Home Phone comparison Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Which is better?

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

48 out 100
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
VS
n/a out 100
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Compared 2 smartphones : Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Manufactured in March, 2018, with display 6.2 with chipsetSamsung Exynos 9 Octa 9810, vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, Manufactured in September, 2025with chipsetApple A19 Pro. Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

  1. Differences
  2. Review
  3. Specs
  4. Benchmarks
  5. Battery Life
  6. Cameras
  7. Comments (0)

Key Differences

Device key advantages
Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
  • Higher pixel density: 531ppi
  • Lighter design: 189g vs 221g
  • Fingerprint scanner
Reasons to choose Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • Larger display: 6.9in
  • Higher refresh rate: 120Hz
  • Higher battery capacity: 4729mAh vs 3500mAh
  • Newer Bluetooth version: 5.4 vs 5
  • Supports newer USB: 3.2 vs 3.1
  • Supports DisplayPort
  • Built-in eSIM

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Memory Options - 4/64 GB
- 6/64 GB
- 6/128 GB
- 6/256 GB		 - 12/256 GB
- 12/512 GB
- 12/1024 GB

Review

Key Specs Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Camera
Main & front camera tests
Performance
App & system performance
Games
3D gaming performance
Battery
Battery life, charging speed & type
Connectivity
Connectivity features
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Display:
Camera:
Performance:
Gaming:
Battery:
Connectivity:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison
Smartphones:
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
vs
iPhone 17 Pro Max

Display

Display quality comparison
Type Super AMOLED OLED
Size 6.2 in 6.9 in
Resolution 1440x2960 pixels 1320x2868 pixels
Aspect ratio 18.5:9 19.5:9
Pixel density 531 ppi 458 ppi
Refresh rate 60 Hz 120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate No Yes (1-120 Hz)
Max brightness 631 nits n/a
HDR support Yes HDR10 Yes Dolby Vision
Screen-to-body ratio 83.6 % 92.6 %
Features Always-On Display - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display test
Peak brightness (auto)
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
629 nits
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
PWM (Flicker)215 Hzn/a
Response time7 msn/a
Contrast∞ Infiniten/a
Sources: NotebookCheck [Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus]

Design & Build

Design and ergonomics comparison
Height 158.1 mm (6.22 in) 163 mm (6.42 in)
Width 73.8 mm (2.91 in) 77.4 mm (3.05 in)
Thickness 8.5 mm (0.33 in) 8.2 mm (0.32 in)
Weight 189 g (6.67 oz) 221 g (7.8 oz)
Water resistance IP68 IP68
Back panel Glass Glass
Frame Metal Metal
Colors - Black
- Gold
- Gray
- Red
- Purple		 - White
- Black
- Silver
Fingerprint sensor Yes rear No
Screen-to-body ratio
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
83.6 %
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
92.6 %

Performance

Testing Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max In benchmarks
Processor
Chipset Samsung Exynos 9 Octa 9810 Apple A19 Pro
Max Frequency 2900 MHz 4300 MHz
CPU Cores 8 (4 + 4) n/a
Architecture - 4/1.9 (Cortex-A55)
- 4/2.9 (Exynos M3)		 n/a
Process Samsung n/a
Transistor Size 10 nm n/a
Neural Processor Yes n/a
Graphics Mali-G72 MP18 n/a
GPU Cores 324 n/a
GPU Frequency 572 MHz n/a
FLOPS 370.6 GFLOPS n/a
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
751
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
3780
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
1909
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
10772
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)7513780
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)190910772
AnTuTu 10
AnTuTu 10
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
467429
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
2112459
CPU142642510033
GPU140091791934
Memory99705367847
UX84991442645
NanoReview Score4674292112459
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
2328
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Max Surface Temp.40.7 °Cn/a
Stability95 %n/a
Graphics Test13 fpsn/a
Graphics Score2328n/a
Sources: 3DMark [Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus]
PCMark 3.0
PCMark 3.0
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
6261
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Writing score6167n/a
Web score5425n/a
Video editing5459n/a
Data manipulation5611n/a
NanoReview Score6261n/a

Memory

RAM
RAM Size 6 GB 12 GB
Memory Type LPDDR4X LPDDR5X
Memory Frequency 1794 MHz n/a
Channels 2 4
Storage
Storage Capacity64 GB256 GB
Storage TypeUFS 2.1NVMe
Memory CardMicroSDNo

Software

OS Android 8.0 (Upgradeable to Android 10) iOS 26
OS Size 13.9 GB n/a
UI Skin One UI 2.5 n/a

Battery

Volume 3500 mAh 4729 mAh
Max Charging Power 15 W 30 W
Battery Type Li-Po Li-ion
Removable No No
Wireless Charging Yes Qi/PMA (10 W) Yes (15 W)
Reverse Charging No Yes
Fast Charging Yes (40% in 30 min) Yes
Full Charge Time 1:40 h n/a
Battery Life Test
Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
16:44
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Web Browsing06:05 hn/a
Video Playback10:25 hn/a
Games04:17 hn/a
Standby Mode84 hn/a

Main camera

Matrix 12 MP 48 MP
Photo resolution 4032x3024 pixels 8064x6048 pixels
Zoom Optical, 2x Optical, 5x
Flash Dual LED Dual LED
Stabilization Optical Optical
8K Recording No No
4K Recording Yes (Up to 60 fps) Yes (Up to 120 fps)
1080p Recording Yes (Up to 240 fps) Yes (Up to 120 fps)
Slow Motion 960 fps (720p) 240 fps (1080p)
Wide-angle lens n/a 120 °
Lenses count Standard: 12 MP
Telephoto: 12 MP		 Standard: 48 MP
Telephoto: 48 MP
Ultra-wide: 48 MP
Depth
Features - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode		 - Bokeh effect
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Main lens
Matrix12 MP48 MP
Aperturef/1.5 - 2.4f/1.6
Focal length26 mmn/a
SensorSamsung SAK2L3n/a
Sensor size1/2.551/1.28
Pixel size1.4 μm1.22 μm
AutofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Telephoto
Matrix12 MP48 MP
Aperturef/2.4f/2.8
Focal length52 mm120 mm
Sensor size1/3.6n/a
Pixel size1 μmn/a
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Ultra-wide lens
Matrixn/a48 MP
Aperturen/af/2.2
Focal lengthn/a13 mm
Pixel sizen/a0.7 μm
Stabilizationn/aDigital
Main camera DxOMark results
Photo quality
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
104
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Video quality
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
91
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Overall camera score
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
99
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a
Sources: DxOMark [Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus]

Front camera

Matrix 8 MP 24 MP
Photo resolution 3264x2448 pixels n/a
Aperture f/1.7 f/1.9
Focal length 25 mm n/a
Sensor Samsung S5K3H1 n/a
Sensor size 1/3.6 n/a
Pixel size 1.22 μm 1.12 μm
Autofocus Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) Phase autofocus
Stabilization Digital Optical
Video resolution 1440p at 30 fps 2160p (4K) at 60 fps
TOF 3D sensor No Yes

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot		 - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version 5 5.4
Bluetooth features PBAP/PAB, PAN, OPP, MAP, LE, HSP, HID, HFP, DIP, AVRCP, A2DP LE
USB type USB Type-C USB Type-C
USB version 3.1 3.2
USB features - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG		 - Charging
- USB Storage Mode
- OTG
DisplayPort n/a Yes
GPS - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo		 - GPS
- GLONASS
- Beidou
- Galileo
- QZSS
- NAVIC
NFC* Yes Yes
Infrared Port No No
Connectivity
SIM Count*2n/a
SIM TypeNanoeSIM
SIM ModeDual SIM Standbyn/a
eSIM Support *NoYes
Hybrid SlotYesNo
2G BandsGSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900n/a
3G BandsHSDPA 850, HSDPA 900, HSDPA 1900, HSDPA 2100n/a
LTE Bands*LTE (B700/B800/B850/B900/B1700/B1800/B1900/B2100/B2300/B2500/B2600)n/a
LTE category18n/a
5G SupportNoYes

Sound

Speakers Stereo n/a
3.5 mm Jack Yes No
FM Radio No No
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Speaker Test
Max Volume
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
85.6 dB
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
n/a

Other

Class Flagship Flagship
Announced February, 2018 yr September, 2025 yr
Release Date March, 2018 yr September, 2025 yr
Launch Price ($) 840 n/a
MSRP ($) n/a 1199
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint sensor		 - Barometer
- Proximity Sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Compass
- Face Sensor
Charger Included n/a No
* Attention! Config, frequencies, NFC, and other specs may vary by region.

Results

After analyzing the data, we consider Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus the clear winner in this comparison.

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