iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S26+

iPhone 17 Air

At 5.5mm thick, the iPhone 17 Air redefines what a smartphone can look like. The all-aluminum construction is both a design statement and a compromise enabler.

• At 5.5mm, it genuinely feels like holding a credit card with a screen — the thinness is immediately striking and draws constant attention
• Despite the extreme thinness, the phone feels rigid and well-built with no flex under normal use
• Single speaker and reduced haptics are noticeable sacrifices for the thin profile — movies and music lack the immersion of other iPhones

Samsung Galaxy S26+

The S26+ adopts a more "Ultra-like" design with less rounded corners for a unified family look. The Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection are solid. At ~7.3mm thin and ~190g, it's comfortable to hold.

• The more angular design brings it closer to the Ultra aesthetic — Samsung is creating a more unified design language across the S26 family
• IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 mean the S26+ remains one of the more durable options in its class