Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Our verdict: On contract, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge works out £466.16 cheaper overall than the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has a bigger 6.9" screen, but the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is sharper at 513 PPI. If you'd rather buy outright, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge starts at £599.00 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 Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1320 x 2868 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
458 513
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-3-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
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
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 159 x 76 x 5.8 mm
Weight
233 grams 163 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
£44.29/mo (£99.00 upfront) £11.95/mo (£439.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£1094.99 £599.00
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Screen 6.9" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1320 x 2868 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 458 513
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-3-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
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
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 159 x 76 x 5.8 mm
Weight 233 grams 163 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 £44.29/mo
£99.00 upfront
£11.95/mo
£439.00 upfront
SIM-free £1094.99 £599.00
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is cheaper on contract at £695.80 over the life of the deal from £11.95 per month with £439.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the bigger screen at 6.9" compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge's 6.7", the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has the sharper display at 513 pixels per inch versus 458, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has a 200 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 S25 Edge?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £599.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge uses the Qualcomm SM8750-3-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is the more portable of the two — it's 70g lighter at 163 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 159 x 76 x 5.8 mm, and is slimmer at 5.8mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 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.