Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Our verdict: On contract, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max works out £358.97 cheaper overall than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a bigger 8" screen, but the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is sharper at 458 PPI. If you'd rather buy outright, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at £1094.99 SIM-free. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max gives you more flexibility with 4 storage options to choose from.

Screen
6.9" 8"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1320 x 2868 1968 x 2184
Pixels Per Inch
458 367
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB
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/6/7
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mm
Weight
233 grams 215 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£44.29/mo (£99.00 upfront) £59.99/mo (£69.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£1094.99 £1229.99
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Screen 6.9" 8"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1320 x 2868 1968 x 2184
Pixels Per Inch 458 367
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 200 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 10 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB 256GB, 512GB
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/6/7
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.2 mm
Weight 233 grams 215 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £44.29/mo
£99.00 upfront
£59.99/mo
£69.00 upfront
SIM-free £1094.99 £1229.99
Deals Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is cheaper on contract at £1161.96 over the life of the deal from £44.29 per month with £99.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has the bigger screen at 8" compared to the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max's 6.9", the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the sharper display at 458 pixels per inch versus 367, and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 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 Z Fold 7?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £1094.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 use?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is more compact. It's 18g lighter at 215 grams, though the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is actually the more compact phone at 163.4 x 78 x 8.8 mm, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is slimmer at 4.2mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is rated IP48 dust and water resistant (dust > 1mm; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 run?

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.