Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Which one is worth it?
Side-by-side US MSRP bands, editorial scores, and strengths—then tune budget and priority to see which model fits your purchase.
S
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked)
Samsung · 2025
$1,299–$1,429
Overall 89/100
Official anchorFull Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) guide →A
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple · 2025
$1,199–$1,724
Overall 88/100
Official anchorFull iPhone 17 Pro Max guide →Quick verdicts (our rubric)
- Best for camera
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked)
- Best for battery
Tie
- Best for performance
Tie
- Best value score
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Best overall rubric / for most people
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked)
Which fits you?
Set budget and top priority—we score each phone with the same personalization rules as product pages.
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked)
69
Depends on your priorities
$1,299–$1,429
iPhone 17 Pro Max
69
Depends on your priorities
$1,199–$1,724
→ Dead heat for these settings—either could work.
Full comparison
| Spec | Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Price band (US MSRP) | $1,299–$1,429 | $1,199–$1,724 |
| Release year | 2025 | 2025 |
| Camera | 10/10 | 9/10 |
| Battery | 9/10 | 9/10 |
| Performance | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Display | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Value | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Overall score | 89/100 | 88/100 |
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) — pros
- • Flagship-class performance
- • Excellent camera system for stills and video
- • Premium display and build quality
iPhone 17 Pro Max — pros
- • Flagship-class performance
- • Excellent camera system for stills and video
- • Premium display and build quality
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) — cons
- • Price is high, so value depends heavily on budget and priorities
iPhone 17 Pro Max — cons
- • Price is high, so value depends heavily on budget and priorities
Galaxy S25 Ultra (Unlocked) — best for
- • Photography
- • Gaming
- • Power users
iPhone 17 Pro Max — best for
- • Photography
- • Gaming
- • Power users
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