iPhone 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Battle of the bottom fashions

Apple has a brand new crop of smartphones, and the iPhone 17 appears like the primary base mannequin in years to be in point of fact aggressive with the most efficient Android telephones. In the previous, it was once simple to criticize Apple for apparently keeping again elementary options, like always-on shows and prime refresh charges, from the most affordable new iPhone. The iPhone 17 flips the script, including either one of the ones long-awaited options and a complete lot extra to make the bottom mannequin crowd pleasing.

For the ones searching for a small and inexpensive flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S25 has seemed nice on paper for the previous few years. It’s probably the most compact out of the highest choices from Apple, Samsung, and Google, and it added a 3rd rear digital camera prior to it was once cool. Now, it is time to see whether or not the iPhone 17 can beat the Galaxy S25 at its personal sport in base-model price.

iPhone 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Design and show

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The iPhone 17 and the Galaxy S25 are both small flagships, but Apple’s smartphone is heavier and less compact than Samsung’s. It comes down to the displays — Samsung is still using a 6.2-inch AMOLED panel on the Galaxy S25, whereas Apple moved to a larger 6.3-inch screen. Both are now capable of hitting 120Hz refresh rates, and have AOD options.

Apple is using Ceramic Shield 2 glass on the iPhone 17, and Samsung opted for Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the Galaxy S25. Both are made by Corning, but the key difference is that the iPhone 17’s cover glass is optimized for scratch protection and has anti-reflective properties. To get an anti-reflective screen on a Samsung Galaxy phone, you have to go with the expensive Galaxy S25 Ultra model.

It’s hard to understate the difference in size between the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S25. By just comparing the screen sizes, the gap looks minuscule, but there’s more to the story. The iPhone measures 149.6 x 71.5 x 8mm and weighs 177 grams, which is larger by every measure compared to the Galaxy S25’s dimensions of 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm. The Samsung base model’s weight is particularly impressive at just 162 grams — even lighter than the iPhone Air.

Surprisingly, the Galaxy S25 packs flagship specs and a larger battery capacity than the iPhone 17 in that small form factor. The only key compromise here is the display, which is smaller by one tenth of an inch. Only you can decide whether the bigger, thicker, and heavier design of the iPhone 17 is a dealbreaker, but I prefer the compact and lightweight build of the Galaxy S25.

As for durability, both phones sport an IP68 certification against dust and water ingress. They’re also made out of aluminum and have frosted glass backs.

iPhone 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25: Hardware and specs

Apple and Samsung both equipped their cheapest flagship phones with current-generation processors, but the Galaxy S25 goes a step further. It’s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy mobile platform, the same one that powers Samsung’s most expensive handsets. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 runs on an Apple A19 chip that’s a lower-tier offering compared to the A19 Pro in the Air and Pro models. This could help the Galaxy S25 excel in AI tasks and gaming, but that remains to be seen.