iPhone 17 Pro Max Crushes Galaxy S25 Ultra In Tests

Two superphones, two playbooks. Apple drives home creative workflows and silicon efficiency with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, as Samsung doubles down on display tech, AI tools and the S Pen with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Based on independent benchmarks, lab measurements and expert reviews, one of these flagship phones offers the most well-rounded experience for the average buyer.

Design and Durability: Comfort Versus Utility in Hand

Apple’s new (again, old) design means you’re trimming weight and improving ergonomics, with tighter tolerances and a slightly curved frame that feels better in the hand on long, wear-heavy shoots. Ceramic Shield and IP68 are still table stakes, and the build quality is about as premium as it comes.

Samsung holds on to the squared-off look that Note loyalists tend to be fond of. Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Armor glass offer robust drop and scratch protection, while the integrated S Pen silo continues to be a useful differentiator. Bulletproof in feel, the choice here is comfort versus utility.

Display and Audio: Outdoor Visibility and Sound Quality

The screen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a dazzler. Independent display testing centers have measured single-digit reflectance for Samsung’s newest anti-glare technology that realizes excellent outdoor readability and less greasy fingerprints. Peak HDR brightness is class-leading, and color calibration in Natural mode tracks closely to sRGB and DCI-P3 targets.

Apple’s new anti-reflective layer lessens the gulf, and in most use cases (True Tone off, Reference Mode on), the iPhone is quite accurate. ProMotion is smooth on both of them, but Samsung’s ambient visibility edge is clear in direct sun; stereo speakers sound loud and clean across the pair (with a touch more low-end on the iPhone).

Performance and Battery Life in Real-World Workloads

Apple’s newest Pro-grade chip still rules the roost of single-core CPU tasks, and shows remarkable sustained performance across long exports (I’ve tested this over generations in Geekbench and SPEC-style workloads). Thermal performance is more stable than the Pro line of last year, experiencing less throttling dips during 4K captures.

Samsung’s Snapdragon platform offers massive GPU uplift and rapid AI inference, plus high-end multi-core throughput — accelerating photo editing and on-device translation. Standardized battery loop tests from multiple labs have found that the S25 Ultra lasts slightly — but consistently — longer than the iPhone, benefiting somewhat from a larger cell and efficient LTPO scaling. Both will capably get you through a long day; the Ultra charges more quickly, while the iPhone is cooler to the touch under high-load charging.

Cameras and Video: Creator Tools Versus Stills Reach

To filmmakers, the iPhone is a standard-bearer. Pro workflows allow for ProRes and ProRes RAW, Log capture and reliable 4K at high frame rates in various focal lengths with consistent color science. The improved front camera stabilizes quite well for handheld vlogs, and the pipeline from capture to edits in Final Cut or Premiere is still frictionless.

Samsung fires back with a super-detailed 200MP main sensor and an improved telephoto rig that ekes out sharper 5x and more credible 10x shots than any of its predecessors. Portrait edge detection is outstanding, and Night mode texture retention has been improved. For stills versatility and reach, the Ultra inches ahead; for video fidelity and creator tooling, the iPhone remains the pro pick.

AI and Software: Everyday Features and Long-Term Polish

Galaxy AI feels more present all around and useful today. Features such as Circle to Search, transcript summaries, and instant slow-mo are just a swipe away. Removing objects is robust, and cross-app actions mean fewer taps to triage calendars and email. Samsung has been highly rated by reviewers for the way its UX brings AI to the fore at exactly the right time.

Apple Intelligence touts its privacy-focused on-device models with strong system integration. Writing tools and notification management are subtle, but the feature surface is smaller. Apple’s edge is coherence and long-term polish; Samsung’s is breadth and control. Both promise long OS and security support, with seven-year commitments now taking hold among leading brands.

Ecosystem and Storage Options for Power Users and Pros

iPhone owners who have bought into MagSafe’s common ecosystem—chargers, stands, wallets, and modular mounts—find it all plays nicely together, and ProRes workloads get a leg up from the rare 2TB config. AirDrop, Continuity Camera, and Apple Watch tie-ins continue to be strong lock-ins for a lot of creative types.

Samsung’s edge is flexibility. The S Pen is still king for quick markups and meeting notes, DeX turns the phone into a desktop when you really need it to, and Android’s file system makes external SSD workflows easy. The Ultra maxes out at 1TB, but micro-studio-type creators might like its more varied I/O options and simpler cross-platform sharing.

Connectivity, Reliability, and Safety Features Compared

Both of these flagships are 5G with a broader range of bands supported alongside Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth LE Audio, UWB, and secure enclave-class hardware. Crash detection and emergency services are mature across all ecosystems and satellite features differ by region and carrier support. Call quality and haptics are primo on either, with Apple’s haptics having just a hair more precision.

Overall Verdict: Which Flagship Is Best for Most People

For the average person, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a more versatile daily driver. Its unbeatable outdoor display, S Pen integration, faster charging and expanded AI software features make it a strong day-to-day performer, while that camera gives more reach and versatility for traveling or when shooting on the street.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the one to get for dedicated video creators who want pro codecs; and now, even more people can get it, slotted into Apple’s less-than-cohesive ecosystem, plus a lot of internal storage. But if we’re naming an all-around winner, the Galaxy S25 Ultra wins for a wider range of capabilities where many people are going to feel it the most.