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Head to head · 2 phones

iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S26

Verified specs side by side. The green tick marks the better value on each measurable row.

Comparing 2 phones
iPhone 17
iPhone 178.7Very good· Top score
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Galaxy S26
Galaxy S267.8Good
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VerdictApple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26

The iPhone 17 is the better small flagship.

  • It charges much faster, has the stronger selfie and ultrawide cameras, and its 6.3-inch screen is sharper and rated brighter outdoors than the Galaxy S26's FHD+ panel of the same size.
  • Battery is where the gap shows: the S26's 4,300 mAh cell managed 11 h 28 min in one lab's web test, shorter than the S25, while the iPhone 17 ran about 24.5 hours in two separate video tests.
  • The tests differ, but the gap is wide.
  • The Galaxy S26 holds one card the iPhone can't match: a real 10MP 3x telephoto.
  • The iPhone 17's 2x mode is a crop from its 48MP main sensor, so for portraits and shots across a room, Samsung's lens wins.
  • The S26 is also the lighter phone, and Samsung's seven-year OS upgrade promise beats Apple's unwritten track record.
  • Performance is a draw; both chips are fast enough that daily use feels identical.
  • Then the S26 is the right call.

Buy the iPhone 17 unless you're committed to Android and want optical zoom in the smallest Galaxy.

Read our full verdict
The short verdict

iPhone 17 edges it on score

The iPhone 17 leads overall; pick the Galaxy S26 if its strengths below matter more to you.

iPhone 17
8.7
Galaxy S26
7.8
Choose the iPhone 17 if
  • Most iPhone buyers who want a 120Hz screen, long battery life and 256GB without paying Pro prices
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Choose the Galaxy S26 if
  • Galaxy fans who want a small, light flagship with a 3x telephoto
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At a glance

Key differences

Measured differences only. Ties and tiny gaps are left out.
Why pick theiPhone 171 win
+1131%Bigger battery3,692 vs 300 mAh
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Why pick theGalaxy S261 win
+50%More RAM for multitasking12 vs 8 GB
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Display2 differences
Screen size
6.27"
6.3"
Resolution
1206 x 2622
1080x2340
Performance1 difference
Chipset
Apple A19
Samsung Exynos
Memory2 differences
RAM
8 GB
12 GB
Internal storage
256 GB
256GB
Main camera1 difference
Primary camera
48 MP
50 MP
Battery & Charging2 differences
Capacity
3,692 mAh
4,300 mAh
Wired charging
Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes
25W
Body1 difference
Weight
177 g
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Where to buy
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