Apple iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Which Should You Buy?
Two 6.3-inch flagships, two very different philosophies. Here is how Apple and Samsung compare on camera, battery, performance and price.
The Apple iPhone 17 and Samsung Galaxy S26 are the two phones most Baltic buyers will weigh against each other this year. These are not the priciest «Ultra» or «Pro Max» models, but the standard flagships, where price and features hit the best balance. Here is how they actually differ.
Design and build
The two phones are almost identical in size: a 6.3-inch screen, an aluminium frame, IP68 water resistance. The Galaxy S26 is the lighter and slimmer of the pair at 167 g and 7.2 mm, against the iPhone at 177 g and 8 mm. Samsung wraps the back in Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while Apple uses its new Ceramic Shield 2, rated at three times more scratch-resistant than before. In the hand it comes down to feel and colour — Samsung offers six finishes, Apple five.
Display
On paper the screens are near-twins: 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panels with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. The iPhone 17 goes brighter — up to 3000 nits peak versus 2600 nits on the Galaxy — so it has a slight edge in direct sunlight. Both are sharp, colour-accurate and smooth. Notably, Apple finally brought 120 Hz ProMotion to its standard model — for years it was reserved for the «Pro».
Camera
This is where they diverge most. The Galaxy S26 carries three rear cameras: a 50 MP main, a 12 MP ultrawide and — crucially — a dedicated 10 MP 3× telephoto. The iPhone 17 sticks to two 48 MP cameras (main and ultrawide) and crops digitally for zoom. If you photograph people, pets or anything at a distance, the Galaxy optical telephoto is a real advantage. Apple counters with strong main-camera detail, class-leading video and an 18 MP front camera with Center Stage that the Galaxy 12 MP selfie cam cannot match for framing.
Performance and battery
The European Galaxy S26 runs Samsung own Exynos 2600 chip (the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is reserved for some markets), backed by 12 GB of RAM. The iPhone 17 uses the Apple A19, which remains the benchmark for raw speed and sustained gaming. On battery Samsung packs the larger cell — 4300 mAh against 3692 mAh — but Apple efficiency keeps real-world endurance close, with the iPhone rated for up to 30 hours of video. Charging is near-even: the iPhone hits 50 % in about 20 minutes, the Galaxy 55 % in 30 minutes; the iPhone also offers faster 25 W MagSafe wireless.
Price and value
At launch the Galaxy S26 was the cheaper phone — around 654 € for the 256 GB model against 749 € for the equivalent iPhone 17 — and Samsung also sells a 128 GB entry version that Apple does not offer. Prices shift constantly, so check the live offers on both before deciding.
Verdict
Pick the Galaxy S26 if you want the more versatile camera (that optical zoom matters), a lighter body, a bigger battery and a lower price. Pick the iPhone 17 if raw performance, video, the brighter screen and the iOS ecosystem are your priorities. For most people the deciding factor will be the one thing a spec sheet cannot show: whether your world already runs on Android or on Apple. If you are undecided and want maximum camera reach, lean Samsung; if you keep phones for years and value resale, lean Apple.
Compare both below, or browse all smartphones with current prices.
