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Phone comparison

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Short answer

The iPhone 18 Pro Max for most people.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasts longer on a charge and is the pick for video. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is lighter and thinner, and its Privacy Display hides the screen from people beside you. Reviewers found the two close on cameras and charging.

Updated Oct 16, 2026

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra

Reviewers' pick for most people

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

$1,299 launch price

Compass Score 8.9 from 39 critic reviews

Change phone

Get it if you want the longest battery life, the best phone video, or the biggest and best iPhone. It also suits people upgrading from an iPhone 16 Pro or older, and mobile gamers.

Skip it if you own a 17 Pro Max or a recent Pro model, or you want a lighter phone you can use with one hand.

See prices Full review

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,399 launch price

Compass Score 8.6 from 59 critic reviews

Change phone

Get it if you want a lighter, thinner big phone, an S Pen, or a screen that blocks side views. Power users who want a large display and strong cameras also fit.

Skip it if you own a Galaxy S24 or S25, since reviewers found the changes too small to justify upgrading.

See prices Full review

What reviewers found

Topic by topic

Each row is something review sites agreed on. Open a row for the details.

Battery life iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

The iPhone lasts longer. In GSMArena's battery test it scored 19 hours 20 minutes of active use, against 16 hours 23 minutes for the Galaxy. Reviewers still found the Galaxy good for well over a day.

4 sites agree: GSMArena, The Shortcut and 2 more

Build Galaxy S26 Ultra has the edge

The Galaxy is 214g and 7.9mm thick. The iPhone is 249g and 8.8mm. Reviewers called the iPhone heavy and hard to use one-handed.

6 sites agree: The Guardian, Gadgetbyte Nepal and 4 more

Camera No clear winner

Reviewers found the two close. The iPhone is the pick for video. For photos, opinions split: one three-way test put the Galaxy ahead overall and the iPhone ahead for portraits.

5 sites agree: 91mobiles, Digital Camera World and 3 more

Display

Both have a 6.9-inch, 120Hz screen. The iPhone is brighter on paper, at 3000 nits against 2600. Only the Galaxy has a Privacy Display, though reviewers said colors look duller while it is on.

4 sites agree: The Shortcut, CNET and 2 more

Performance iPhone 18 Pro Max has the edge

Both stay smooth in demanding games. Reviewers found the iPhone's chip faster and better at sustained speed. The Galaxy's chip ran cooler than expected.

5 sites agree: Digital Camera World, Trusted Reviews and 3 more

Prices

Where to buy

The lowest prices we track today.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max

Certified refurbished 1 seller from $1,399 See refurbished

See all 1 iPhone 18 Pro Max deal →

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Best Buy New · 256GB $1,099.99 See deal

Samsung New $1,299.99 See deal

Amazon New $1,299.99 See deal Certified refurbished 1 seller from $849.99 See refurbished

See all 13 Galaxy S26 Ultra deals →

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 18 Pro Max means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Weight

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Price (MSRP)

$1,299

$1,399

$200/yr of support

iOS

Android

Processor

Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core

Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Octa-core

Camera zoom

4×

5×

Battery life

19h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

16h 23m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

60W

Wireless charging

25W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Color, 120Hz

2600 nits peak

Software support

—

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Repairability

7/10

iFixit

5/10

iFixit

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

214g (7.5 oz)

Fingerprint

Yes

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

Spec data

How they compare

Choosing the cheaper iPhone 18 Pro Max means giving up most on: Camera zoom, Weight

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Price (MSRP)

$1,299

Price (MSRP)

$1,399

$200/yr of support

iOS

Android

Processor

Apple A20 Pro Hexa-core

Processor

Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Octa-core

Camera zoom

4×

Camera zoom

5×

Battery life

19h 20m

GSMArena Active Use

Battery life

16h 23m

GSMArena Active Use

Wired charging

60W

Wired charging

60W

Wireless charging

25W

Wireless charging

25W

Display

Color, 120Hz

3000 nits peak

Display

Color, 120Hz

2600 nits peak

Software support

—

Software support

Until 2033

7 years guaranteed

Repairability

7/10

iFixit

Repairability

5/10

iFixit

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

Weight

214g (7.5 oz)

Fingerprint

Yes

Highlighted cells indicate the stronger value where a clear winner exists.

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Specifications are sourced from manufacturers and third-party databases and may contain errors. Suggest a correction →

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

DxOMark v6

—

157

photo 160 · video 153

AnTuTu v10

3.46M

3.89M

GSMArena endurance

19h 20m

Active Use

16h 23m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

7/10

5/10

Third-party data

Testing & benchmarks

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

DxOMark v6

—

DxOMark v6

157

photo 160 · video 153

AnTuTu v10

3.46M

AnTuTu v10

3.89M

GSMArena endurance

19h 20m

Active Use

GSMArena endurance

16h 23m

Active Use

iFixit repairability

7/10

iFixit repairability

5/10

Physical comparison

Size & weight

Footprint · to scale

iPhone 18 Pro Max

6.4" × 3.1"

Galaxy S26 Ultra

6.4" × 3.1"

Thickness · to scale

iPhone 18 Pro Max

0.3"

Galaxy S26 Ultra

0.3"

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Height

6.4" (163.4 mm)

6.4" (163.6 mm)

Width

3.1" (78 mm)

3.1" (78.1 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.8 mm)

0.3" (7.9 mm)

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

214g (7.5 oz)

Screen

6.9"

Height

6.4" (163.4 mm)

Height

6.4" (163.6 mm)

Width

3.1" (78 mm)

Width

3.1" (78.1 mm)

Depth

0.3" (8.8 mm)

Depth

0.3" (7.9 mm)

Weight

249g (8.8 oz)

Weight

214g (7.5 oz)

Screen

6.9"

Screen

6.9"

Dimensions shown in inches (mm). Silhouettes are proportionally scaled for visual comparison.

Common questions

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: FAQ

Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 18 Pro Max better for photos and video?

Neither wins outright on photos. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is widely seen as the best phone for video. For photos, one three-way test picked the Galaxy S26 Ultra overall and the iPhone for portraits. The Galaxy also has a second telephoto lens, so reviewers found its zoom more flexible.

Does the iPhone 18 Pro Max have better battery life than the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Yes. The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasted about three hours longer in GSMArena's active use test. The Galaxy S26 Ultra still ran well over a day and a half in CNET's real-world use.

Which charges faster, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Neither wins outright. Reviewers saw both reach about 50% in 15 minutes and over 80% in 30 minutes. The Galaxy S26 Ultra gets to a full charge about 12 minutes sooner.

Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra lighter than the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Yes. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is 214g and 7.9mm thick, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max is 249g and 8.8mm. Reviewers found the iPhone heavy and tiring to hold for long. One said it feels like a brick next to the Galaxy.

Which is better, the iPhone 18 Pro Max or Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Based on aggregated critic reviews, the iPhone 18 Pro Max earns a Compass Score of 8.9 compared to 8.6 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. That 0.3-point gap reflects stronger reviews across the board, though individual priorities like camera quality, battery life, or price could tip the scales the other way. Scores aggregate dozens of expert opinions, so they are a useful starting point, not the final word.

Which phone is more affordable, the iPhone 18 Pro Max or Galaxy S26 Ultra?

The iPhone 18 Pro Max launches at $1,299, which is $100 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,399. Street prices shift after launch, so check current deals for both phones before deciding.

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