Apple simply dropped the iPhone 17 Professional Max, and I’ve obtained ideas. To see if it actually earns its hype, I’m stacking it up towards Samsung’s powerhouse, the Galaxy S25 Extremely.

I simply watched Apple unveil the iPhone 17 Professional Max, and the very first thing I wished to do was line it up towards Samsung’s powerhouse, the Galaxy S25 Extremely. These two telephones are probably the most “further” flagships you should buy in 2025; filled with AI, maxed-out cameras, and costs that would cowl hire.

So which one must you get, if you wish to keep forward of the curve? The iPhone 17 Professional Max simply dropped, however I’ve an opinion already. Right here’s my brutally trustworthy first tackle how they stack up. That is iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely!

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Design and Construct

iPhone 17 Professional Max

At first look, I’m simply gonna say it, the iPhone 17 Professional Max is beautiful! I’m loving Apple’s brushed aerospace-grade 7000-series aluminum unibody and laser-welded vapor chamber that retains the telephone cool whereas packing in a bigger battery. Ceramic Protect 2 now protects each back and front, and the antennas are built-in across the edges for peak sign efficiency. Obtainable in deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver, it’s a looker that’s constructed to final.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

The Galaxy S25 Extremely is unapologetically boxy, with Samsung leaning into its squared-off aesthetic. It comes with a troublesome Armor Aluminum body and Gorilla Armor glass, plus a titanium end possibility for further sturdiness. In fact, the S Pen is tucked neatly into the chassis, making it the one main flagship that also offers you stylus help proper out of the field.

Verdict:

I’m giving it to the iPhone right here. The brand new design is glossy and futuristic, whereas the Galaxy is all enterprise (learn: a bit stuffy). I think about, too, that the iPhone feels extra polished within the hand. In the event you care about aesthetics and wish your telephone to really feel like a chunk of knickknack, the iPhone takes it. However when you’re the type of one who loves operate over type, Samsung’s design nonetheless makes extra sense.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Show

iPhone 17 Professional Max

Apple’s 6.9-inch Tremendous Retina XDR OLED show hits 3000 nits of peak brightness, with ProMotion at as much as 120Hz. Ceramic Protect 2 provides 3x higher scratch resistance, whereas anti-reflective coatings lower glare. It’s vibrant, vibrant, and buttery easy—Apple’s finest display screen but, constructed for all the things from HDR films to gaming marathons.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

Samsung has a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X show that’s principally a transportable cinema. It helps a easy 1–120Hz adaptive refresh price and peaks at 2600 nits of brightness. Whether or not you’re gaming, streaming, or sketching, the S25 Extremely’s display screen is designed to dazzle.

Verdict:

Once more, Apple’s show wins—it’s brighter than the rest at 3000 nits, plus the anti-glare coating really makes it usable outside in a approach Samsung nonetheless struggles with. I’d most likely attain for the Galaxy if I wished to look at Netflix or recreation for hours, however for on a regular basis stuff like scrolling, messaging, and modifying images, the iPhone will likely be a contact extra refined.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Efficiency

iPhone 17 Professional Max

The A19 Professional chip is Apple’s quickest iPhone processor ever, paired with 6-core CPU and GPU plus a 16-core Neural Engine. Coupled with the vapor-chamber cooling system, it delivers as much as 40% higher sustained efficiency than the earlier era. From AAA gaming to video modifying or operating giant language fashions domestically, the 17 Professional Max is a powerhouse that doesn’t overheat.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

Underneath the hood, the S25 Extremely runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy, with larger clock speeds than the usual chip. It pairs that with 12GB of RAM as a baseline and storage choices as much as 1TB. It’s constructed for severe multitaskers, energy customers, and anybody who desires a telephone that may double as their pc.

Verdict:

Apple’s A19 Professional chip is ridiculously environment friendly—you’ll be able to push it with gaming, video modifying, or AI duties, and it barely warms up. Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, in the meantime, is tuned for energy, particularly multitasking and productiveness. Whether or not you’re an off-the-cuff or professional person, Apple’s improve is tough to beat. I’m calling it a draw as a result of I haven’t examined the brand new iPhone but.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Cameras

iPhone 17 Professional Max

The iPhone 17 Professional Max packs three 48MP Fusion cameras (Principal, Extremely Broad, Telephoto), supplying you with eight lenses in a single. The brand new telephoto sensor hits as much as 8x optical zoom, whereas digital zoom goes to 40x. The 18MP Middle Stage entrance digicam robotically adjusts for group selfies, ultra-stable video, and twin seize. Apple’s Photonic Engine boosts coloration accuracy and element.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

Samsung’s digicam setup is among the most versatile on the market: a 200MP foremost sensor, a 50MP 5x telephoto, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultra-wide. You additionally rise up to 100x House Zoom for these long-distance photographs. It’s the type of system that may cowl on a regular basis portraits and severe images experiments in equal measure.

Verdict:

Each telephones carry beastly digicam setups, however their priorities are totally different. The iPhone 17 Professional Max goes all-in on versatility and video. The Fusion cameras have as much as 8x optical zoom, and Apple’s coloration science plus the brand new Photonic Engine makes images look pure with out a lot modifying. The Galaxy S25 Extremely, in the meantime, remains to be the megapixel king with its 200MP foremost shooter and ridiculous 100x House Zoom. In observe, Apple’s system is sort of a professional video rig in your pocket, whereas Samsung offers you probably the most flexibility. In the event you’re a filmmaker, go iPhone. In the event you’re chasing element and zoom, Galaxy is your finest guess.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25: Software program & AI

iPhone 17 Professional Max

Operating iOS 26, the iPhone 17 Professional Max leans closely on Apple Intelligence, translating textual content and audio in actual time, boosting screenshot utility, and including privacy-protected AI options offline. New CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Apple Video games integration make the OS really feel smarter, smoother, and extra related than ever.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

Operating One UI 7 on high of Android, the S25 Extremely leans closely into Galaxy AI options. Instruments like Circle to Search, real-time translation, and AI-powered picture modifying are baked proper into the expertise. Samsung additionally guarantees seven years of OS and safety updates, placing it on par with Google and Apple in long-term help.

Verdict:

Each telephones lean into AI, however in several methods. The iPhone 17 Professional Max makes use of Apple Intelligence for real-time translation, smarter screenshots, and on-device privateness. The Galaxy S25 Extremely takes a extra versatile method with Galaxy AI—Circle to Search, AI picture modifying, and multitasking. Apple’s is dependable and locked-in, whereas Samsung offers you extra methods to experiment. I’m giving the prize to Samsung, right here.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Battery & Charging

iPhone 17 Professional Max

Because of a bigger battery and A19 Professional’s effectivity, the iPhone 17 Professional Max delivers Apple’s finest battery life ever. With the non-obligatory 40W Dynamic Energy Adapter, it might probably cost 50% in simply 20 minutes. That’s fairly spectacular. No matter your day entails, you realize it’s constructed to maintain up.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

The S25 Extremely packs a 5,000 mAh battery that simply lasts a full day of heavy use. Charging is quick at 45W wired and 15W wi-fi, although you’ll nonetheless want Samsung’s charger to hit these high speeds. It’s not the largest improve yr over yr, but it surely stays some of the dependable setups within the Android house.

Verdict:

Too quickly to name. Apple’s press releases have solely referred to as the battery “larger” however we now have no specifics. We all know that each telephones are constructed to final all day. The Galaxy S25 Extremely’s 5,000 mAh setup and sooner 45W wired charging make it tremendous dependable.

iPhone 17 Professional Max vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely: Value & Worth

iPhone 17 Professional Max

The iPhone 17 Professional Max begins at $1,199 for 256GB, scaling as much as 2TB for the primary time. Apple Commerce-In and provider offers can offset the price, however that is nonetheless a premium telephone for these able to put money into Apple’s ecosystem.

Galaxy S25 Extremely

The Galaxy S25 Extremely begins at $1,299, making it one of many priciest telephones in the marketplace. However for that premium, you’re getting top-end {hardware}, a stylus, and a tool designed to final for years.

Verdict:

In the event you’re keen to spend a small fortune in your telephone, the $100 worth distinction may not imply a lot to you. The iPhone is sort of a membership to an unique membership—the digicam array is for professional use, the construct is beautiful, and the AI options carry it as much as par with the Galaxy options of the previous 2 years. In the meantime, the Galaxy S25 Extremely barely modified in its final iteration. This time, I feel the iPhone 17 Professional Max wins, it’s $100 cheaper and is nice for content material creation!

So, which one would I purchase?

In the event you’re already a part of the Apple system, this one’s a no brainer. There are extra updates to this iPhone than I’ve seen in years, and I really like the brand new aluminum design. In the meantime, the digicam and video have improved, the chip is blazing quick, and the AI options have caught up. Apple customers ought to improve to this telephone.

In the event you’re a diehard Samsung person, nevertheless, take into account fastidiously earlier than leaping over to Apple. Clearly, it’s a completely new ecosystem, and the updates, whereas enjoyable, gained’t be game-changing to your on a regular basis use. However when you’re pondering of entering into content material creation, the brand new Professional Max digicam array may be very attractive.