Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S25+ comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Samsung Galaxy S25+ comes out ahead 58/100 to 69/100 — a 11-point gap. The widest gap is in battery life, where the Samsung Galaxy S25+ pulls noticeably ahead.

Apple
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Samsung Galaxy S25+ edges out the Apple iPhone 17 Air in the smartphones category, especially in battery life (5,000mAh vs 3,400mAh), scoring 69 vs 58. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the recommended choice.
Picking Samsung Galaxy S25+ over Apple iPhone 17 Air means trading these off.
$899
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Air | Samsung Galaxy S25+W |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6" | 6.7"✓ |
| Display Type | OLED | — |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | — |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB✓ |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 50MP✓ |
| Front Camera | 24MP | — |
| Battery | 3400mAh | 5000mAh✓ |
| Charging | 25W | 45W✓ |
| OS | iOS 19 | — |
| NFC | Yes | — |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | — |
| Weight | 145g✓ | 190g |
| Price | 899$ | — |
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Air if…
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S25+ if…
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25+ if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S25+ edges out the Apple iPhone 17 Air in the smartphones category, especially in battery life (5,000mAh vs 3,400mAh), scoring 69 vs 58. If you want the better overall smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the recommended choice.
No, Samsung Galaxy S25+ scores higher (56 vs 83).
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Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25+ if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Samsung Galaxy S25+ has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs 3,400mAh for the Apple iPhone 17 Air), which generally means longer use between charges.
Samsung Galaxy S25+ has the larger display (6.7" vs 6.6").
Samsung Galaxy S25+ has a higher-resolution main camera (50MP vs 48MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Apple iPhone 17 Air is lighter at 145g vs 190g.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 21, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.