Technologies
Top 10 Mattresses for Side Sleepers of 2025, Expert-Tested and Approved
Mattresses for side sleepers need to promote spinal alignment and give proper support throughout the night. These picks from our sleep experts will deliver.
Your sleeping position is an important factor to consider when mattress shopping. If you sleep on your side, a soft yet supportive mattress is the one you’ll need. These will relieve pressure and keep joint pain at bay, all while maintaining proper spinal alignment. However, finding the perfect mattress can be tricky, which is why CNET’s sleep experts have done the legwork to find the top options that provide ample support to help you get a good night’s sleep.
A recent CNET survey found that 46% of US adults are willing to invest in a better bedroom setup to improve sleep quality. Our team has tested hundreds of beds from myriad brands, ranging from household names like Tempur-Pedic and Purple to unique brands such as Sonu and Airweave. So, whether you’re a hot or heavy sleeper, on a strict budget or dealing with back or hip pain, there’s a bed on this list for you.
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What’s the best overall mattress for side sleepers?
After countless hours of testing over 300 beds, our team chose the Layla Hybrid as the best overall mattress for side sleepers. Thanks to its unique flippable design, it offers two sides with varying firmness levels — a quality we rarely see among hybrid mattresses. Both lean on the softer side of the firmness scale, offering the pressure relief side sleepers need. It has an airy memory foam feel that’s more responsive than traditional memory foam, so it’s a nice accommodating middle ground in terms of feel.
Video: Best mattress for side sleepers
Watch CNET senior video producer Owen Poole review the best mattress for side sleepers.
Best mattresses for side sleepers in 2025
Why we chose the Layla Hybrid mattress: If you’re a side sleeper unsure what firmness profile you need, Layla Hybrid could be the right bed for you, thanks to its dual-sided design. This unique, flippable mattress has a different firmness level on each side, and both are suitable for side sleepers.
How it sleeps: Our one-of-a-kind Mattress Smasher 9000 device rated the Firm side of the Layla Hybrid a 5.3 out of 10 on the firmness scale and the Soft side a 3.1. This 13-inch-tall bed has a soft, airy memory foam feel that leans on the responsive side. It features a layer of long-lasting pocketed coils in the middle, increasing the support and durability of the mattress. On either side of this coil system are poly foam and copper gel-infused memory foam layers. Though the copper gel infused into the memory foam is intended to help keep you cooler, it sleeps more temperature-neutral than actually cooling.
One of the main reasons we chose this mattress as the best overall for side sleepers is that you have two chances to get the firmness right for your personal preferences — if one side feels too soft or firm, all you have to do is flip it over. This flippability also adds to the lifespan of your mattress.
Overall, it’s a comfortable and accommodating two-in-one mattress with a price that’s hard to beat for the quality. A queen-size Layla Hybrid retails in that middle-tier price range for $1,699, but Layla frequently offers discounts that bring the price point down a couple of hundred dollars.
Runner-up: The Nest Bedding Sparrow is a responsive, pressure-relieving hybrid mattress with a pillow-top feel that sits between medium and medium-soft, making it perfect for side sleepers. At $2,132 for a queen, it’s slightly more expensive, but it’s worth noting that Nest Bedding offers solid discounts and superb company policies, such as a 365-night trial period and a lifetime renewal exchange.
Why we chose the Titan Plus Elite mattress: We were immediately impressed by how supportive and luxurious this mattress feels. Specifically designed to hold up to 1,000 pounds, the new Titan Plus Elite by Brooklyn Bedding offers the perfect combination of support and cushioning for heavier side sleepers. To top it off, there’s a 2-inch plush pillow top with cooling fibers to help keep you cooler throughout the night.
How it sleeps: This responsive bed has a slight hint of a memory foam feel due to a layer of thousands of individually wrapped micro-coils. These small coils increase the bed’s motion isolation capabilities (which is great if you sleep with a partner) and enhance that cushioning sensation.
Thanks to its heavy-duty coil system and high-density foams, you won’t have to worry about sagging with this ultra-durable mattress. It has zoned support and pressure relief in the right places, which is crucial for side sleepers. It lands around a medium (perhaps a hair into medium-firm), ideal for heavy individuals and couples — the heavier you are, the more you’ll sink into the mattress and the softer it usually feels.
Though it has Titan’s GlacioTex materials on the top, this mattress sleeps more temperature-neutral than actively cooling. It offers excellent edge support — another feature to look for if you share the bed.
At $2,398, it’s not necessarily a budget option, but the brand frequently offers discounts that can bring the price for a queen down to $1,800, which we think is a steal for a bed this nice.
Runner-up: The Saatva HD is another great choice designed to support heavier people. This high-end mattress has a super supportive innerspring system and Lumbar Zone technology to promote healthy spinal alignment. One downside is that this bed requires a particular Saatva HD Foundation, as it’s not compatible with regular foundations or box springs. At $3,399, it’s on the pricier end, but it is worth looking into if you’re considering a premium mattress.
Why we chose the Helix Sunset Luxe mattress: The Helix Sunset Luxe is surprisingly soft yet offers a ton of support. This responsive hybrid mattress has a comfortable and plush pillow-top feel that most people like. Thanks to the soft and cradling comfort foam layers, its medium-soft firmness profile is ideal for side sleepers seeking pressure relief around the shoulders and hips.
How it sleeps: The Helix Sunset Luxe has a plush pillow-top feel that’s mostly neutral with a trace of memory foam — it’s like sinking into a cloud. We were impressed by how supportive it is despite feeling so soft. Its durable coil system has a specific Zoned Lumbar Support design intended to keep your spine neutrally aligned, which is a great feature to look for in a mattress if you have back issues. The heavy-duty pocketed coils provide plenty of support for all body types, including heavier sleepers.
The Tencel cover on the Helix Sunset Luxe is a breathable, hypoallergenic material that helps wick moisture away. However, it isn’t truly cooling, so if you are a very hot sleeper, you may want to consider adding the optional cooling cover for an additional cost.
While it’s ideal for side sleepers, this mattress could also work for some combination sleepers who favor their sides. The bed’s perimeter is reinforced with durable steel coils, creating solid edge support — important for those sharing the bed with a partner, kids or pets.
Helix frequently offers discounts that slash the prices way down, often taking the price for a queen from $2,374 to $1,899 or less, which we think is pretty good for a premium bed like the Helix Sunset Luxe.
Runner-up: The Helix Moonlight Helix Sleeps offers multiple mattress lines with varying feels and firmness levels through its Core, Luxe and Elite collections. If you’re interested in a Helix bed but need help determining which one is right for you, check out Helix’s nifty sleep quiz.
Why we chose the Purple Mattress: The original Purple Mattress is simultaneously soft and supportive, providing the pressure relief needed if you have hip or shoulder pain as a side sleeper. Its responsive GelFlex Grid comfort layer cradles those pressure points while supporting your back and spine. Not to mention, the breathable grid design helps you sleep cooler — another perk if you’re suffering from chronic pain.
How it sleeps: Purple mattresses all incorporate this unique GelFlex Grid feature made of hyper-elastic polymer. This proprietary material is incredibly stretchy and durable, providing a soft surface that cradles and supports your curves. Shaped in a grid with thousands of individual air channels, it naturally sleeps cooler by allowing your body heat to escape.
«One benefit of the GelFlex Grid is it does an excellent job of helping the mattress sleep temperature. Because the material has very little surface area, the bed has amazing airflow, which helps prevent heat buildup and it doesn’t retain heat like some types of foam. I slept on a Purple Hybrid mattress for years, and I noticed this benefit a lot during the summer months,» says Owen Poole, CNET senior video producer and mattress expert.
Lying on the Purple Mattress, you can feel the grid beneath you more than most of the other more expensive Purple mattresses. Our experts rate the Purple Mattress medium on the firmness scale or around 5 out of 10. Its all-foam construction (meaning no coils) is best for sleepers on the lighter side, under 230 pounds. If you’re heavier, we recommend checking out the Purple Restore Hybrid.
Runner-up: The Nolah Signature Hybrid is a medium-soft mattress with a perforated AirFoam layer that cushions your shoulders and hips. It also has targeted support zones to help relieve tension in high-stress areas.
Why we chose the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe: The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is a super cool bed — literally. In addition to its exceptional cooling technology, this mattress comes in three firmness options, so you can choose the right one for you. It has a soft, neutral foam feel and a supportive hybrid design that works for all body types.
How it sleeps: Many mattress brands claim their beds are cooling, but few actually are — Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe being one of them (which is why it also took the crown as the best for hot sleepers on our top cooling mattresses list). I was impressed by how cool-to-the-touch its GlacioTex cover is, which truly helps you sleep cooler rather than just temperature neutral.
This supportive hybrid design of the Aurora Luxe includes a high-density foam base, durable pocketed coils and Brooklyn Bedding’s proprietary foam layers: Gel Swirl memory foam, Supreme Response comfort foam and CopperFlex.
For strict side sleepers, we recommend opting for the Soft model. If you’re on the heavier side or more of a combination sleeper, check out the medium firmness option. The firm version, which we think is more medium-firm, is best for stomach and back sleepers.
Runner-up: If you’re looking for another maximum cooling mattress and budget isn’t a concern, check out the Tempur-Pedic Luxe Breeze. At $5,599, it’s one of the more expensive beds we’ve tested. It comes in multiple firmness options, with soft being the best for side sleepers.
Read more in our Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe review.
Why we chose the Nolah Original mattress: Though a queen-size Nolah Original 10″ retails for $1,449, it’s typically on sale for as low as $999 — a smoking deal for the quality. This all-foam mattress has a unique yet accommodating mixed or blended foam feel. It has some sinking sensation like memory foam but is much more responsive and bouncy.
How it sleeps: The Nolah Original has a simple design of three layers of various foams and a Tencel cover on top. The foams include Nolah’s 8-inch SolidSleep foam foundation, 1 inch of AirFoam Ice and 1 inch of Zoned AirFoam Ice. The zoned layer is perforated around the shoulders to add pressure relief and softness for side sleepers, while it’s firmer in the middle for lumbar support.
If you’re of average to heavy weight, you’ll likely find this mattress to feel somewhere between medium to medium-soft, like most of our CNET sleep experts found. If you’re lighter like me, this mattress may feel slightly firmer than that, around a 5 to 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
We recommend a hybrid mattress if you are on the heavier side or weigh 230 pounds or more. The Nolah Original Hybrid is $300 more and offers a medium firmness profile and a neutral hybrid feel, another great option for heavy side sleepers.
Runner-up: The Dreamfoam Hybrid mattress retails for $799 but is often a couple of hundred dollars cheaper during the brand’s frequent sales. Thanks to its supportive comfort foams, it offers a soft neutral foam feel and an accommodating medium firmness level. This is another option for side and combination sleepers that offers impressive bang for your buck.
For more discounts, check out our Best Mattress Deals.
Why we chose the Sonu Sleep mattress: Designed explicitly for strict side sleepers, the Sonu Sleep System is one of the most unique beds we’ve ever tested. It has a patented «comfort channel» in the top third of the mattress, a large cutout designed to keep your arm comfortable while lying on your side.
How it sleeps: Sonu has three firmness options: Push, Hybrid and Firm. Our sleep experts found the Hybrid model to be a flat medium on the firmness scale, and it has a soft and accommodating neutral foam feel — it’s not sinking like dense memory foam, yet not overly bouncy, either. This mattress is an excellent choice for couples who sleep primarily on their sides. With your arm and shoulder nestled in the cutout, they won’t fall asleep or go numb as they might on regular mattresses. It makes cuddling a whole lot more comfortable. This bed also offers solid edge support and sound motion isolation, two great features for couples to look for in a bed.
There are a few downsides to this bed’s unique construction, one of which is that Sonu’s custom-made fitted sheet is required to accommodate the comfort channel. Sonu’s sheets are 100% long staple cotton; no other materials are currently offered. So if you strongly prefer a certain material for your sheets, this mattress may not be for you. Given its firmness level and the comfort channel cutout, we don’t recommend this mattress for back sleepers.
Firmness data for the best mattresses for side sleepers
At CNET, our sleep experts use subjective and objective methods to test mattress firmness to thoroughly assess how it feels and who it’s best for. Subjectively, we use our extensive experience and expertise to test and analyze a bed’s construction, describing where it lands on the firmness scale to the best of our ability. How firm a mattress feels can differ drastically from person to person, so we describe firmness from the perspective of varying body types, weights, genders and sleeping positions.
Our Mattress Smasher 9000 is a super cool, proprietary CNET device that objectively assesses mattress firmness. This unique machine presses down into the mattress with a predetermined amount of force (to simulate whatever body weight we want to test), calculating how far its arm goes into the mattress to determine its firmness on a scale of 1 to 10. We always test a new mattress subjectively first, then follow it up with the Mattress Smasher to see how well it backs up our claims.
From softest to firmest, here are the objective firmness levels gathered when testing the best mattresses for side sleepers with our Mattress Smasher 9000.
How we tested the best mattresses for side sleepers
Our sleep experts have been testing mattresses, bedding and sleep technology for years, dedicating thousands of hours to honing our craft of honestly and thoroughly reviewing beds and sleep-related products. We’ve tested well over 300 beds from dozens of brands like Casper, Helix, Nectar, Purple, Leesa and many more.
Our bed testers have varying body weights and types, heights, genders and sleep preferences, allowing us to provide an overarching assessment of each mattress from multiple viewpoints. We take pride in our mattress testing methodology, which includes analyzing characteristics such as firmness, feel, temperature regulation, motion isolation, edge support and special features.
Firmness
One of the primary characteristics we look for when selecting the best mattresses for side sleepers is firmness, which implies the amount of pressure relief the bed offers. During our testing process, our experts of varying weights and body types take turns lying on the bed in each sleeping position to determine how well they’ll cradle our primary pressure points — mainly shoulders, hips and knees. When lying on your side, the mattress must offer some «give» around these areas. If a mattress is too firm, it can push back on these pressure points too much and cause soreness, pain and even numbness.
As I mentioned, firmness is subjective and varies from person to person — the driving force behind the creation of our Mattress Smasher 9000. With the mattress placed on the platform, we activate the device, which presses its arm into the middle of the bed. Our corresponding software then provides the objective firmness level on a scale of 1 to 10, with being the softest and 10 the firmest.
We never recommend a mattress with a high firmness score for side sleepers. The sweet spot for side sleepers is typically around medium-soft, give or take some, depending on your weight, body type and personal preferences.
Feel
The feel of a mattress is another important element we analyze and review. Influenced by the types of foams and coils used in its construction, the feel of a bed is exactly how it sounds — what does it feel like when you lie on it? Is it bouncy and responsive? Is it easy to switch positions? Or does the dense memory foam conform around your body and hold your shape for a while? Does the mattress have a soft, plush pillow top feel, or is it more neutral? Are the coils or zoned support noticeable? We do our best to describe precisely what it feels like to lie on each bed to help you determine if it’s right for you without having to test them all yourself.
In determining the best feel for side sleepers, we look for beds with a softer and more plush sensation that cradles your curves and offers plenty of pressure relief for your hips and shoulders.
Read more: Why The Foam in Your Mattress Matters
Temperature regulation
Each individual’s preferences, body type and even health conditions can influence how hot or cold a mattress feels. We’ve also found that mattress brands exaggerate the cooling capabilities of their beds. This is why we detail how hot or cool the mattress sleeps during our testing process so that you have a more accurate understanding of how it feels to lie on it. Does the mattress sincerely feel cool to the touch and give a satisfying chilling sensation for hot sleepers? Or will it sleep more temperature-natural? Do the materials retain body heat and keep you warmer?
Other external factors affect what the temperature of a bed feels like to you, such as bedroom environment, the bedding you use and the pajamas you sleep in. At our mattress facility, we test beds in temperature-controlled rooms without sheets or bedding to analyze their construction and materials and explain how they affect the overall temperature of the bed.
Motion isolation
Motion isolation is a simple term for how well the mattress deadens movement across its surface. A bed with good motion isolation is essential for light sleepers or those sharing the mattress with a partner or pets. We test a bed’s motion isolation capabilities by having one expert lie on the bed while another flops around and switches positions. Does the person lying feel the movement through the mattress, or is it subtle and less noticeable?
For the second method, we set a glass of water on the edges, rolling toward and away to see if the glass falls or the liquid sloshes over. Typically, beds with dense memory foam perform the best in this category. More responsive mattresses tend to have worse motion isolation.
Edge support
Edge support refers to the strength of the bed’s perimeter, another important factor to keep in mind if you sleep with a partner or pets or tend to sleep on the edge. Testing the edge support involves analyzing how well the mattress holds its shape and structure when we sit and lie on the perimeter. Does it cave in and give the sensation we’ll roll off, or is it super sturdy and supportive?
We also push down on the edges with our fists to observe how much it compresses under pressure. Many mattress brands add reinforcements around the edges — whether coils or firmer foams — to enhance the edge support. Having solid edge supports helps to create a stable and consistent sleeping surface across the entirety of the mattress.
Special features
Mattress brands often offer beds with special features, such as covers with cooling technology for hot sleepers or zoned support specifically for people with back issues like sciatica. We always test and review these additional characteristics to determine if they live up to the brands’ claims and to let you know which sleeper type would benefit most.
Learn more: How We Test Mattresses
What to consider when buying a mattress for side sleepers
The mattress characteristics that side sleepers should look for are different from those of strict stomach or back sleepers. Here are the main things to keep in mind if you favor your side when you sleep.
Firmness
Soft mattresses are typically more pressure-relieving than firm beds. With firm mattresses, the surface pushes back into your pressure points, which can cause pain and soreness and may even throw off the alignment of your spine. Softer beds are better for side sleepers (and combination sleepers who favor their sides) as they offer more contouring and cushioning beneath pressure points like your hips and shoulders.
Body type
In most cases, the heavier you are, the softer a mattress feels because you’ll typically sink deeper into the layers than a lighter individual, and vice versa. It’s worth mentioning that this is not always the case, as it largely depends on the bed’s construction, the materials used and the placement of its layers of foam and coils.
Heavier sleepers over 230 pounds can usually get away with side sleeping on a firmer bed because it’ll feel a tad softer than for average or lightweight individuals. The reverse applies to lighter individuals under 150 pounds, who may want to opt for a true soft to medium-soft mattress so it won’t feel too firm.
Mattress type
The design and construction of your mattress directly influence how it feels and how long it lasts. Hybrid beds with coils tend to last longer than all-foam mattresses. Knowing what you want your bed to feel like will help narrow down your options. Do you like the sinking, contouring feel of dense memory foam that’s super slow to respond? Or do you like a bouncier mattress that’s more responsive and easier to switch positions? A soft and plush pillow top that feels like floating on a cloud? Or a mixed, neutral feel somewhere in the middle?
Sleeping position
We review four main sleeping positions on each mattress: back, stomach, side and combination. If you’re a strict side sleeper, a softer mattress is going to be key as firm mattresses are going to be too uncomfortable and unforgiving.
Back and stomach sleepers should opt for firmer mattresses that provide enough support to keep your spine neutrally aligned through the night. If the mattress is too soft while you’re lying on your back or stomach, you’re more likely to experience discomfort and even pain from the curvature of your spine and neck.
Combination sleepers switch positions throughout the night. We typically recommend a middle-of-the-road medium (leaning into medium-firm at times) for combination sleepers, but it will depend on which position you spend the majority of your time in.
Health concerns
If you suffer from pain — whether back, hip or joint — it’s important to keep this at the forefront while mattress shopping. Side sleepers with back pain should seek a bed that lands around a medium and offers a balance of support and pressure relief. If you have hip or shoulder pain, a softer mattress can help take some pressure off those sensitive joints.
What we’re testing next
At our expansive mattress testing facility in Reno, Nevada, our team of sleep experts is constantly reviewing new beds from all sorts of brands. We’re currently testing brand-new mattresses from brands including:
Mattresses you should avoid
If you’re a strict side sleeper, we recommend steering clear of mattresses on the medium-firm to firm end of the scale. Beds that fall under this category include:
Saatva Classic: This mattress comes in three firmness levels, all of which we deem too firm for strict side sleepers. The plush soft model of the Saatva Classic could be doable for heavier side sleepers or combination sleepers who favor their sides, but we wouldn’t recommend the luxury firm or firm models.
Plank by Brooklyn Bedding: As the name implies, Plank is extremely firm. Plank Firm and Plank Firm Luxe are flippable, one side being medium-firm and the other a true firm — both sides much too firm for side sleepers. These mattresses are better for back and stomach sleepers who need substantial spinal support.
DreamCloud Hybrid: The Mattress Smasher 9000 scored the DreamCloud Hybrid a 7.13 out of 10 on the firmness scale, confirming our consensus that it’s between medium-firm and firm.
Tips for sleeping comfortably on your side
The numbers vary, but studies have shown that anywhere from 50% to 75% of people sleep on their sides. Aside from being comfortable, this sleeping position has certain health benefits, such as reducing the risk of sleep apnea and improving gut functioning. Side sleeping is also recommended during pregnancy (many providers specifically recommend the left side) as it can help improve blood flow to the organs and keep pressure off the liver. Having the right mattress is key, as side sleeping can have adverse effects if you’re lying on one that’s ill-suited for it.
There are a few things you can do to ensure that you’re sleeping soundly and comfortably on your side, including:
Use the right pillow
The pillow you use can drastically affect your overall sleep experience. Side sleepers typically need taller, loftier pillows that adequately support the head and align the spine and neck. A pillow that’s too flat will cause your head and neck to bend down and out of alignment with your spine, which can cause pain and discomfort.
Read more: Best Pillows for Side Sleepers in 2024
Add more cushioning
Using more pillows for extra padding is another way to increase comfort while sleeping on your side. Try keeping a soft and fluffy pillow between your knees to help relieve pressure on your back and promote better spinal alignment. You can also keep a pillow under your armpit if you have shoulder pain and need some additional pressure relief.
Consider a mattress topper
If your mattress is too firm but you’re not in a position to spend the money on a whole new bed, consider adding a mattress topper to your sleep setup. Doing so can change the firmness of your current bed, so side sleepers should look for a soft and plush topper.
Mattresses for side sleepers FAQs
What type of mattress is best for side sleepers?
Memory foam is one of the best mattress types for side sleepers because it allows you to sink in, hugging your body’s curves and helping to relieve pressure points. According to our testing, the top memory foam mattress for side sleepers is the Nectar Luxe.
A soft hybrid mattress with a plush pillow top is another great option for side sleepers who don’t like that dense memory foam sensation and would rather feel like they’re more “on top” of the bed.
Should side sleepers have a soft or firm mattress?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — side sleepers should opt for a soft to medium mattress. Mattresses in this range offer enough give to alleviate pressure around the hip and shoulder joints and usually retain enough support to keep your spine aligned while lying on your side.
Are firm mattresses bad for side sleepers?
Firm mattresses aren’t always bad for side sleepers. But they aren’t typically great for side sleepers, especially those under 150 pounds. If your mattress is too firm, it won’t offer the give and cushioning your shoulders and hips need. This can disrupt your sleep by causing you to wake up with pain and even numbness or tingling from insufficient blood flow.
It ultimately comes down to personal preference, but most side sleepers do best with softer options or more medium-firm mattresses, like our top pick, the Layla Hybrid.
Is a memory foam or hybrid mattress better for side sleepers?
Memory foam and hybrid mattresses are both good for side sleepers. The best option will depend on your preferences and needs. Our top overall pick for side sleepers, the Layla Hybrid, is a hybrid mattress. Side sleepers tend to do well with hybrid mattresses because they offer a nice balance of pressure relief and support, but those who like an even softer mattress may prefer all foam options.
Can a mattress topper help side sleepers?
If you’re a side sleeper in need of a new sleeping setup but aren’t in a position to spend money on a whole new bed, a soft and plush mattress topper is a reasonable investment to consider. It will change the feel of your current bed and may help relieve pressure from your joints.
Technologies
New iPhone 17 or Air on Your Radar? Get Ready for These Prices Today
The newest iPhone lineup drops today, but tariffs aren’t to blame for the premium price; that’s just Apple’s MO.

As the newest iPhones hit the shelves today, the Apple faithful can count their blessings that they aren’t paying more for the new phones. iPhones have never been cheap, but it was pretty clear when the prices for the new iPhone 17 lineup were revealed at Apple’s fall iPhone event earlier this month that they could have gotten worse, considering the year of tariffs and other economic turmoil.
CNET senior editor James Bricknell wasn’t surprised by the iPhone prices.
«Given the tariffs and all the other stuff that’s happened in the past year, the prices are good,» he said. «They match what you would expect in terms of inflation rather than the leap I was expecting.»
Apple unveiled three models during the event: the iPhone 17, the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro. That’s right — the skinny new iPhone Air doesn’t have «17» in its name. The full lineup also includes the low-end iPhone 16E, released earlier this year.
iPhone 16E, from $599
CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland reviewed the iPhone 16E, which is Apple’s most affordable iPhone, and noted that some compromises had to be made to get the price down. There’s no Dynamic Island cutout for one thing, and it only comes in black and white.
iPhone 17, from $799
The standard iPhone 17 has some small upgrades over past models, namely a new chip, a brighter and sharper screen, better cameras and an improved selfie camera. With the introduction of the super-thin iPhone Air, this phone is now Apple’s entry-level flagship.
iPhone Air, from $999
The new iPhone Air made headlines for its slim shape, weighing in at just 165 grams. Apple called the Air the «most power-efficient iPhone we have ever made» and says it has all-day battery life. It clocks in at just under $1,000 as its starting price.
iPhone 17 Pro, from $1,099
The priciest iPhones are the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which pack a range of camera upgrades plus a new orange color. While the iPhone 16 Pro was slightly cheaper at a $999 starting price last year, CNET Editor-at-Large Andrew Lanxon notes, «It’s now got double the storage and actually costs the same as the equivalent 256GB iPhone 16 Pro.»
If you’re rolling in cash, the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of storage will happily take more of your money. It’s priced at $1,999.
How to order the new iPhone
Sold on the new iPhone lineup? Preorders begin on Friday, and launch day is Sept. 19.
Technologies
Skip Your Weekend Plans and Play Hades, Now Back on Xbox Game Pass
Game Pass subscribers can also play the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 early access open beta starting Oct. 2.

The god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler game Hades is one of the most popular games in recent memory — and one of my personal all-time favorite games. The gameplay feels smooth, it’s easily replayable and the game’s writing is full of heart and emotion. Game developer Supergiant Games is gearing up to release Hades 2 soon but if you missed playing the original — or want to replay it — you can on Xbox Game Pass now.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to an extensive library of games, with new ones, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source on Chrome.
Here are the games Game Pass subscribers can play soon. You can also check out the games Microsoft added to the service in early September, including Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 17.
This rebooted first-person shooter comes to Game Pass Standard subscribers more than a year after Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play it. You can continue the story of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as you and a team of special forces members try to track down an ultranationalist terrorist. You can also take on hordes of the undead in the zombies gameplay mode or challenge your friends in multiplayer mode. With the Carry Forward feature, you can transfer much of your content and weapons progressions from Modern Warfare 2 to this game.
For the King 2
Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 17.
Get ready for this turn-based roguelite tabletop RPG — try to say that five times fast. You and up to three others will work to overthrow the tyrannical Queen Rosomon and bring an end to her oppressive reign. You’ll encounter enemies and friends in lush forests, lava-filled wastelands and Merling-filled tropical seas.
Overthrown (Game preview)
Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 17.
Build and manage your kingdom as a monarch with a magical crown in this city-builder game. Be prepared to defend your home at a moment’s notice. Farm the land, build structures needed to survive and protect your citizens from mutants and bandits to keep your people happy.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play this game in January and Game Pass Standard subscribers can get in on the fun, too.
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting Sept. 17.
If you played Vampire Survivors, you should give this game a try. It’s another auto-shooter game where your character automatically shoots at enemies, and you have to avoid attacks while also mining minerals from the alien world Planet Hoxxes. And really, you play a dwarf miner in space, need I say more?
Frostpunk 2
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play starting Sept. 18.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers could play this game on PC in 2024, and now Microsoft is bringing this game to console and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta).
This city-building survival game asks you to make the tough decisions needed to ensure your community survives in an arctic apocalypse. Set 30 years after the events of the award-winning Frostpunk, you play as the Steward, who takes control of the city after the Captain — the original game’s player character — dies. The city is struggling with overpopulation plus food and coal shortages, among other issues. It’s up to you to build shelter and provide enough food for everyone while dealing with the factions vying for power.
Wobbly Life
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 18.
Get ready to explore this silly, vibrant, open-world physics sandbox game with your friends or on your own. The world is filled with minigames, missions, secrets, collectibles and tons of clothing options to find and unlock. Plus, there are almost 100 vehicles you can use as part of jobs or that you can just crash for the fun of it. It’s up to you.
Hades
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 19.
If I were stuck on an island and could only play five games, Hades would be one of them. It’s an engaging roguelike game with tons of ways to overcome your enemies, but the real star of the game is the touching story about relationships and forgiveness. There’s a reason it made history as the first (and so far only) game to win a Hugo Award — an accolade usually given to science fiction and fantasy literary works, but that created a special category for video games in 2021.
Endless Legend 2 (Game preview)
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting on Sept. 22.
Lead your faction to build a great empire that can crush your enemies in this fantasy strategy game. You can play as warriors descended from the stars, cursed knights or hive-minded beasts, but know that each faction has its strengths, weaknesses and unique philosophies that can influence the rest of the game. And fending off enemies is just one challenge in this game. You’ll have to adapt to the changing environment as well. Will you expand as the tides reveal new treasures, or focus on improving your defenses?
Sworn
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting Sept. 23.
Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable have been corrupted in this roguelike game and it’s up to you to bring them down. This game supports up to four-player co-op action and players’ strengths can be combined in surprising ways to become worthy knights.
Peppa Pig: World Adventures
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 25.
Make a pizza in Italy, climb the Eiffel Tower and explore more places with your friends and family in this Peppa Pig game. You can meet characters, build your perfect house and go on adventures across the world with Peppa and others.
Visions of Mana
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 25.
Square Enix’s latest game in the Mana series follows Val and his childhood friend Hinna as they go on a journey to the legendary Mana Tree. You’ll encounter adorable yet ferocious creatures, use the powers of Elementals in battles and explore a vast semi-open world on your adventure.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play starting Sept. 30.
Lara Croft is back in this action-adventure game as she attempts to find the Mirror of Smoke. Along the way, she encounters a Mayan tribesman named Totec who has unique weapons and skills to help Lara on her quest. This game has the classic Tomb Raider gameplay elements like exploration, platforming and puzzle solving.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Early Access Open Beta
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play between Oct. 2 and 7.
Fight it out in new 6v6 multiplayer maps, master an arsenal of new weapons and experience the next Call of Duty game before everyone else in the open beta of Black Ops 7. Early access to the beta launches at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT Oct. 2 and will last 72 hours. Then, the open beta launches at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT Oct. 5 before concluding Oct. 8.
Sopa — Tale of the Stolen Potato
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play starting Oct. 7.
Miho goes to the pantry to grab a potato for his grandmother’s soup when he lands in a fantastical land. Now he has to find his way back home by following in the footsteps of a mysterious traveler from long ago. You’ll meet quirky characters, gather exotic ingredients and take in vibrant environments in this world of magical realism inspired by Latin America.
More games on Game Pass Core
Xbox Game Pass Core is the cheapest subscription tier ($10 a month) and gives people access to a handful of games. Microsoft occasionally adds games to this tier and on Oct. 1, the company is bringing these games to the service.
Games leaving Game Pass on Sept. 30
While Microsoft is adding those games to Xbox Game Pass, the company is also removing a few games from the service on Sept. 30. You’ll have to buy these games separately after that date.
For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.
Technologies
iPhone 17 Pro Max Specs vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra: Premium Phones Face Off
The battle of the biggest, baddest phones from Apple and Samsung.

Apple unveiled its new iPhone 17 lineup at its «awe dropping» event, and at the top of that list is, unsurprisingly, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Now the most advanced iOS handset is going up against the top Android phones, and chief among them is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Both phones live up to their names, with nearly 7-inch screens, advanced cameras and the most powerful specs to date. While they have a lot in common, they follow slightly different approaches for assembling the most premium phone on the market.
Here’s how the iPhone 17 Pro Max specs match up to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Looking to preorder the iPhone 17 Pro Max? Check out our preorder guide to learn if you can get it free and other great deals.
Want to buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra? Find out which carriers and retailers have the best deals on Samsung’s slim phone.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price comparison
- iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB of storage): $1,199
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB of storage): $1,299
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is $100 cheaper than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has been the same price gap between these phones in prior years. Samsung’s phone does have a notable hardware extra in its S Pen stylus (stored within the handset), but it’s also far more likely to go on sale than Apple’s big handset, assuming prior years’ trends continue.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra design and displays
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Heat-dispersing focus — this year’s Pro Max reverts to an aluminum frame and introduces a vapor chamber to better vent heat.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Best screen yet — the display’s new anti-reflective coating on the Ultra may be its best feature.
These are the biggest and densest phones beyond foldables, so they stack up pretty comparably, at least on the outside.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch OLED display, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 6.8-inch screen (both have 1-120Hz variable refresh rates) — and back in January when the latter was released, CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland called «the best I’ve seen» on a phone thanks to its new anti-reflective coating that makes the phone more usable under direct light along with 2,600-nit top brightness. For its part, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is easier to see in daylight with its 3,000-nit maximum brightness (up from 2,000 nits in last year’s iPhones).
Samsung’s phone is slightly lighter at 218 grams thanks to its titanium frame, which is potentially more durable than the aluminum frame on Apple’s premium phone (which is heavier at 233 grams).
But interestingly enough, it seems Apple reverted from the titanium frame on the iPhone 16 Pro Max back to aluminum in its new top-tier phone in favor of better thermal regulation. To handle heat even better, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a vapor chamber filled with deionized water sitting over the CPU and other chips to disperse heat away from the silicon. The S25 Ultra has its own vapor chamber (40% larger than its predecessor’s, Samsung said).
The S25 Ultra also has the advantage of its own stylus that tucks into a dedicated slot on the underside of the phone — but unfortunately, it’s not as smart as the S Pen of previous S-series Ultra models. Samsung took out the remote Bluetooth controls, which the company said were only used by barely 1% of Ultra owners, but it’s still disappointing to see tech revert.
Like all iPhones since last year’s models, the iPhone 17 Pro Max does have a Camera Control button on its right side that’s explicitly used to launch the Camera app, take photos and tweak settings while shooting. The button can also be used to activate Visual Intelligence which let’s you do a Google image search or prompt for ChatGPT using what the camera is pointed at.
Comparing iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra cameras
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Nearly all cameras now sharper — everything but the main camera got a megapixel upgrade.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Better ultrawide camera — the 50-megapixel ultrawide captures more light and detail.
From the outside, not much looks different with either phone’s array of cameras compared to their predecessors, though the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s rear camera bump has been extended across the width of the phone. But the big changes are packed inside that «plateau,» as Apple calls it, with improvements to nearly all of its cameras.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 48-megapixel main and ultrawide cameras are largely untouched, but the telephoto camera is now also 48 megapixels (up from 12 megapixels in last year’s Pro Max). All three are «dual fusion» cameras that can zoom in twice at 12-megapixel resolution using sensor cropping; this effectively means the telephoto can go to the equivalent of 8x optical zoom, or up to 40x digital (up from 25x).
The big upgrade for selfie lovers: the front-facing camera is now 18 megapixels (up from 12 megapixels in last year’s model), which is nice but less important than the larger sensor behind the lens. It’s square in shape, which allows users to switch between taking selfies in either horizontal or vertical orientation without rotating their phone. It also enables Center Stage, the video chat feature that first debuted on iPad Pro and Mac devices that keeps the focus on the user even if they move around and can adjust the orientation if more people enter the frame.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra retains its four rear camera setup, fronted by an impressive 200-megapixel main shooter. But it’s the 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (up from 12 megapixels in the S24 Ultra) that delighted CNET reviewer Holland, who felt the larger sensor afforded crisper shots with more light in both very wide and close-up macro shots. The phone also has a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom paired with a 50-megapixel 5x optical zoom for different levels of telephoto shots, topping out at 100x «Space Zoom.»
Both phones have dueling AI-assisted tools for video. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the Audio Mix feature introduced in its predecessor that isolates desired audio sources — like subjects talking — and cancels other ambient noise. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has its own tool, Audio Eraser, which trims away wind, music, street noise or other disturbances. As a last difference, the Galaxy S25 Ultra can shoot footage in 8K while the iPhone 17 Pro Max tops out at 4K video.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs compared
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: Better specs, bigger battery — the Pro Max gets a new chip, better performance and longer battery life.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Great performance — the S25 Ultra boasts better performance than any other phone we’d tested.
Both phones exist at the absolute top of their lineups, and are both in the running for the most powerful phone on the market anywhere in the world. Unsurprisingly, they’re pretty competitive with each other in terms of specs and performance, with each edging out the other in specific ways.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max packs a new A19 Pro chip that, combined with the improved heat management, results in 40% better sustained performance compared to last year’s Pro Max, Apple said during the new phone’s launch presentation. Apple has continued not to state how much RAM the phone packs (conventional wisdom suggests at least 8GB to run AI features).
The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes with configuration tiers for 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and the new 2TB option. That max storage does push the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s overall price to around $2,000. Apple also doesn’t release exact battery capacity, but did suggest the Pro Max has an even bigger one this year. In CNET’s battery tests the iPhone 17 Pro Max scored better than any phone we’ve tested, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra.The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a top wired charging speed of 40 watts or wireless at 30 watts, along with built-in MagSafe magnetic attachment capability.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a Samsung-customized Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM, both of which enable more on-device AI that runs smoother than the hybrid and cloud AI tools used in prior Galaxy Ultra models. In benchmark tests, the Galaxy S25 Ultra outperformed other leading smartphones, including the OnePlus 13 and last year’s iPhone 16 Pro, but we’ll have to wait for our tests on the iPhone 17 Pro Max to truly compare both. Samsung’s premium phone has 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage options.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, 45-watt maximum wired charging and Qi2 wireless charging up to 15 watts, though it doesn’t support magnetic attachments (unless you get a case with built-in magnets).
Of course, both phones have their own suites of generative AI technology. Apple quietly didn’t introduce any new features this year, relying on the Apple Intelligence suite of assistive tech that debuted with last year’s iPhone 16 series. Samsung’s phone has its own suite of Galaxy AI features, like answering requests with info from apps and Google’s Circle to Search feature that can now recognize audio in videos and social media posts (or even tunes you hum yourself, supposedly).
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | |
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.9-inch OLED; 2,868 x 1,320 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate |
Pixel density | 460ppi | 501ppi |
Dimensions (inches) | 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.34 in | 6.41 x 3.06 x 0.32 in. |
Dimensions (millimeters) | 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
Weight (grams, ounces) | 233g (8.22 oz) | 218g (7.69 oz.) |
Mobile software | iOS 26 | Android 15 |
Camera | 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide) 48-megapixel (4x, 8x telephoto) | 200-megapixel (wide), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
Front-facing camera | 18-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
Video capture | 4K | 8K |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
RAM/storage | RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Expandable storage | None | None |
Battery | Up to 39 hours video playback; up to 35 hours video playback (streamed). | 5,000 mAh |
Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | Under display |
Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
Headphone jack | None | None |
Special features | Apple N1 wireless networking chip (Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2×2 MIMO), Bluetooth 6, Thread. Action button. Camera Control button. Dynamic Island. Apple Intelligence. Visual Intelligence. Dual eSIM. ProRes Raw video recording. Genlock video support. 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range. IP68 resistance. Colors: silver, cosmic orange, deep blue. Fast charge up to 50% in 20 minutes using 40W adapter or higher via charging cable. Fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using 30W adapter or higher via MagSafe Charger. | Titanium frame, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and security updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and dust resistance; wireless PowerShare to charge other devices; integrated S Pen; UWB for finding other devices; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cover glass; ultrawideband |
US price off-contract | $1,199 (256GB) | $1,300 (256GB) |
UK price | £1,199 (256GB) | £1,249 (256GB) |
Australia price | AU$2,199 (256GB) | AU$2,149 (256GB) |
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