Technologies

Apple’s iPhone 17 vs. Samsung’s Galaxy S25: Comparing the Base Flagship Phones

Apple and Samsung each offer a lot in their $800 phones, so we’ll compare to see the biggest differences.

There’s a new Apple flagship phone in town: the long-awaited iPhone 17. The $799 iPhone 17 is the base model of the new iPhone lineup, which is now on sale with the $999 iPhone Air, $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the iPhone 17 is the most affordable option among the new phones, there’s nothing basic about it. It features plenty of updates like a 120Hz display, upgraded cameras and a faster A19 chip.

Since there’s a new base iPhone, we figure it’s only fitting to compare it to one of its toughest competitors: the base Galaxy S25 from Samsung. The two have very similar characteristics and would make excellent smartphones, depending on whether you’re on the Apple or Android side of the divide.

So how do these two flagships stack up? Let’s take a closer look.

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Display

One of the biggest updates to the iPhone 17 over its predecessor is that it finally has a ProMotion display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, which has only been in the iPhone’s Pro models to this point. This allows for an always-on display so you can glance at your notifications and Live Activities without having to wake the screen. Plus, it offers a smoother experience when playing games or scrolling through the web. Aside from the refresh rate, the iPhone 17’s 6.3-inch OLED screen has a 2,622×1,206-pixel resolution and 3,000 nits of brightness.

Samsung’s Galaxy line has had a 120Hz variable refresh rate for a while (ever since the S20), and it’s no different with the Galaxy S25. The S25 also has an always-on display option, which can be configured to show all the time or by tapping the screen. Its 6.2-inch AMOLED display isn’t quite as sharp with a 2,340×1,080-pixel resolution, and it’s also not quite as bright, at 2,600 nits at peak brightness.

Cameras

When it comes to the number of cameras, the Galaxy S25 has the iPhone 17 beat. It has not one, not two, but three cameras: A 50-megapixel wide, a 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10-megapixel telephoto. The iPhone 17, on the other hand, just has two: a 48-megapixel wide and a rather impressive 48-megapixel ultrawide. The Galaxy S25’s telephoto camera supports a 3x optical zoom, while the iPhone 17 supports a 2x optical zoom.

The S25’s front-facing camera has a 12-megapixel lens, while the iPhone 17’s has an 18-megapixel one. The iPhone 17 also boasts a new Center Stage feature that lets you take landscape selfies without rotating the phone.

In terms of video, the S25 can shoot in 8K video at 30 frames per second, while the iPhone 17 can shoot in 4K at 30 and 60 frames per second.

Battery life

Apple hasn’t shared the exact battery specs of the iPhone 17, but we do know it has up to 30 hours of video playback. According to the company, it also uses a new AI-powered Adaptive Power feature on iOS 26 that can help conserve battery life with performance adjustments.

The Galaxy S25 has a 4,000-mAh battery, which Samsung says provides up to 29 hours of video playback. In our tests, we said that the Galaxy S25 lasts around a day and a half with regular use, while the iPhone 17 lasts more than a day. As of this writing, we’re still busy testing the iPhone 17, but it appears that the two phones are pretty comparable when it comes to battery life.

Price

Both the iPhone 17 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 start at around $800, but at very different storage sizes. The iPhone 17 starts at $799 ($829 if you get it without a carrier) for the 256GB version, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 will cost you $800 for the 128GB model. Stepping up to the 256GB edition of the Galaxy S25 adds $60 to the price.

Check out the specs chart below for more comparisons between the iPhone 17 and the Galaxy S25.

Apple iPhone 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S25

	Apple iPhone 17	Samsung Galaxy S25
Display size, resolution	6.3-inch OLED; 2,622×1,206 pixel resolution; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate	6.2-inch AMOLED; 2,340×1,080 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Pixel density	460ppi	416 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	5.89 x 2.81 x 0.31 in	5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in.
Dimensions (millimeters)	149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm	146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	177 g (6.24 oz)	162g (5.71 oz.)
Mobile software	iOS 26	Android 15
Camera	48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (ultrawide)	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto)
Front-facing camera	18-megapixel	12-megapixel
Video capture	4K	8K
Processor	Apple A19	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM/Storage	RAM N/A + 256GB, 512GB	12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB
Expandable storage	None	None
Battery/Charger	Up to 30 hours video playback; up to 27 hours video playback (streamed)	4,000 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; 1 to 3,000 nits brightness display range; IP68 resistance; Colors: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender; 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.	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; 25W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7
Price off-contract (USD)	$829 (256GB)	$800 (128GB)
Price (GBP)	£799 (256GB)	£799 (128GB)
Price (AUD)	AU$1,399 (256GB)	AU$1,399 (256GB)

Technologies

This 3-in-1 Charger Is a Must-Have for Travelers, and It Just Hit a Record-Low of $95

Snag it for $45 off and charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at the same time.

If you’re a frequent traveler, then you know that outlets are a precious commodity in places like airports and coffee shops. So why waste one on a single device when you can charge up to three at once? Right now, you can grab this seriously sleek Ugreen Magflow three-in-one foldable charger for just $95 at Amazon. That’s a $45 discount and the all-time lowest price we’ve seen. Just don’t wait too long, as this deal could expire at any time.

At just 7.4 ounces, this compact charging station is designed to be taken on the go. But despite its size, it still supports 25-watt MagSafe charging for iPhones, as well as 5-watt wireless charging for AirPods and Apple Watches. The charging stand also tilts up to double as a stand, and it’s equipped with 16 magnets to keep your phone aligned and securely in place. Plus, it’s got built-in protections against overheating, overcharging, short-circuiting and more to prevent damage to your devices.

Why this deal matters

This folding Ugreen charger is great for juicing up your devices on the go, and it’s never been more affordable. Plus, Ugreen makes some of the best MagSafe chargers on the market right now, so don’t miss your chance to grab one at a record-low price.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Jan. 13, #1669

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Jan. 13, No. 1,669.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a little tricky, and it might make you hungry. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with G.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with O.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a spicy Cajun stew popular in New Orleans.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is GUMBO.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Jan. 12, No. 1,668 was TRIAL.

Recent Wordle answers

Jan. 8, No. 1,664: BLAST

Jan. 9, No. 1,665: EIGHT

Jan. 10, No. 1,666: MANIC

Jan. 11, No. 1,667: QUARK

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What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q.

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

STARE

NOISE

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 13 #681

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 13, No. 681.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

It took me a while to figure out the theme for today’s NYT Strands puzzle, but once I did, I thought it was a fun one. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: You need to chill

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Brrrr!

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

GONE, ABLE, TABLE, FOOD, TEEN, LEAF, GOOF, GOOD, SAFE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: