Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy A17

Our verdict: On contract, the Samsung Galaxy A17 works out £548.46 cheaper overall than the Apple iPhone 16 Plus. The Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper display at 460 PPI. If you'd rather buy outright, the Samsung Galaxy A17 starts at £139.00 SIM-free. The Apple iPhone 16 Plus gives you more flexibility with 3 storage options to choose from.

Screen
6.7" 6.7"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
2796 x 1290 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
460 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Exynos 1330 (5 nm)
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 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.5 mm
Weight
199 grams 192 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54, dust and splash resistant
Contracts
£11.95/mo (£535.00 upfront) £5.00/mo (£125.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£503.46 £139.00
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus Samsung Galaxy A17 Samsung Galaxy A17
Screen 6.7" 6.7"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 2796 x 1290 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 460 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Exynos 1330 (5 nm)
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 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 164.4 x 77.9 x 7.5 mm
Weight 199 grams 192 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP54, dust and splash resistant
Contracts £11.95/mo
£535.00 upfront
£5.00/mo
£125.00 upfront
SIM-free £503.46 £139.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A17 is cheaper on contract at £243.34 over the life of the deal from £5.00 per month with £125.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A17 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 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 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17?

The Samsung Galaxy A17 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £139.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy A17?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy A17 comes in 128GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy A17 use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy A17 uses the Exynos 1330 (5 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy A17 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is more compact. It's 7g lighter at 192 grams, though the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is actually the more compact phone at 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy A17?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A17 is rated IP54, dust and splash resistant.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy A17 run?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A17 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.