Which is better, Samsung or Apple?

It depends on what you want. Samsung suits buyers who want long updates and the widest service reach, at any budget. Apple suits people who want a polished, ad-free phone with strong resale value and can pay a premium.

What is the best Samsung phone and the best Apple phone?

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (8.6/10, ₹1,54,999) and Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (8.9/10, ₹1,79,900).

Which gives longer software updates, Samsung or Apple?

On the phones we recommend, Samsung promises longer updates on average (Samsung 6.5 years, Apple 5 years).

Samsung vs Apple: which brand should you buy?

Only the phones we recommend from each brand. Checked 19 October 2026.

Side by side

Best for: Samsung: Buyers who want long updates and the widest service reach, at any budget.Apple: People who want a polished, ad-free phone with strong resale value and can pay a premium.
Phones we recommend: Samsung: 12, ₹11,399 to ₹1,79,999Apple: 5, ₹79,900 to ₹1,79,900
Average updates (our picks): Samsung: 6.5 yearsApple: 5 years
Updates on top phones: Samsung: Galaxy S24 and newer (S25, S26, FE models, Z Fold 6 / Z Flip 6 and later): 7 Android upgrades and 7 years of security patches.Apple: Apple commits to security updates for at least 5 years from the first sale of an iPhone. It does not publish a fixed number of iOS upgrades.
Updates on budget phones: Samsung: Galaxy A16, A17, A26, A36, A56, A37, A57, M16 and F16: 6 Android upgrades and 6 years of security patches. Some A models (e.g. A37) get quarterly, not monthly, patches.Apple: Same pledge for the cheaper iPhones (e.g. iPhone 16e). Apple has no separate budget policy.
Service in India: Samsung: Over 3,000 authorised service points in India (Samsung, Feb 2026). Repairs are carry-in. A pick-up and drop service has existed since 2021 for a fee (Rs 199 then). Within 14 days of activation, a confirmed manufacturing defect can get a replacement at a service centre with box and invoice.Apple: Six Apple Stores in India as of Feb 2026 (BKC and Borivali in Mumbai, Saket in Delhi, Hebbal in Bengaluru, Koregaon Park in Pune, Noida). Repairs also go through Apple Authorised Service Providers; we did not find an official count. iPhones bought abroad do not reliably get free warranty repair in India.
Preloaded apps and ads: Samsung: No ads in One UI on budget phones per FoneArena's Galaxy A17 review, but it preloads third-party apps (Netflix, Truecaller, Snapchat, PhonePe, DailyHunt, Spotify, Microsoft apps). You can decline some during setup. Even the S26 Ultra pulls Meta and Microsoft apps after sign-in.Apple: No third-party bloatware or system ads. iOS is the same worldwide.

Best phone from each, by budget

Under ₹20,000Samsung Galaxy M17 5G₹19,999 • 6.8/10None we recommend
₹20,000 to ₹40,000Samsung Galaxy M47 5G₹26,999 • 7.3/10None we recommend
₹40,000 to ₹80,000Samsung Galaxy S26 FE₹79,999 • 7.9/10Apple iPhone 17e₹79,900 • 7.6/10Compare Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Apple iPhone 17e →
Above ₹80,000Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra₹1,54,999 • 8.6/10Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max₹1,79,900 • 8.9/10Compare Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max →

Common questions

Which is better, Samsung or Apple?: It depends on what you want. Samsung suits buyers who want long updates and the widest service reach, at any budget. Apple suits people who want a polished, ad-free phone with strong resale value and can pay a premium.
What is the best Samsung phone and the best Apple phone?: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (8.6/10, ₹1,54,999) and Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (8.9/10, ₹1,79,900).
Which gives longer software updates, Samsung or Apple?: On the phones we recommend, Samsung promises longer updates on average (Samsung 6.5 years, Apple 5 years).