iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Which Flagship Wins in 2026?
Both of these phones placed at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards: the S25 Ultra was runner-up for Phone of the Year; the iPhone 17 Pro was runner-up for Best Camera. They're the two top-tier flagships in 2026 — but they win on different things. Here's the round-by-round breakdown.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
iPhone 17 Pro
Apple · 2025 · From $999
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Round wins
iPhone 17 Pro: 2 · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 4 ·Ties: 2
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | iPhone 17 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz ProMotion | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
| Camera | 48MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 12MP 5x telephoto | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 3,700 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| OS | iOS 19 | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
| Starting price | $999 | $1299 |
| Released | 2025 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraThe S25 Ultra's 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED with anti-reflective coating hits ~2,600 nits typical and is the most legible outdoor display in 2026. The iPhone 17 Pro's 6.3-inch ProMotion OLED is excellent but smaller and slightly dimmer in everyday outdoor use.
Camera (stills)
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra's 200MP main + 5x periscope wins on zoom and large-crop flexibility. iPhone 17 Pro is marginally better in low light and on consistency between lenses, but Samsung's reach simply isn't matched on iPhone in 2026.
Camera (video)
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro wins decisively for video: ProRes Log capture, Cinematic mode at 4K30, external storage support, and the deepest professional-app ecosystem (Final Cut Pro, DaVinci, Filmic). S25 Ultra shoots 8K but the practical workflow ceiling is much lower.
Performance
TieA19 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite are within margin of error in real-world workloads. The A19 Pro is more efficient under sustained load; the 8 Elite has more raw graphics throughput. Pick based on ecosystem, not chip.
Battery & charging
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery and 45W wired + 15W Qi2 wireless. iPhone 17 Pro is closer to 4,500 mAh with 27W wired and 25W MagSafe. The S25 Ultra wins both endurance and charging speed.
Software & updates
TieBoth ship 7 years of major OS updates — the longest in the segment. iOS 19 + Apple Intelligence is more polished; One UI 7 + Galaxy AI is broader and more configurable. This is an ecosystem pick, not a winner-on-merit pick.
S Pen / extras
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraThe S Pen is a genuine differentiator — note-taking, signature capture, and stylus-driven photo editing have no equivalent on iPhone. If you've used an S Pen and liked it, this is decisive.
Value
Winner: iPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099. S25 Ultra starts at $1,299. Both are expensive, but the iPhone 17 Pro is $200 cheaper at base, and Apple's storage-tier markups are slightly less aggressive at the 256GB / 512GB tiers most buyers actually pick.
Final verdict
These are the two strongest flagships of 2026 and the right pick depends entirely on what you do with a phone. Choose the iPhone 17 Pro if you shoot video, edit in Final Cut or DaVinci, or live in the iOS/Mac ecosystem. Choose the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if you want the longest zoom, the S Pen, the brightest display, or simply the highest-spec Android phone. Neither won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 awards — that went to the Oppo Find X9 Pro. For most general buyers, MKBHD's actual Phone of the Year (the standard iPhone 17, $300 cheaper than the 17 Pro) is a smarter choice than either of these.
Frequently Asked Questions
iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: which has the better camera?
The S25 Ultra wins for stills and zoom; the iPhone 17 Pro wins for video. Neither won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards — the Oppo Find X9 Pro did.
Should I buy the iPhone 17 Pro or wait for the iPhone 18?
If you need a phone today, the 17 Pro is mid-cycle and will receive iOS support for 5–7 years. iPhone 18 will launch fall 2026 but the gen-over-gen upgrade is usually modest.
Is the S Pen actually useful?
Yes for note-takers, signature capture, photo editors, and anyone who handwrites in apps like Samsung Notes or OneNote. If you don't use a stylus on your iPad or laptop today, you probably won't on the S25 Ultra either.