Phone vs phone
iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25
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 S25 — its best deal costs £581.80 including April rises, £220.16 less than the iPhone 17.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17 6.3″, Galaxy S25 6.2″. Battery: iPhone 17 3,692 mAh, Galaxy S25 4,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17: £1,043 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S25: £743. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17£801.96
Galaxy S25£581.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S25 is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £581.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £801.96 for the iPhone 17 — a gap of £220.16, or about £9.17 a month.
Prices checked 27 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25, side by side
| iPhone 17 | Galaxy S25 | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £801.96 | £581.80 |
| Cheapest network | iD Mobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £39 | £295 |
| Monthly on that deal | £29.99 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £899 | £599 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,043 | £743 |
| Contract deals tracked | 4,202 | 957 |
| Screen | 6.3 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Battery | 3,692 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| Weight | 177 g | 162 g |
| Released | September 2025 | January 2025 |
| Colours on sale | 5 | 3 |
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 | iPhone 17 | Galaxy S25 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| iD Mobile | £801.96 | £661.96 | £140 |
| Talkmobile | £889.80 | £581.80 | £308 |
| Vodafone | £923 | £731 | £192 |
| Three | £982.20 | £710.20 | £272 |
| O2 | £1,035 | £647 | £388 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S25 wins: £220.16 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £9.17 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 17 does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 17 has the bigger screen (6.3 vs 6.2 inches), the Galaxy S25 has the larger battery (4,000 mAh), the iPhone 17 is the newer phone (September 2025).
Buying outright: iPhone 17 SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,043, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S25 costs £743, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17 if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £0 upfront vs £39
- You want the bigger screen
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
Pick the Galaxy S25 if…
- You want the lower total — £220.16 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
- You prefer a lighter phone
FAQ
iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25 questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17 or the Galaxy S25?
The Galaxy S25. Its cheapest contract costs £581.80 over 24 months including April rises, £220.16 less than the iPhone 17 (£801.96).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17 it is iD Mobile (£39 upfront, £29.99 a month); for the Galaxy S25 it is Talkmobile (£295 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the iPhone 17 bigger than the Galaxy S25?
The iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen and the Galaxy S25 a 6.2-inch screen; they weigh 177 g and 162 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17 starts at £899 and the Galaxy S25 at £599, from retailers we track.