The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max are the latest flagship smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, respectively. Each packs cutting-edge hardware: Apple’s iPhone features the new A19 Pro chip and an advanced thermal design, Samsung’s S25 Ultra boasts a titanium frame with an S Pen stylus and a 200MP main camera, while Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max impresses with a secondary back display, a massive 7,500mAh battery, and triple 50MP cameras. In this detailed comparison, we cover all aspects – design, display, cameras, performance, battery, and more – along with each phone’s pros and cons. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or an everyday user, this guide will help you see how these three powerhouses stack up in 2025.
Design and Build
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a completely redesigned aluminum unibody with a “forged plateau” that creates extra space for a larger battery. It also integrates a laser-welded vapor chamber to improve heat dissipation and sustained performance. The phone measures 163.4 × 78 × 8.8 mm and weighs 233 g (the 6.9″ model). By comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra features a sturdy titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, and is slightly more compact (162.8 × 77.6 × 8.2 mm) and lighter (218 g) than the iPhone. Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max similarly uses high-quality metal and glass, but adds a unique 2.9″ secondary OLED display on the back for widgets, notifications, and selfies. All three flagships carry an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, making them equally tough against spills and dust.
Display
All three phones offer large, high-refresh OLED panels. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is available with a 6.3″ or 6.9″ Super Retina XDR display, featuring ProMotion (adaptive 120Hz), Always-On mode, and a record 3000 nit peak brightness. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.9″ OLED at 1440×3120 resolution with 120Hz refresh; it’s slightly lower in brightness (~2600 nits peak) but very high in pixel density. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max sports a 6.9″ OLED as well, using Xiaomi’s new “M10” panel technology (sharp, very bright, and power-efficient) at 120Hz. All three use top-tier protective glass (Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 on the iPhone; Gorilla Armor 2 on Samsung) and anti-reflective coatings for better visibility outdoors.
Cameras
Each phone offers a flagship camera setup. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has three 48 MP rear cameras – wide, ultra-wide, and a 4× optical telephoto – and an 18 MP front-facing “Center Stage” camera. Its telephoto lens reaches an 8× optical-equivalent zoom (via digital enhancement), and Apple’s image processing yields very natural colors. Samsung’s S25 Ultra goes further with four rear lenses: a 200 MP main sensor (f/1.7), 50 MP ultra-wide, 50 MP 5× periscope telephoto, and a 10 MP 3× telephoto. This lets the S25 Ultra capture true 2×, 5×, and 10× optical zoom images with incredible detail. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max uses three 50 MP rear cameras (wide, ultra-wide, and a 5× telephoto) and even a 50 MP front camera, all co-engineered with Leica, for very high-resolution photos.
Performance and Software
All three phones run the latest flagship silicon. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max uses the A19 Pro chip (with 12 GB RAM and a vapor chamber for cooling), providing around 40% better sustained performance than last year’s iPhone. Samsung’s S25 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) with 12 GB RAM, built on a 3 nm process and including advanced GPU features like hardware ray tracing for gaming. Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max similarly uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 – with up to 16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB storage – along with the latest wireless tech (Wi-Fi 7) and Xiaomi’s AI features (XiaoAI).
Battery and Charging
Battery life is a strong suit for all three, but Xiaomi stands out with a huge cell. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088 mAh battery in its eSIM-only model. Samsung’s S25 Ultra uses a 5,000 mAh battery, while Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max blows both away with a 7,500 mAh pack. In lab tests, the iPhone ran about 17 hours 54 minutes in video playback, compared to 14h27m for the S25 Ultra – demonstrating that Apple’s efficient chip and big battery give it the edge.
Charging speeds:
- iPhone 17 Pro Max – 40 W wired, 25 W wireless (MagSafe)
- Samsung S25 Ultra – 45 W wired, 15 W wireless
- Xiaomi 17 Pro Max – 100 W wired, 50 W wireless
Other Features and Connectivity
In addition to their core specs, each phone offers unique extras. Samsung’s S25 Ultra includes a built-in S Pen stylus and advanced Galaxy AI tools. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max emphasizes seamless ecosystem integration – Face ID, MagSafe accessories, and industry-leading video capture. Xiaomi’s 17 Pro Max introduced Wi-Fi 7 and a customizable always-on rear display for widgets and selfies. All three support dual-band 5G, NFC, stereo speakers, and ultra-wideband (UWB) for spatial connectivity.
Pros and Cons
- Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max – Pros: Extremely fast A19 Pro chip; superb 120Hz display with record brightness; strong battery life; excellent camera system; reliable iOS ecosystem.
Cons: eSIM-only for larger battery; no dedicated 10× zoom; very high price. - Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Pros: Versatile quad-camera setup with 200 MP main sensor; vivid 6.9″ QHD+ display; titanium build; S Pen stylus; Galaxy AI features.
Cons: Shorter battery life than rivals; heavier design; slower updates compared to iOS. - Xiaomi 17 Pro Max – Pros: Massive 7,500 mAh battery with 100 W charging; dual-screen design; Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance; triple 50 MP rear + 50 MP front cameras.
Cons: Initially China-only launch; MIUI preloads; very large/heavy build.
Conclusion
All three phones are exceptional flagships. The iPhone 17 Pro Max excels at raw performance, display quality, and an optimized ecosystem. The Samsung S25 Ultra shines with its camera flexibility, built-in stylus, and feature-rich software. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max leads in battery life and adds bold innovations like a dual screen. Your best choice will depend on which features you value most.