Apple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26
Our take
Two 6.3-inch phones that sit well in one hand, and both start at 256 GB. The Galaxy is lighter and has a real 3x zoom lens. The iPhone charges much faster. On battery life, neither one stands out.
Choose the Apple iPhone 17
It charges much faster, reaching 50% in about 20 minutes, and its screen gets a little brighter. Zoom is the weak spot. There's no zoom lens, so even 2x is a crop of the main photo.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S26
For photos at school plays or concerts, where you can't walk closer. Its 3x zoom lens is something the iPhone 17 doesn't have, and at 167 g it's lighter. Charging is slow, though, at 25 W wired.
| Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy S26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best price | No shop here yet | No shop here yet |
| Screen | 6.3" · LTPO OLED · 120 Hz | 6.3" · LTPO AMOLED · 120 Hz |
| Chip | Apple A19 | Exynos 2600 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in US/Canada/China) |
| Memory | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB | 256 GB / 512 GB |
| Battery | 3692 mAh | 4300 mAh |
| Charging | 40 W | 25 W |
| Cameras | 48 MP main · 48 MP ultrawide · 18 MP Center Stage selfie | 50 MP main · 12 MP ultrawide · 10 MP 3x tele |
| Weight | 177 g | 167 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Updates | 5 years | 7 years |