The iPhone 17 is the smaller option, with Apple’s A19 chip and a 6.3-inch display. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE gives you a larger 6.7-inch screen, a dedicated 3× optical telephoto camera and a stated seven-generation OS upgrade and seven-year security update commitment. Neither is an automatic winner: screen size, zoom needs, preferred software ecosystem and the deal available where you live matter more than a spec-sheet verdict.
iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S24 FE at a glance
| Specification | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy S24 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED; 2622 × 1206 pixels, 460 ppi; Always-On; adaptive refresh up to 120Hz. Apple says the rounded-corner display measures 6.27 inches as a standard rectangle. Apple specifications | 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X; adaptive 60/120Hz refresh. Samsung lists 6.7 inches measured as a full rectangle and 6.5 inches with rounded corners. Samsung launch announcement |
| Rear cameras | 48MP Fusion main with sensor-shift optical stabilization; 48MP Fusion ultra-wide with 120° field of view; 12MP optical-quality 2× telephoto mode enabled by the main camera. Apple specifications | 50MP wide with OIS; 12MP ultra-wide; 8MP telephoto with 3× optical zoom and OIS. Samsung launch announcement |
| Processor | Apple A19: 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Apple specifications | Exynos 2400e (4nm). Samsung launch announcement |
| Battery and charging | Comparable capacity and charging figures are not stated on the Apple specifications page cited here. Apple specifications | 4,700mAh typical capacity; 4,565mAh rated/minimum capacity. Samsung says wired charging can reach 50% in around 30 minutes with a 25W adapter, sold separately; actual results vary. Samsung launch announcement |
| Storage options | 256GB and 512GB. Apple specifications | Not stated in the cited Samsung launch source. Samsung launch announcement |
| Software update commitment | A comparable duration is not stated on the Apple specifications page cited here. Apple specifications | Seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, according to Samsung’s 2024 announcement. Samsung launch announcement |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68; Apple rates it for a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes under IEC 60529. Apple specifications | Not stated in the cited Samsung launch source. Samsung launch announcement |
| US price context | AT&T showed a $929.99 retail starting price on a comparison page, alongside a trade-in-and-plan-dependent $0/month offer with 36-month bill credits. The page also says the device is no longer available, so this is not a clean current unlocked price. AT&T comparison page | $649.99 US starting price at launch in 2024; this is launch pricing, not a current street price. Samsung launch announcement |
Which phone has the better screen and size?
The Galaxy S24 FE has the larger display: Samsung specifies 6.7 inches, compared with the iPhone 17’s 6.3 inches. The iPhone’s higher listed pixel density is 460 ppi, and both manufacturers list adaptive refresh rates reaching 120Hz. Diagonal measurements are not perfectly equivalent: Apple gives a 6.27-inch standard-rectangle measurement for its rounded display, while Samsung gives 6.5 inches for the S24 FE’s rounded-corner diagonal.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Choose the S24 FE if a bigger viewing area is your priority for video, reading or a roomier interface. The iPhone 17’s smaller stated diagonal may suit someone who wants a less expansive phone, but screen diagonal alone does not establish the full difference in handling or comfort.
How do their cameras differ?
Galaxy S24 FE: dedicated 3× optical telephoto
Samsung lists three rear cameras, including an 8MP telephoto camera with 3× optical zoom and optical image stabilization. That makes the S24 FE the clearer spec-sheet choice if you specifically want a dedicated optical telephoto camera for distant subjects.
#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%.
iPhone 17: two 48MP cameras and a 2× mode
Apple lists a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide with a 120° field of view. It describes a 12MP optical-quality 2× telephoto mode enabled by the main camera, rather than a separate dedicated telephoto camera.
These hardware descriptions do not establish which phone takes better photos or video. No controlled side-by-side image-quality comparison is available here, so treat megapixel counts and zoom labels as specifications, not a verdict on real-world results.
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.
Do the chip and battery specs show which is faster or lasts longer?
The iPhone 17 uses Apple’s A19, specified with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Samsung lists the Exynos 2400e (4nm) for the S24 FE. Those names and core counts are not a direct performance comparison; no controlled benchmark between these specific phones is established here.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Samsung states a typical battery capacity of 4,700mAh and a rated/minimum capacity of 4,565mAh. It says the phone can reach 50% charge in around 30 minutes using a 25W adapter sold separately, with actual results varying. Those figures cannot establish which phone lasts longer in daily use: comparable controlled battery-endurance results are not available here, and the cited Apple specifications page does not provide an equivalent capacity figure.
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%.
Which has the clearer long-term software commitment?
Samsung announced seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the Galaxy S24 FE. Apple’s iPhone 17 specifications page cited here does not state a comparable support duration. That omission should not be read as proof that Apple has no update policy; it means the two cited sources do not provide matching figures for a direct duration comparison.
If a stated update timetable is important to your purchase, Samsung’s commitment is explicit. Also consider which platform you already use: iPhone 17 runs Apple’s iOS ecosystem, while the S24 FE is an Android phone. Your existing devices, services and preferred apps may make that decision more consequential than chip naming.
Rank #4
- 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%.
What is the price difference?
The available US figures are not like-for-like current prices. Samsung’s $649.99 figure is the S24 FE’s 2024 launch starting price. AT&T’s comparison page showed a $929.99 iPhone 17 retail starting price, but also presented a conditional $0/month promotion requiring an eligible trade-in and plan over 36 months—and warned that the device was no longer available. Neither figure establishes what an unlocked phone costs today, so subtracting one from the other would produce a misleading current price difference.
Before buying, compare the same storage capacity and check the final checkout price, stock, taxes, unlocked or carrier status, trade-in eligibility, qualifying plan and bill-credit term. A monthly promotion is not equivalent to an upfront unlocked price.
Quick Recap
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.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Galaxy S24 FE if you want the larger stated display, a dedicated 3× optical telephoto camera or Samsung’s published seven-generation OS and seven-year security commitment.
- Choose the iPhone 17 if you prefer Apple’s iOS ecosystem, want the smaller stated screen, or value its listed 48MP main and ultra-wide cameras and A19 platform.
- Compare the actual offers before deciding if price is the deciding factor. The documented US figures above come from different contexts and do not establish a current, same-capacity unlocked price gap.
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.
