Choosing a new smartphone can be tough. We’re pitting the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Pixel 10 Pro XL head-to-head to help you decide which flagship is right for you, focusing on the features that matter most.
Design and Build Quality
These phones are all premium, but their feel in hand differs greatly.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Aluminum frame, noticeably heavier.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Aluminum frame, compact 6.8-inch display.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Titanium frame, lightest, includes S-Pen stylus.
Display Showdown
All boast 120Hz adaptive refresh rates for smooth visuals.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Best outdoor visibility thanks to superior anti-reflective tech.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Excellent anti-reflective, great in sunlight.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Vibrant display, but less impressive outdoors.
Camera Capabilities Compared
Each excels in different photographic areas.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: 200MP main camera, quad-lens system, dual telephoto, 8K video. Zoom king.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Standout selfies, impressive ultrawide, excellent highlight retention.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: AI-enhanced zoom (30x+), video boost for 8K upscaling.
Battery Life Benchmarks
If longevity is key, here’s how they stack up:
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Longest lasting.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Solid, but trails the iPhone.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Shortest battery life.
Processing Power Deep Dive
Raw horsepower matters for demanding apps and games.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: A19 Pro chip, exceptional CPU performance.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Galaxy Edition, top GPU performance.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Tensor G5, lags in raw performance compared to the others.
Software Ecosystems
The user experience is drastically different across platforms.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: iOS 26 Liquid Glass, dynamic island.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: OneUI 8, highly customizable, wireless reverse charging.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Clean Android 16 Pixel Edition, emphasis on AI.
Durability and Accessories
All are IP68 rated, but toughness varies.
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: Rated Class A for durability, most robust.
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Rated Class B, solid protection.
- Pixel 10 Pro XL: Matches iPhone in durability.