Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A37

Our verdict: On contract, the Samsung Galaxy A37 works out £691.03 cheaper overall than the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on display with a bigger 6.9" screen and a sharper 458 PPI. If you'd rather buy outright, the Samsung Galaxy A37 starts at £449.00 SIM-free. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max gives you more flexibility with 4 storage options to choose from.

Screen
6.9" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution
1320 x 2868 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
458 385
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Exynos 1480 (4 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB
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/6
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm
Weight
233 grams 196 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£44.29/mo (£99.00 upfront) £14.99/mo (£99.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£1069.00 £449.00
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy A37 Samsung Galaxy A37
Screen 6.9" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Super AMOLED
Resolution 1320 x 2868 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 458 385
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Exynos 1480 (4 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB
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/6
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm
Weight 233 grams 196 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £44.29/mo
£99.00 upfront
£14.99/mo
£99.00 upfront
SIM-free £1069.00 £449.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A37 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A37 is cheaper on contract at £470.93 over the life of the deal from £14.99 per month with £99.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A37?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the bigger screen at 6.9" compared to the Samsung Galaxy A37's 6.7", the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the sharper display at 458 pixels per inch versus 385, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy A37 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A37?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A37 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 A37?

The Samsung Galaxy A37 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £449.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A37?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A37 comes in 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A37 use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy A37 uses the Exynos 1480 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A37?

The Samsung Galaxy A37 is the more portable of the two — it's 37g lighter at 196 grams, both are similar in overall footprint, and is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A37?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A37 is rated IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A37 run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A37 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.