Apple
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
Device summary
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Starting price | $1,299 | $1,300 |
| Display size | 6.9-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm | 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 249 g | 214 g |
| Front material | Ceramic Shield 2 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Back material | Ceramic Shield | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display |
| Resolution | 2868 × 1320 | — |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3000 nits | 2600 nits |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield 2 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Apple A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB, 2048 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| RAM | — | 12 GB, 16 GB |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Fusion Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.48–ƒ/4.0 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS | Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom |
| Ultra-wide camera | Fusion Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm | Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Telephoto camera | Fusion Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 100 mm · 4× optical zoom · 3D sensor-shift OIS | Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom |
| Rear camera 4 | — | Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom |
| Front cameras | Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9 | Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 |
| Video recording | 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps | 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | — | 60 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 25 W |
| Charging standard | USB-C, MagSafe up to 25W, Qi2 up to 25W | Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare |
| Video playback (Manufacturer claim) | 45 h | — |
| Streamed video (Manufacturer claim) | 40 h | — |
| Battery type | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion | — |
| Typical capacity | — | 5000 mAh |
| Rated capacity | — | 4855 mAh |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE | 5G, LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi‑Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| USB | USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s) | USB‑C |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite | Emergency SOS via satellite | — |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Aluminum unibody | Armor Aluminum |
| Ingress protection | IP68 | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 2026
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2026
Starting price
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- $1,299
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- $1,300
Display size
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 6.9-inch
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 78.0 mm × 163.4 mm × 8.8 mm
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm
Weight
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 249 g
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 214 g
Front material
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield 2
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Back material
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Display
Display technology
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Super Retina XDR OLED
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display
Resolution
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 2868 × 1320
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- —
Refresh rate
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 120 Hz
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 3000 nits
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2600 nits
Protection
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Ceramic Shield 2
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Chipset
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Apple A20 Pro
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Storage
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB, 2048 GB
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- No
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- No
RAM
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 12 GB, 16 GB
Cameras
Main camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Main · 48 MP · ƒ/1.48–ƒ/4.0 · 24 mm · Second-generation sensor-shift OIS
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom
Ultra-wide camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Ultra Wide · 48 MP · ƒ/2.2 · 13 mm
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9
Telephoto camera
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Fusion Telephoto · 48 MP · ƒ/2.8 · 100 mm · 4× optical zoom · 3D sensor-shift OIS
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom
Rear camera 4
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom
Front cameras
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Center Stage · 18 MP · ƒ/1.9
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2
Video recording
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 60 W
Wireless charging
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 25 W
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 25 W
Charging standard
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- USB-C, MagSafe up to 25W, Qi2 up to 25W
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare
Video playback (Manufacturer claim)
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 45 h
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- —
Streamed video (Manufacturer claim)
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 40 h
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- —
Battery type
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- —
Typical capacity
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
Rated capacity
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- —
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4855 mAh
Connectivity
Cellular
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5G, LTE
Wi‑Fi
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wi‑Fi 7
Bluetooth
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Bluetooth 6
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Bluetooth 6.0
USB
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- USB-C (USB 3, up to 10Gb/s)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- USB‑C
NFC
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Yes
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
eSIM
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Yes
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
Satellite
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Emergency SOS via satellite
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- —
Build & durability
Frame
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Aluminum unibody
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Armor Aluminum
Ingress protection
- iPhone 18 Pro Max
- IP68
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
Galaxy S26 Ultra
35 g lighter
Thickness
Galaxy S26 Ultra
0.8 mm thinner
Height
Very similar height
Width
Very similar width
User Experience Summary
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Strengths
- 60W wired charging — major upgrade over S25 Ultra
- Privacy Display for commuting and office shoulder-surfing resistance
- Brighter 200MP main and versatile periscope zoom
Compromises
- Heavy, wide chassis limits one-handed and pocket comfort
- Aluminum instead of titanium divides premium buyers
- Privacy Display trade-offs and S Pen software stagnation