iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Here's how Apple's and Samsung's flagships could compare
Which big-screen smartphone should you buy?
As September approaches, Apple is set to unveil its latest iPhones, with the Pro Max model expected to be the star of the show. However, this year, it faces competition from Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra. Both devices boast impressive specs, but there are notable differences to consider.
Design-wise, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumored to be only slightly different from its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It will maintain a 6.9-inch OLED display, though it may be about 0.25mm thicker and heavier due to a larger battery. The Dynamic Island will also be around 35% smaller, but the screen resolution and refresh rate remain largely unchanged. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a slightly higher resolution of 3,120 x 1,440, resulting in a sharper 505ppi display compared to the iPhone's 460ppi.
Underneath the hood, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra powers up with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and either 12 or 16GB of RAM, depending on the model. This configuration promises to deliver impressive performance, even surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro Max in certain benchmarks. However, Apple's upcoming A20 Pro chip, featuring a 2nm manufacturing process, is expected to deliver a 18% speed boost and 30% better power efficiency, potentially outperforming the Galaxy S26 Ultra in these areas.
When it comes to cameras, both phones have competitive offerings. The iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 48MP main camera with variable aperture, complemented by 48MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, on the other hand, boasts a larger 200MP main sensor, along with a 50MP ultrawide and 10MP telephoto lenses.
Both devices also include specialized lenses, but the S26 Ultra introduces a new feature called Privacy Display, which adds an extra layer of security by obfuscating the screen when viewed from unconventional angles.
In terms of pricing, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to start at $1,299 for the 256GB model, with higher tiers reaching $1,499 for 512GB, $1,699 for 1TB, and $2,099 for 2TB. This pricing aligns closely with Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, which launched at $1,299 for the 256GB version, $1,449 for 512GB, and $1,799 for 1TB. Despite the expected price hike for the iPhone, the device remains competitive in terms of features and performance.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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