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The Samsung Galaxy S25 is the lower-priced starting point: AT&T lists it at $799.99, compared with $999.99 for the Apple iPhone Air—a $200 difference in listed retail starting prices. The comparison is not automatically like-for-like: Apple’s Air starts with 256GB, while AT&T’s displayed S25 starting price does not establish a matching storage configuration. The Air is thinner and has a larger stated display; the S25 is slightly lighter and has dedicated ultrawide and 3x telephoto rear cameras.

Price difference: the Air starts $200 higher

AT&T’s comparison page, accessed October 7, 2026, lists a retail starting price of $799.99 for the Galaxy S25 and $999.99 for the iPhone Air. That is a $200 listed difference. Apple announced a $999 U.S. starting price for the Air in September 2025, with 256GB of storage as its base configuration. These are starting-price snapshots, not guaranteed checkout prices; carrier discounts, trade-ins, financing, taxes, activation fees, and plan requirements can change the total.

AT&T’s displayed S25 starting price does not establish the storage tier, so do not treat the two starting prices as a storage-matched comparison. Before buying, compare the same storage capacity where available and distinguish an unlocked retail price from a carrier offer.

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  • Compare the full installment total after bill credits, not only the advertised monthly payment.
  • Check which trade-in models qualify and whether the offer requires an eligible service plan.
  • Include taxes, activation fees, and any plan costs required to receive credits.

AT&T’s iPhone Air offer includes conditional pricing that requires eligible unlimited service and a trade-in; its monthly figure is shown after credits. Confirm the live terms directly with the retailer before ordering. AT&T’s phone comparison and Apple’s September 2025 announcement provide the cited price context.

#1 Best Overall
Samsung Galaxy S25+ Cell Phone, 256GB Smartphone, Unlocked Android, AI Night Mode Camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite Fast Processor, ProScaler Display, 4900mAh Battery, 2025, US 1 Yr Warranty, Navy
  • MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25+ handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
  • START THE DAY SMARTER: Stay one step ahead with a phone that gives you the info you need before you even know you need it with Now Brief.²
  • REDUCE THE NOISE. REVEAL THE MAGIC: AI Camera with Audio Eraser lets you capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions.³
  • BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERY FACE: Capture every portrait with clarity and confidence on the Galaxy S25+ Series. The advanced portrait features adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, giving every shot a polished, professional look.
  • MORE POWER TO YOU: Reimagine what’s possible with the Galaxy S25+, featuring our most powerful processor yet. Effortlessly translate your calls, slow down a video, or edit your photos without skipping a beat.

Specs at a glance

Feature Samsung Galaxy S25 Apple iPhone Air
U.S. starting price cited $799.99 retail starting price at AT&T, accessed October 7, 2026; storage basis not established by that displayed figure $999.99 retail starting price at AT&T, accessed October 7, 2026; Apple’s September 2025 U.S. launch starting price was $999 with 256GB
Display 6.2-inch full rectangle, or 6.0 inches with rounded corners; Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 2340 × 1080; up to 120Hz 6.5-inch OLED Super Retina XDR; 2736 × 1260 at 460 ppi; adaptive refresh up to 120Hz
Dimensions and weight 162g; AT&T lists 5.78 × 2.77 × 0.28 inches 156.2 × 74.7 × 5.64mm (6.15 × 2.94 × 0.22 inches); 165g
Rear cameras 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with optical 3×; up to 8K video at 30fps 48MP Fusion main camera with optical-quality 2× telephoto capability
Front camera 12MP 18MP Center Stage
Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (AT&T comparison) Apple A19 Pro (Apple announcement)
Battery information 4,000mAh typical capacity; 3,885mAh rated capacity AT&T lists up to 27 hours; Apple describes all-day battery life

Specifications are from Samsung’s Galaxy S25 product page, Apple’s iPhone Air technical specifications, Apple’s launch announcement, and AT&T’s comparison page. Measurements and features are manufacturer or retailer specifications, not results from a common independent test.

Screen and size: larger and thinner Air, lighter S25

The iPhone Air’s stated 6.5-inch display is larger than the S25’s 6.2-inch full-rectangle measurement. Samsung also gives a 6.0-inch figure when measuring with rounded corners, so diagonal sizes should be read using each company’s stated convention rather than as a direct measure of usable screen area. Both phones are specified for refresh rates up to 120Hz; Apple calls this ProMotion adaptive refresh, while Samsung lists a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.

Rank #2
Sale
Samsung Galaxy S25 5G, 128GB + 12GB RAM, Silver Shadow - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.2" Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X QHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
  • 128GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 830 GPU, 4000mAh Battery
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, wide + 10MP, f/2.4, telephoto + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, wide
  • 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: UMTS 1(2100)/2(1900)/4(AWS)/5(850)/8(900), 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: N1/2/5/7/25/28/41/66/71/77/78/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
  • US Model - Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.

Apple specifies 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness for the Air. That is Apple’s stated figure, not a matched independent measurement against the S25. In the body, the Air is 5.64mm thick according to Apple’s current specifications, while AT&T lists the S25 at 0.28 inches thick. The Air is substantially thinner by these listed dimensions, but the S25 weighs 162g versus the Air’s 165g.

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Camera hardware: more dedicated rear lenses on the S25

The Galaxy S25 has three rear cameras: a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with optical 3× zoom. Samsung also lists digital zoom up to 30× and video recording up to 8K at 30fps. The iPhone Air uses a 48MP Fusion main camera, with Apple describing optical-quality 2× telephoto capability from that system.

Rank #3
Samsung Galaxy S25 5G SM-S931B/DS 256GB 12GB Dual SIM Factory Unlocked GSM Smartphone, 6.2" 120Hz AMOLED Display, 50MP Cameras - International Version (Navy)
  • 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 5G bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
  • Dimensions 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm (5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in) Weight 162 g (5.71 oz) Build Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame SIM Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
  • Display Type Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 480Hz PWM, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) Size 6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) Protection Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
  • OS Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 Chipset Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) CPU Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) GPU Adreno 830
  • Main Camera Triple 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video Features Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Video 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS

The S25’s dedicated ultrawide and 3× telephoto hardware give it more distinct rear-camera options on paper. That does not establish that it takes better photos or video: megapixel counts, lens count, and zoom labels do not substitute for a common camera test. Front-camera specifications also differ—12MP on the S25 and 18MP Center Stage on the Air—without establishing a selfie-quality winner.

Battery and performance: specifications do not settle the winner

Samsung lists the S25 battery at 4,000mAh typical capacity and 3,885mAh rated capacity. AT&T lists “up to 27 hours” for the iPhone Air, and Apple describes all-day battery life. Capacity and a retailer’s runtime claim are different measures, so these figures cannot be used as a direct endurance comparison.

Rank #4
Samsung Galaxy S25, 128GB, Navy - Unlocked (Renewed)
  • 6.2" Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X QHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
  • 128GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 830 GPU, 4000mAh Battery
  • Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, wide + 10MP, f/2.4, telephoto + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, wide
  • 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: UMTS 1(2100)/2(1900)/4(AWS)/5(850)/8(900), 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: N1/2/5/7/25/28/41/66/71/77/78/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
  • US Model - No Warranty. Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.

The listed processors are Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy in the S25 and Apple A19 Pro in the Air. Chip names and specifications alone do not determine which phone performs better for a particular workload; the figures cited here are not a head-to-head benchmark. The available specifications likewise do not establish comparative battery endurance or software-support longevity.

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Which phone should you choose?

Choose the Galaxy S25 if

  • You want the lower listed starting price and will verify that the storage configuration fits your needs.
  • You value having separate ultrawide and optical 3× telephoto rear cameras.
  • You prefer the smaller stated display and a slightly lighter phone.

Choose the iPhone Air if

  • You want the larger stated display and a notably thinner body.
  • You want Apple’s 256GB base storage configuration and are comfortable with its higher listed starting price.
  • You prefer the Apple ecosystem or its iOS experience; these specifications do not establish a general performance or camera-quality advantage.

On listed starting prices, the S25 costs $200 less. The Air’s larger display and thinner body may justify the difference for some buyers, while the S25’s camera arrangement and lower starting price may suit others. Make the decision using the exact storage tier and the full price under your chosen unlocked or carrier purchase terms.

Best Value
Sale
Samsung Galaxy S25 Cell Phone, 128GB Smartphone, Unlocked Android, AI Night Mode Camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite Fast Processor, ProScaler Display, 4000mAh Battery, 2025, US 1 Yr Warranty, Silver Shadow
  • MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25 handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
  • START THE DAY SMARTER: Stay one step ahead with a phone that gives you the info you need before you even know you need it with Now Brief.²
  • REDUCE THE NOISE. REVEAL THE MAGIC: AI Camera with Audio Eraser lets you capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions.³
  • BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERY FACE: Capture every portrait with clarity and confidence on the Galaxy S25. The advanced portrait features adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, giving every shot a polished, professional look.
  • MORE POWER TO YOU: Reimagine what’s possible with the Galaxy S25. featuring our most powerful processor yet. Effortlessly translate your calls, slow down a video, or edit your photos without skipping a beat.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.