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At their announced U.S. starting prices, the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G costs $249.01 less than the Apple iPhone 17: $549.99 versus $799. The A57 gives you a larger screen and Android; the iPhone 17 is the smaller iOS option. These are manufacturer launch prices, not guaranteed current checkout prices.
How the iPhone 17 and Galaxy A57 compare
The specifications below come from Apple and Samsung, rather than a controlled head-to-head test. They show clear differences in size, platform and listed storage, but do not establish which phone is faster or takes better photos.
| Specification | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy A57 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Announced U.S. starting price | $799 (Apple, 2025) | $549.99 (Samsung U.S., 2026) |
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED; ProMotion up to 120Hz | 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+; up to 120Hz |
| Chip and operating system | A19; iOS | Exynos 1680; Android 16 |
| Rear cameras | 48MP main and 48MP ultrawide; 2x optical-quality mode | 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide and 5MP macro |
| Weight | 177g | 179g |
| Battery specification | Apple’s cited specifications do not give an mAh capacity | 5000mAh typical capacity |
| U.S. announced storage | 256GB or 512GB | 128GB or 256GB; both listed with 8GB RAM |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68; Apple specifies up to 6m for 30 minutes under IEC 60529 | IP68 |
Sources: Apple iPhone 17 technical specifications, Apple’s 2025 iPhone 17 announcement, Samsung’s 2026 U.S. announcement and Samsung’s regional A57 specifications.
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What is the price difference?
Apple announced the iPhone 17 at $799 in the U.S. in September 2025. Samsung’s U.S. announcement lists the Galaxy A57 5G at $549.99, with U.S. availability from April 9, 2026. Subtracting those starting prices gives a $249.01 difference in the A57’s favor.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
That is a comparison of announced starting prices, not necessarily the difference at checkout today. Actual offers can depend on storage, retailer, carrier, financing, trade-in credits and plan requirements. For example, AT&T’s comparison page lists different starting retail prices—$829.99 for iPhone 17 and $549.99 for A57—and also describes conditional financing promotions. Treat those as carrier-specific terms, not universal cash prices. Check the exact storage and unlocked or carrier version before comparing.
Storage also affects whether the two entry prices are a like-for-like comparison: Apple’s listed iPhone 17 starts at 256GB, while Samsung’s U.S. announcement includes a 128GB A57 configuration as well as a 256GB one. Samsung’s U.S. configurations are 8GB RAM with either 128GB or 256GB storage. Regional models and availability can differ.
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Which phone has the better screen and size?
The A57 is the larger-screen choice: its display measures 6.7 inches diagonally, compared with 6.3 inches on the iPhone 17. Both manufacturers list refresh rates up to 120Hz. Apple calls its display OLED with ProMotion; Samsung specifies FHD+ Super AMOLED+.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Despite the screen-size difference, their listed weights are close: 177g for iPhone 17 and 179g for A57. Samsung lists the A57’s dimensions as 161.5 x 76.8 x 6.9mm. Choose based on whether you prefer more screen area or a smaller phone, rather than assuming the larger display means a substantially heavier device.
Rank #3
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
iOS or Android: which platform fits you?
The iPhone 17 runs iOS on Apple’s A19 chip. The Galaxy A57 uses Samsung’s Exynos 1680 and Android 16, according to the cited carrier comparison. The practical choice is largely about the operating system and ecosystem you want to use: consider the apps, services, accessories and devices you already rely on. The available specifications do not provide comparable benchmark results, so they do not support a claim that one phone is faster.
How do the cameras differ?
Apple lists a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera on the iPhone 17. It also describes a 12MP “optical-quality” 2x telephoto mode enabled by the main camera; this is not a separate rear telephoto lens in the listed camera system. Samsung lists a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro camera on the A57.
Rank #4
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
The A57 has a dedicated macro camera in its listed rear setup, while Apple’s specifications describe a 2x optical-quality mode. Megapixel counts and camera count alone cannot establish which phone produces better pictures. No comparable camera test is available here to settle image quality in different lighting or for video.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →What do the battery and software-support claims establish?
Samsung lists the A57 battery at 5000mAh typical capacity. That figure is not a runtime test, and it cannot be directly compared with iPhone 17 battery life: Apple’s cited technical specifications do not provide an equivalent mAh capacity. The available figures therefore do not show which phone lasts longer in everyday use.
Best Value
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Samsung says the A57 will receive up to six generations of Android and One UI upgrades and up to six years of security updates. Its regional product page specifies security updates through March 31, 2032. Apple’s software-support end date was not established in the cited specifications, so a precise support-duration comparison is not available.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Galaxy A57 5G if you want the larger 6.7-inch display, prefer Android, or the lower announced U.S. starting price is your priority.
- Choose the iPhone 17 if you prefer iOS, want the smaller 6.3-inch display, or value Apple’s listed 48MP main and ultrawide cameras and 256GB entry storage.
- Compare exact configurations before buying if price is decisive: the announced base storage differs, and retailer or carrier offers can change the checkout amount.
Neither set of specifications alone proves a performance, camera-quality or battery-life winner. Those questions require comparable testing, not a comparison of processor names, megapixels or capacity figures.
Quick Recap
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.
