Published 2026-05-16 by James Maxwell

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra are the two most capable smartphones you can buy in the UK right now. Based on GSMArena’s full spec comparison, they share a 6.9-inch display size but diverge sharply on camera philosophy, build materials, and price trajectory. This is where the 2026 flagship choice actually gets interesting.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s most significant hardware refresh in several years, built around the A19 Pro chipset and a redesigned back that replaces the full glass rear with an aluminium body and a smaller matte-glass pane in the lower two-thirds. Per Apple’s UK launch materials, the Ceramic Shield front is rated 4x more crack-resistant than the previous generation’s glass.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, by contrast, launched in early 2025 and represents a more evolutionary update for Samsung. Its headline additions were the deeper Snapdragon 8 Elite integration and a refined S Pen experience. The S25 Ultra remains the only phone in this comparison with a built-in stylus.

Both phones offer 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage tiers. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is available in Cosmic Orange (256GB) and Deep Blue (1TB), per Shopping.co.uk catalogue data at the time of writing.

The price picture here is one of the most important buying signals in this comparison. Based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has fallen from its ~£1,249 launch RRP to £759 for the 256GB Titanium Grey model, a drop of roughly £490. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, by contrast, holds firm at contract pricing with very little SIM-free discounting visible across the 9 UK retailers currently stocking it.

That £759 Samsung price is striking context. You can pick up last year’s flagship Ultra for hundreds less than a new iPhone 17 Pro Max SIM-free. Samsung’s steeper early depreciation is a known pattern, and buyers who can live without the latest Apple silicon will find the S25 Ultra represents far better pound-for-pound value right now.

If you’re on a tighter budget but want to stay in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone Air is worth considering. Available from £9/month on contract across 11 UK retailers, the 6.5-inch iPhone Air (256GB, Wi-Fi 7, 5G) is the thin-and-light Apple option for buyers who don’t need the Pro Max camera system.

Compare iPhone 17 Pro Max prices across UK retailers on Shopping.co.uk: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 256GB Cosmic Orange.

For more, read our Samsung Galaxy A57 deals guide.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs Apple’s A19 Pro chipset, confirmed by Apple on launch day. Apple’s silicon strategy has consistently prioritised single-core speed, sustained thermal performance, and tight hardware-software integration over raw multi-core numbers, and the A19 Pro continues that approach.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which Qualcomm and Samsung confirmed at the S25 launch event. Per Trusted Reviews’ S25 Ultra coverage, the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivered strong benchmark results and improved efficiency over the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

For most people, both phones are fast enough that day-to-day use feels identical. Where they differ is in specific workloads. Apple’s chip architecture gives the iPhone an edge in video processing and on-device AI tasks tied to Apple Intelligence. The S25 Ultra’s Snapdragon brings its own AI features through Google’s Gemini integration, plus the S Pen’s real-time translation and note-taking capabilities, which have no equivalent on iPhone.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max represents a real design shift. Per TechRadar’s coverage of the iPhone 17 launch, Apple’s Ceramic Shield front is rated 4x more crack-resistant than prior glass, and the move to an aluminium-heavy back (with a smaller matte-glass pane) makes this a departure from the all-glass rear iPhones of recent years.

Samsung’s S25 Ultra uses a titanium-coated frame. It’s a premium build, but the back remains glass. Both phones carry IP68 ratings for water and dust resistance, so neither has an advantage there.

The S25 Ultra is the heavier, more angular phone. It’s designed around the S Pen slot, which adds bulk but also genuine utility for note-takers and creatives. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the more refined everyday carry if you never intend to use a stylus.

Both phones use a 6.9-inch OLED panel, per GSMArena’s spec comparison. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra runs at Quad HD+ resolution (3120x1440) with a 120Hz refresh rate and peaks at 2,600 nits brightness. Apple has not published equivalent nit figures for the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s display in its UK press materials at the time of writing.

In practical terms, the S25 Ultra’s Quad HD+ resolution is visibly sharper than any iPhone panel, which Apple caps at 1290x2796 on the Pro Max lineup. If you watch a lot of video or use your phone as a creative reference screen, that extra resolution on the Samsung is a real advantage.

Battery figures for the iPhone 17 Pro Max have not been confirmed by Apple in published UK specs. Samsung’s S25 Ultra carries a 5,000mAh cell, per Samsung’s UK product page. Apple has historically under-published battery capacity while delivering competitive real-world endurance on Pro Max models.

Apple typically supports its Pro Max iPhones for six or more years of iOS updates. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, launching in 2025, should receive software support through to at least 2031, based on Apple’s published update history for previous Pro models.

Samsung has committed to seven years of Android and security updates for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, per Samsung’s official UK announcement. That matches Apple’s support window and is a significant improvement on Samsung’s previous track record.

This matters for value. Both phones now offer comparable software longevity, which removes one of Apple’s traditional arguments. The iPhone still holds an edge on resale value: Apple devices depreciate more slowly in the UK secondary market, so a £1,100 iPhone 17 Pro Max will typically return more at trade-in than a same-age S25 Ultra. That’s worth factoring in if you upgrade every two or three years.

The Apple iPhone 15 (256GB, Black) is currently listed at £1,331.73 on OnBuy.com, per Shopping.co.uk catalogue data at time of writing. That pricing is unusual — it’s higher than you’d expect for a two-generation-old iPhone, and it’s available from only one retailer. At that price, the iPhone 15 makes no sense as a budget alternative.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra at £759 is the more interesting “save money” option in this comparison. Per Shopping.co.uk price tracking data, that’s nearly £500 below its launch RRP, and it’s a phone that was reviewed as the best Android flagship of early 2025 across multiple outlets including PhoneArena. If you don’t need Apple’s ecosystem or the A19 Pro chip, the S25 Ultra at current pricing is a strong buy.

For buyers committed to Apple, the iPhone Air is the sensible step-down. At £9/month on contract across 11 UK retailers, you get 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and a 6.5-inch display without the Pro Max price tag. You lose the advanced camera system and the A19 Pro chip, but for most everyday users, the Air covers the essentials.

For more, read our Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Pixel 10a vs Nothing Phone 4a Pro.

At its current contract pricing across 9 UK retailers, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better long-term buy for Apple users who care about resale value and video performance, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra at £759 SIM-free (based on Shopping.co.uk price tracking data at time of writing) is the sharper deal by a wide margin in pure pound terms.

Best place to buy: Amazon is listed among the 9 UK retailers stocking the iPhone 17 Pro Max Cosmic Orange, and based on our price tracking the range runs from £29 to £1,380.34, compare all current options here: Shopping.co.uk iPhone 17 Pro Max listings.

vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: The S25 Ultra has dropped roughly £490 from its launch RRP to £759, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max holds firm. If camera versatility (200MP sensor, 100x Space Zoom, S Pen) matters more than ecosystem loyalty, Samsung wins on current value. If you’re buying for resale, video, or Apple Intelligence, the iPhone justifies its price premium.

Our take: Camera-first buyers and Android users should take the S25 Ultra at £759 without hesitation; Apple loyalists who upgrade every two to three years and factor in trade-in value should go iPhone 17 Pro Max, the resale return over time closes the gap more than most people expect.

Which is better for photography, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra?
Per Amateur Photographer’s coverage, the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 48MP sensor (with 24MP default output) prioritises consistency and natural colour science. Samsung’s 200MP main sensor and 100x Space Zoom give the S25 Ultra a clear edge in zoom range and shooting flexibility. If you regularly shoot wildlife, sport, or distant subjects, the S25 Ultra has more tools. For everyday shots and video, the iPhone is the more reliable performer.

Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s S Pen still available?
Yes. The S Pen is integrated into the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s body, per Samsung’s UK product page. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has no stylus option.

Where can I buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the UK?
Based on Shopping.co.uk catalogue data at the time of writing, the iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB, Cosmic Orange) is available from 9 UK retailers including Amazon, Currys, iD Mobile, OnBuy.com, and eBay Partner Network. Prices range from £29 to £1,380.34 depending on contract terms and SIM-free options. See all current prices here.

How long will each phone receive software updates?
Apple’s support history suggests the iPhone 17 Pro Max will receive iOS updates through to at least 2031. Samsung has committed to seven years of Android and security updates for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, per Samsung’s official announcement, putting both phones on comparable footing.