Phone vs phone
Galaxy S26 vs iPhone 17
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
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Which is cheaper over 24 months?
Galaxy S26 — its best deal costs £725.80 including April rises, £76.16 less than the iPhone 17.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Galaxy S26 6.3″, iPhone 17 6.3″. Battery: Galaxy S26 4,300 mAh, iPhone 17 3,692 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Galaxy S26: £853 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 17: £1,043. Compare with the contract totals above.
Galaxy S26£725.80
iPhone 17£801.96True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S26 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £725.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £801.96 for the iPhone 17 — a gap of £76.16, or about £3.17 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
Galaxy S26 vs iPhone 17, side by side
| Galaxy S26 | iPhone 17 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £725.80 | £801.96 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | iD Mobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £439 | £39 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £29.99 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £709 | £899 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £853 | £1,043 |
| Contract deals tracked | 3,401 | 4,193 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.3 inches |
| Battery | 4,300 mAh | 3,692 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 167 g | 177 g |
| Released | February 2026 | September 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 5 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | Galaxy S26 | iPhone 17 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £725.80 | £889.80 | £164 |
| iD Mobile | £746.96 | £801.96 | £55 |
| O2 | £835 | £1,035 | £200 |
| Vodafone | £861 | £923 | £62 |
| Three | £864.20 | £982.20 | £118 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S26 wins: £76.16 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £3.17 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 17 does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 has the larger battery (4,300 mAh), the Galaxy S26 is the newer phone (February 2026).
Buying outright: Galaxy S26 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £853, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 17 costs £1,043, more than its contract.
Pick the Galaxy S26 if…
- You want the lower total — £76.16 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
- You prefer a lighter phone
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the iPhone 17 if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £9
- You prefer Apple or the iPhone 17’s design
FAQ
Galaxy S26 vs iPhone 17 questions
Which is cheaper, the Galaxy S26 or the iPhone 17?
The Galaxy S26. Its cheapest contract costs £725.80 over 24 months including April rises, £76.16 less than the iPhone 17 (£801.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Galaxy S26 it is Talkmobile (£439 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the iPhone 17 it is iD Mobile (£39 upfront, £29.99 a month).
Is the Galaxy S26 bigger than the iPhone 17?
The Galaxy S26 has a 6.3-inch screen and the iPhone 17 a 6.3-inch screen; they weigh 167 g and 177 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Galaxy S26 starts at £709 and the iPhone 17 at £899, from retailers we track.