus 6.2" on the Apple iPhone Air is worth paying extra for.

The S25 is the cheaper one to own: around £636 over a typical contract, £219 less than the iPhone Air.

Expert Rating
3.9
12 reviews
4.1
11 reviews
Screen
6.5" 6.2"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
444 416
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
3,149 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
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
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm
Weight
165 grams 162 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
£70.97/mo (£0.00 upfront) £25.29/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£599.99 £429.99

Prices updated 9 August 2026

Apple iPhone Air Apple iPhone Air Samsung Galaxy S25 Samsung Galaxy S25
Expert Rating 3.9
12 reviews
4.1
11 reviews
Screen 6.5" 6.2"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 444 416
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 3,149 mAh 4,000 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type 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
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm
Weight 165 grams 162 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts £70.97/mo
£0.00 upfront
£25.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £599.99 £429.99
Prices updated 9 August 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone Air
Apple iPhone Air

12 Months

256GB

Space Black

3GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£70.97 per month, with FREE phone.

Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25

24 Months

128GB

Icy Blue

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£25.29 per month, £29 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper on contract at £635.96 over the life of the deal from £25.29 per month with £29.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone Air has the bigger screen at 6.5" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25's 6.2", the Apple iPhone Air has the sharper display at 444 pixels per inch versus 416, and the Apple iPhone Air uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S25 has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone Air features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 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 Air or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £429.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone Air is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 use?

The Apple iPhone Air is powered by the Apple A19 Pro (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the more portable of the two: it's 3g lighter at 162 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.9 x 70.4 x 7.2 mm, the Apple iPhone Air is slimmer at 5.6mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25?

The Apple iPhone Air is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S25 run?

The Apple iPhone Air runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S25 runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.