From Engadget · Filipe Espósito · · 3m
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: the real gaps
Two 6.9-inch flagships at $1,299, and the differences come down to zoom, weight, and which ecosystem already owns you.
In brief
Two 6.9-inch flagships at $1,299, and the differences come down to zoom, weight, and which ecosystem already owns you. The hardware is close enough that the tiebreakers are practical: Samsung wins zoom, weight and the S Pen, Apple wins brightness, aperture control and ecosystem fit. Originally reported by Engadget.
Same shape, new year
The iPhone 18 Pro Max looks nearly identical to the 17 Pro Max apart from new colors, including a dark red. It still delivers flagship basics: big screen, three cameras, top chip.
“it still has that classic iPhone form factor”
Two rectangles, one size
Both phones are 6.9 inches and resolutely non-folding. Apple rounds the corners and mixes aluminum with glass on the back, Samsung goes straighter with an all-glass rear.
“They're straight, rectangular devices without a foldable screen in sight.”
Samsung is lighter and thinner
The S26 Ultra weighs 214 grams to the iPhone's 249, and measures 7.9 mm against 8.75 mm. Small numbers, but you feel them after a long session, especially with a case on.
Displays split on brightness
Samsung's AMOLED is sharper at 3,120 by 1,440 versus the iPhone's 2,868 by 1,320, but you won't see it. The iPhone's 3,000 nits against 2,600 is what shows up outdoors.
“the resolution difference between these screens is extremely hard to notice in real life”
The S Pen has no answer
Samsung bundles a stylus for natural note taking. To write on an Apple screen you have to buy the far pricier iPhone Duo and an Apple Pencil.
“you need the very expensive iPhone Duo to use the Apple Pencil”
Apple's variable aperture
All three iPhone lenses are 48MP, and the main sensor now opens and closes its aperture mechanically. That's DSLR-style control almost no phone offers.
“It opens up room for more artistic control over your shots”
Samsung brings two telephotos
A 200MP main sensor lets you crop hard without mush, and separate 3x and 5x lenses cover the reach. The iPhone has one telephoto at 4x.
“it's packed with not one, but two telephoto lenses”
Video: 120 fps vs 8K
The iPhone sticks with 4K up to 120 fps, HDR and Dolby Vision. Samsung shoots 8K, which sounds better than it is since almost nothing plays it back.
“more of a "nice to have" than something most people will actually use”
Battery and charging tie
Both land near 5,000 mAh and last a full day for most people. Both hit 50 percent in about 15 minutes on a 60W charger, so Apple has closed that old gap.
Chips and unlocking
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 beats the A19 Pro in some tests, and Apple answers with the 2nm A20 Pro, still untested in the real world. Face ID versus in-screen fingerprint, Dynamic Island versus punch hole.
Pick your ecosystem
Both start at $1,299 for 256GB. AirPods and an Apple Watch make the iPhone obvious, zoom range and the S Pen make the Galaxy obvious.
“No matter which one you choose, they can both handle everything just fine.”
The takeaway
The hardware is close enough that the tiebreakers are practical: Samsung wins zoom, weight and the S Pen, Apple wins brightness, aperture control and ecosystem fit.
