The festive season is when premium phones see their biggest price cuts of the year, and 2026 is no different. Amazon’s Great Indian Festival starts on October 8th, with early deals already live, and some of the best festive mobile offers this year are on flagships that launched at much higher prices. Amazon says SBI credit and debit card holders get a 10 per cent instant discount, including on EMI transactions, while Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card holders get 5 per cent unlimited cashback as Prime members, or 3 per cent otherwise.
If you are shopping at the top end, four phones deserve a close look: Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold7, and Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. All four remain among the most capable phones on sale, and each comes with clear strengths and a few compromises. They are listed below in order of price, with what each phone does well, where it falls short and who it suits best.
Table of Contents
1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: ₹84,999
The Galaxy S25 Ultra launched at ₹1,29,999, and is now available at a heavily discounted price, which makes it the most affordable phone on this list. Its Amazon Great Indian Festival effective price: ₹84,999. Counterpoint’s data shows it was India’s best-selling premium smartphone above ₹90,000 from January 2025 to February 2026. At it’s lucrative deal price, you get a 6.9-inch QHD+ display with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM, a titanium frame and a built-in S Pen.
- What’s good: the camera is the standout. A 200MP main sensor is joined by a 50MP ultrawide and two telephoto lenses, at 3x and 5x, with 10x optical-quality zoom and Space Zoom up to 100x. Galaxy AI adds useful tools such as Circle to Search, Gemini Live, Now Brief and Audio Eraser, along with Generative Edit for reworking photos, Chat Assist for adjusting the tone of messages and, since the One UI 8.5 update, Creative Studio for making wallpapers and stickers. Samsung also promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. The 5,000mAh battery is rated for up to 31 hours of video playback, the same as the iPhone 17 Pro.
- What to know: at 218g it is heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro, its 12MP front camera has a lower resolution than Apple’s 18MP unit, and Apple’s newer A19 Pro chip is ahead in single-core performance.
- Best for: anyone who wants a complete flagship with the longest zoom on this list, for the lowest price here.
2. Apple iPhone 17 Pro: ₹1,34,900
The iPhone 17 Pro costs ₹1,34,900 for the 256GB model. It has a 6.3-inch display that reaches 3,000 nits outdoors, Apple’s A19 Pro chip with a vapour chamber to keep performance steady, and a 204g aluminium body rated IP68.
- What’s good: video is its strongest point. Apple says the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are the first smartphones to support ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock, and the phone records 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 120fps. All three rear cameras are 48MP, the 4x telephoto gives up to 8x optical-quality zoom, and the 18MP Center Stage front camera shares the highest selfie resolution on this list with the Pro Max.
- What to know: it costs ₹14,901 more than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, yet its screen is smaller, its zoom stops at 8x optical quality against the Galaxy’s 10x and 100x Space Zoom, and there is no stylus. Apple Intelligence brings Writing Tools, Clean Up and Live Translation, but the new Siri AI is still in beta and available in English to start.
- Best for: video creators and buyers who already use other Apple devices.
3. iPhone 17 Pro Max: ₹1,42,400
The iPhone 17 Pro Max costs ₹1,42,490. It shares the A19 Pro chip, camera system and pro video features of the 17 Pro, and adds a larger 6.9-inch display and a bigger battery.
- What’s good: battery life is the headline. Apple rates it for up to 37 hours of video playback, the longest on this list. The screen reaches 3,000 nits outdoors, the body is rated IP68, and you get the same 18MP Center Stage front camera and 8x optical-quality zoom as the smaller model.
- What to know: at 231g it is the heaviest phone here, and at this price it is still a single-screen phone with the same cameras as the cheaper 17 Pro. For ₹5,099 more, the Galaxy Z Fold7 gives you a phone that opens into an 8-inch screen.
- Best for: heavy users who want the longest battery life and the biggest iPhone screen.
4. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: ₹1,29,999
The Galaxy Z Fold7 launched at ₹1,74,999 and will be available for ₹1,29,999, ₹45,000 below its launch price. It is a 6.5-inch phone when closed and an 8-inch screen when open, and Samsung has made it remarkably slim, at 8.9mm folded, 4.2mm unfolded and 215g.
- What’s good: folded, it is only 0.15mm thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max and 16g lighter, yet it opens into a screen large enough to read documents, edit photos or run apps side by side. It shares the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy with the S25 Ultra, has a 200MP main camera alongside a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP 3x telephoto, and brings Galaxy AI to the big screen, including Gemini Live, Photo Assist, Audio Eraser and Now Brief. Both displays reach 2,600 nits, and Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates.
- What to know: the 4,400mAh battery is rated for up to 24 hours of video playback, well short of the Pro Max’s 37 hours. It is rated IP48 rather than IP68, so it has less protection against dust, the telephoto stops at 3x, and it does not support the S Pen.
- Best for: anyone who wants a phone and a tablet in one, for work, reading or entertainment.
Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro
These two are the closest rivals on this list, and on most counts the Galaxy S25 Ultra gives you more. It has a larger 6.9-inch screen, a 200MP main camera, a second telephoto lens with 100x Space Zoom, a built-in S Pen and the same 31 hours of rated video playback, all for ₹14,901 less at list prices. The iPhone 17 Pro is lighter, has a higher-resolution front camera, a newer chip and the stronger toolkit for professional video. If those matter most, it is a fine choice. For most buyers, though, the S25 Ultra is the better all-round deal and one of the strongest smartphone offers of the season.
Galaxy Z Fold7 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
This is a choice between two different ideas of a big-screen phone. The iPhone 17 Pro Max makes a regular phone bigger, with the longest battery life here, IP68 protection, 8x optical-quality zoom and Apple’s pro video tools. The Galaxy Z Fold7 costs ₹5,099 more but gives you two screens in one: a 6.5-inch cover screen for everyday use and an 8-inch inner screen for everything else, in a body that is lighter than the Pro Max and barely thicker when folded. If battery life is your top priority, the Pro Max is the safer pick. If you want your premium phone to do more, the Fold7 offers something the Pro Max simply cannot.
Prices and key specs at a glance
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Galaxy Z Fold7 |
Price now | ₹84,999 (12GB + 256GB) | ₹1,34,900 | ₹1,42,490 | ₹1,29,999 |
Display | 6.9-inch QHD+, 2,600 nits | 6.3-inch, 3,000 nits (outdoor) | 6.9-inch, 3,000 nits (outdoor) | 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover, 2,600 nits |
Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Apple A19 Pro | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
Rear cameras | 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x, 50MP 5x | 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 4x | 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 4x | 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x |
Zoom | Up to 100x Space Zoom | Up to 8x optical quality | Up to 8x optical quality | 3x optical |
Front camera | 12MP | 18MP | 18MP | 10MP (cover and main) |
Rated video playback | Up to 31 hours | Up to 31 hours | Up to 37 hours | Up to 24 hours |
Weight | 218g | 204g | 231g | 215g |
Water and dust rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP48 |
Stylus | S Pen built in | No | No | Not supported |
How to make the most of festive mobile offers
A few simple steps can make these mobile phone offers even better. Check bank offers on the payment page, since the SBI instant discount and Amazon Pay ICICI cashback apply at checkout and terms can change during the sale. Compare exchange values for your old phone across stores, and look at No Cost EMI if you would rather spread the cost of a premium phone. Finally, check the storage variant before you pay, as smartphone discounts can differ from one variant to the next.
Verdict
All four phones are excellent, so the right choice depends on what you want from a premium phone. For most buyers, though, the two Samsung phones are the better buys this festive season. The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a bigger screen, more zoom and an S Pen compared with the iPhone 17 Pro, at a lower price, which makes it the standout among this year’s festive smartphone deals. The Galaxy Z Fold7 costs even less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and turns into an 8-inch foldable display, a 200MP camera and a lighter body, giving you a phone and a tablet in one.
The iPhones still have their place. The iPhone 17 Pro is the pick for creators who shoot a lot of video, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the longest battery life here. But if you want the most phone for your money, the two Samsung phones are the best mobile offers on this list.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best premium phone at the Amazon Great Indian Festival 2026?
For most buyers, the Galaxy S25 Ultra offers the most for the money in this group. It costs ₹84,999 for 12GB + 256GB, less than either iPhone, and adds a 200MP camera, 100x Space Zoom, a built-in S Pen and seven years of updates. The Galaxy Z Fold7 is the pick if you want a phone that opens into a tablet.
Galaxy Z Fold7 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: which should you buy?
Buy the Galaxy Z Fold7 if you want a larger screen for work and reading, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max for battery life and durability. The Fold7 opens into an 8-inch display, is 16g lighter and only 0.15mm thicker when folded. The Pro Max is rated for 37 hours of video playback against 24 hours, and carries IP68 against the Fold7’s IP48.
Is the Galaxy S25 Ultra better than the iPhone 17 Pro?
On features for the money, yes. The Galaxy S25 Ultra will cost substantially less than the iPhone 17 Pro during the Amazon Great Festival sale and adds a larger 6.9-inch screen, a 200MP main camera, a 5x telephoto and an S Pen. The iPhone 17 Pro is lighter, has a newer chip and a higher-resolution front camera, and is the better tool for professional video.
Does the Galaxy Z Fold7 support the S Pen?
No. The Galaxy Z Fold7 does not support the S Pen, so anyone who wants a built-in stylus should choose the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Fold7 makes up for it with an 8-inch inner screen for multitasking, a 200MP main camera and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip as the S25 Ultra.
Which premium phone has the longest battery life?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple rates it for up to 37 hours of video playback, the longest in this group. The Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro are both rated for up to 31 hours, and the Galaxy Z Fold7 for up to 24 hours, which is the trade-off for its slim foldable design and two displays.
