iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25: Which phone is winning your upgrade money this year?

It is a simple fact that Apple and Samsung remain the two largest names when it comes to the best phones. However, that doesn't always mean that their phones are created equal in the eyes of the consumer.
There's an argument that new phones only offer relatively minor improvements over the prior devices, which has led to people holding onto phones for longer. However, we all have to upgrade at some point, and it can be a challenge to find the perfect phone for you. Even then, there's occasionally some buyer's remorse when it comes to any purchase, and phones are no different.
We want to know which of the new models you, the readers of Tom's Guide, have picked this year. For Instance, did you find yourself keeping to Samsung, or did you switch over to Apple? Maybe you went with the option with the larger screen, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, or were you more enticed by a thinner device like the iPhone Air?
Samsung Galaxy S25 series
The Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus and the Galaxy S25 Ultra are all fantastic phones. Samsung packed in the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, as well as a brighter display and improved camera capabilities.
However, it wasn't all perfect, as there were some complaints about the added camera rings falling off, as well as intermittent charging issues. Not only that, there have been some complaints about the lack of major hardware improvements, not to mention some stating that the subsequent OneUI updates were relatively dull.
Samsung later released the Galaxy S25 Edge, which was a much thinner device than all of the others. However, the phone has struggled to find its place in the market. As it stands, Samsung has reportedly halted production of the Galaxy S26 Edge.
So, which one did you choose?
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Apple's iPhone 17 series
In comparison, Apple recently released the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While Apple might be struggling when it comes to matching other phone makers in the AI department, there's no doubting the quality of its products.
The new line of phones offers an upgraded camera system, the much faster A19 chip and several noticeable display enhancements. On top of that, the iOS 26 update looks feature-heavy compared to Samsung's OneUI 8.
However, there have been some issues, including an early scratching problem with the iPhone 17 Pro series in stores that appears to have been resolved.. On top of that, we've also seen some problems with the phone dropping calls and other connectivity problems.
Apple also released the iPhone Air, which, like the S25 Edge, is a thinner version of its devices. However, it seems to be suffering the same disinterest from consumers. So, which one did you choose?
Grabbed a different model? Then let us know.
While both Apple and Samsung have had some issues with the recent releases, they are still some of the best phones you can buy right now. However, no phone is perfect, so let us know in the comments what you like (or don't like) about your new device.
Alternatively, maybe you didn't want to buy an Apple or Samsung phone and instead went for one of the other great options. For instance, perhaps you decided to splurge and grab a foldable phone like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Alternatively, maybe you went for the more mid-range option like the Galaxy A56, or even the Google Pixel 10. If so, let us know.
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Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.
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