Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy A57

Our verdict: Add up the full contract cost and the Samsung Galaxy A57 comes in £724.00 cheaper than the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. For screen quality, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads with a 6.9" display and 458 PPI density. Snap-happy users may prefer the Samsung Galaxy A57 and its 50MP rear camera. If selfies matter, the Samsung Galaxy A57 leads with a 32MP front-facing lens.

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 32 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Exynos 1580 (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 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight
233 grams 179 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) £18.99/mo (£19.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£1097.00 £519.00
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy A57 Samsung Galaxy A57
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 32 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Exynos 1580 (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 5.3 with A2DP, LE
Dimensions 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm
Weight 233 grams 179 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
£18.99/mo
£19.00 upfront
SIM-free £1097.00 £519.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A57 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy A57 is cheaper on contract at £487.29 over the life of the deal from £18.99 per month with £19.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the bigger screen at 6.9" compared to the Samsung Galaxy A57'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 A57 has a Super AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy A57 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 A57?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £519.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy A57 comes in 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy A57 use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy A57 uses the Exynos 1580 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Samsung Galaxy A57 is the more portable of the two — it's 54g lighter at 179 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm, and is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy A57?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy A57 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 A57 run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy A57 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.