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iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S26

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Starting at

£682.49

£799 new

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Starting at

£666.39

£879 new

See options
iPhone 17Starting at £682.49See options
Galaxy S26Starting at £666.39See options
1.0/5 (1 review)
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In a nutshell

They share the same 6.3-inch screen size, the same 120Hz refresh rate and the same IP68 rating. The iPhone 17 has the lower launch price and a brighter 3000-nit screen. The Galaxy S26 counters with longer OS support until about 2033 (est.), a 3x optical telephoto and more memory with 12GB of RAM.

At 256GB, the iPhone 17 launched at £799 and the Galaxy S26 at £879.

Available models

iPhone 17

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Pristine, Excellent, Great

Galaxy S26

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Excellent

Durability

iPhone 17 89/100
Galaxy S26 95/100

The Galaxy S26 should be supported for longer, with OS updates until about 2033 (est.) against about 2032 (est.) on the iPhone 17.

Software support:The iPhone 17 should get OS updates until about 2032 (est.) and the Galaxy S26 until about 2033 (est.). That gives the Galaxy S26 the longer support window.

Frame:The iPhone 17 has an aluminium frame and the Galaxy S26 an armour aluminium one.

Front glass:The iPhone 17 has Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and the Galaxy S26 Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Weight:The iPhone 17 weighs 177g and the Galaxy S26 167g, so the Galaxy S26 is the lighter phone.

Released

2025
2026Newer

Updates until (est.)

2032
2033Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Armour Aluminium

Weight

177g
167gLighter

Release date

19 September 2025
11 March 2026

Front glass

Ceramic Shield 2
Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Dimensions

149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm
149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm

Biometrics

Face ID
–

Repairability

EU repairability class C
EU repairability class C

Security updates until

–
2033

Performance

iPhone 17 85/100
Galaxy S26 100/100

The Galaxy S26 has more memory, 12GB against 8GB.

Chip:The iPhone 17 runs the A19 and the Galaxy S26 the Exynos 2600.

Memory:The Galaxy S26 has 12GB of RAM against 8GB on the iPhone 17, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

AI features:The iPhone 17 supports Apple Intelligence and the Galaxy S26 supports Galaxy AI.

Storage:Both launched in the same 256GB and 512GB sizes.

Chip

A19
Exynos 2600

RAM

8GB
12GBMore memory

Storage options

256GB, 512GB
256GB, 512GB

AI features

Yes
Yes

Screen quality

iPhone 17 97/100
Galaxy S26 92/100

The same 6.3-inch size and the same 120Hz refresh rate on both.

Panel:The iPhone 17 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel at 2622 x 1206 and the Galaxy S26 a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel at 2340 x 1080.

Brightness:The iPhone 17 peaks at 3000 nits against 2600 on the Galaxy S26, by the makers' figures, so it is easier to read in bright sun.

Screen size

6.3"
6.3"

Screen type

Super Retina XDR OLED
Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Refresh rate

120Hz
120Hz

Resolution

2622 x 1206
2340 x 1080

Peak brightness

3000 nits (maker figure)
2600 nits (maker figure)

Camera

iPhone 17 60/100
Galaxy S26 70/100

Only the Galaxy S26 has a telephoto lens, so it is the one for zooming in.

Main camera:The Galaxy S26 has a 50MP main camera against 48MP on the iPhone 17, which leaves more detail to crop into.

Ultrawide:The iPhone 17 has a 48MP ultrawide and the Galaxy S26 a 12MP one.

Zoom:Only the Galaxy S26 has a telephoto lens, with 3x optical zoom. The iPhone 17 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor instead.

Selfies:The iPhone 17 has an 18MP selfie camera against 12MP on the Galaxy S26.

Main camera

48MP
50MPMore megapixels

Ultrawide

48MPMore megapixels
12MP

Telephoto

None
10MP

Optical zoom

None
3xMore zoom

Front camera

18MPSharper selfies
12MP

Video recording

4K 60fps Dolby Vision
8K 30fps

2x zoom

Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens
–

Battery

iPhone 17 89/100
Galaxy S26 72/100

Battery

3692mAh
4300mAhBigger battery

Wireless charging

MagSafe 25W, Qi2 25W
Qi

Video playback (maker)

Up to 30 hours
Up to 30 hours

Connectivity

iPhone 17 78/100
Galaxy S26 88/100

Both have 5G and the same Wi-Fi 7.

Port:The iPhone 17 has USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s) and the Galaxy S26 USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1). The Galaxy S26's port moves files faster over a cable.

SIM:The iPhone 17 takes Nano-SIM + eSIM and the Galaxy S26 Dual Nano-SIM or Nano-SIM + eSIM.

Bluetooth:The iPhone 17 has Bluetooth 6 and the Galaxy S26 Bluetooth 5.4.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

USB-C (USB 2, 480Mb/s)
USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Dual Nano-SIM or Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 6
Bluetooth 5.4

Our verdict

Buy the iPhone 17 if you want the lower launch price and a brighter 3000-nit screen. Buy the Galaxy S26 if you want longer OS support until about 2033 (est.) and a 3x optical telephoto.

Buy the iPhone 17 if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want a brighter 3000-nit screen
Shop from £682.49

Buy the Galaxy S26 if

  • You want longer OS support until about 2033 (est.)
  • You want a 3x optical telephoto
  • You want more memory with 12GB of RAM
Shop from £666.39

FAQs

The iPhone 17 should get OS updates until about 2032 (est.) and the Galaxy S26 until about 2033 (est.). That gives the Galaxy S26 the longer support window.

Only the Galaxy S26 has a telephoto lens, with 3x optical zoom. The iPhone 17 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor instead.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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