Apple’s flagship iPhone is well-designed and packs powerful cameras, but it lacks the software capabilities (and customization depth) of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Pros
- Cameras are outstanding
- A19 Pro chipset is plenty powerful
- Center Stage camera is compelling and useful
Cons
- iOS 26 has its issues
- Apple’s AI features are incomplete at the time of writing
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts better AI features, clever Privacy Display technology, and the S Pen over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but you don’t get any MagSafe-style wireless charging or an iPhone-quality selfie camera.
Pros
- Supremely powerful
- Outstanding software, including Privacy Display
- S Pen included
Cons
- Still no MagSafe-style wireless charging
- No Center Stage-style selfie camera
The iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are the two most obvious choices if you want a no-compromise flagship phone in 2026.
Both are big, powerful, expensive, and built around the same basic promise: you get huge displays, elite cameras, long battery life, high-end performance, and a growing number of AI tools if you’re willing to pay the high asking price.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra are also very different phones. Apple’s flagship is the cleaner, more tightly integrated option, offering iOS and MagSafe. Samsung’s Ultra is the more maximalist device, with the S Pen, a sharper display, a more flexible camera setup, and a software experience packed with Galaxy AI and Google-powered features.
For many people, this choice will come down to ecosystem.
If you already use Apple products like the Apple Watch, MacBook, and iPad, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has an obvious pull. If you prefer Android, multitasking, stylus support, and more control over how your phone works, the Galaxy S26 Ultra makes a very strong case.
But there are still big differences in price, design, display, cameras, performance, software, and battery life between these two phones — so let’s break them down.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: specs comparison
Before we dig into the details, here’s an overview of both phones’ key specs:
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
iPhone 17 Pro Max |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions: |
163.4 x 78 x 8.75mm |
163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9mm |
|
Weight: |
233g |
214g |
|
Display: |
6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
|
Refresh rate: |
1-120Hz |
1-120Hz |
|
Peak brightness: |
3,000 nits |
2,600 nits |
|
Chipset: |
A19 Pro |
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
|
RAM: |
12GB |
12GB / 16GB |
|
Rear cameras: |
48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto |
200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto |
|
Front camera: |
18MP |
12MP |
|
Battery: |
5,088mAh (unofficial) |
5,000mAh |
|
Charging: |
Fast wired charging, 25W wireless |
60W wired, 25W wireless |
|
Storage: |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: price and availability
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max went on sale in September 2025, with prices starting at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149 for the 256GB model. The 17 Pro Max is also available with 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB of storage, with the top configuration rising to $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$3,799.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra arrived later, in March 2026, and starts at $1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149, making it slightly more expensive than Apple’s flagship in the US, slightly more affordable in the UK, and level in Australia at launch.
It’s worth noting that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s storage runs from 256GB to 1TB; there is no 2TB option, unlike with the iPhone.
Both phones are widely available through their makers, carriers, and major retailers, so this is less about finding stock and more about finding the right deal that suits you.
Winner: Tie — unless you specifically need 2TB of storage, in which case the iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it.
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: design
Image 1 of 2
There is no getting away from the fact that these are both very large phones, but Samsung does more to make its Ultra feel slightly more manageable.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly taller and wider than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it is much thinner at 7.9mm and noticeably lighter at 214g.
The softened corners also help it feel less slab-like than older Ultra models, while the built-in S Pen remains Samsung’s clearest hardware advantage.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the more dramatic redesign versus its predecessor. Apple moved to an aluminum unibody (which facilitates the inclusion of a new vapor cooling chamber), added a full-width camera plateau, and kept both the Action button and Camera Control.
As such, the 17 Pro Max feels like a clearer break from the previous few Pro Max models, and the new thermal design gives the changes a practical purpose beyond looks.
Still, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the easier phone to live with day-to-day, giving you the same 6.9-inch screen size in a slimmer, lighter body, while also finding room for a stylus.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: display
Image 1 of 2
Both phones give you an almost tablet-sized 6.9-inch OLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, so either one is built for streaming, gaming, editing photos, reading, and general big-screen phone use.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the brighter panel on paper, with a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits, which gives it an edge if you often use your phone outside.
Samsung fights back with resolution and features. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen is sharper than the iPhone’s display, and its 1-120Hz refresh range gives it the same smooth scrolling and power-saving flexibility you would expect from a top-end flagship.
Samsung’s new Privacy Display feature also gives it a practical advantage in public spaces, especially if you often work from cafes or public transport.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: cameras
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a simpler camera pitch: it’s got three 48MP rear cameras, covering main, ultra-wide, and telephoto shots, plus a new 18MP Center Stage front camera.
Apple is offering a more balanced system than previous Pro Max models — especially now the telephoto camera can handle 4x optical zoom and 8x optical-quality shots — and the selfie camera is also a real upgrade; it uses subject tracking to automatically keep you in the frame, and lets you switch between portrait and landscape modes.
Samsung gives you more hardware to play with. The S26 Ultra has a 200MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 50MP telephoto for longer-range shots, plus a 12MP selfie camera with a wider field of view.
Its camera setup is less of a clean overhaul than Apple’s, but the extra lens and longer zoom range make it more flexible, especially if you often shoot subjects at a distance.
For video, the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports 8K shooting at 30fps, whereas the iPhone is capped at 4K at 120 fps. That said, with its Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW support, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is our favored option for consistent, high-quality video results.
This comparison is a close call because the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the stronger selfie upgrade, a very consistent rear camera setup, and impressive video capabilities. The Galaxy S26 Ultra still has the edge for pure versatility, with more lenses, more zoom reach, and the bigger main sensor.
Winner: Tie
iPhone 17 Pro Max camera samples
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra camera samples
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: performance and software
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs on Apple’s A19 Pro chip, with improved cooling to help it hold high performance for longer.
The 17 Pro Max feels built for heavy use, from gaming and video editing to AI features, and iOS 26 also benefits from Apple’s usual joined-up approach, with the chip, hardware, software, and wider ecosystem all working together.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra counters with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, plus either 12GB or 16GB of RAM. It is a true ultra-premium Android flagship, with more flexibility for multitasking, split-screen apps, S Pen notes, customisation, and productivity.
Samsung is better for flexibility, stylus support, and Android customisation, but the iPhone’s combination of Apple silicon, iOS, cooling, and ecosystem integration gives it more cohesive performance in our testing.
Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: battery
Image 1 of 2
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088mAh battery, based on reported capacity figures (Apple does not share these details officially), and Apple rates it for up to 37 hours of video playback.
In our day-to-day use, it’s comfortably an all-day phone, with enough headroom for heavy camera use, navigation, streaming, and gaming. It also supports fast USB-C charging and 25W MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, so there is very little difference between these two devices in terms of raw capacity, and indeed it carried well past 24 hours of operation in our testing.
Samsung has the advantage for wired charging, with 60W speeds that should get you topped up faster than the iPhone. The S26 also supports 25W wireless charging, putting it on par with Apple there, though there’s no MagSafe-style wireless charging to speak of.
So, this comparison is close… again. The iPhone has excellent endurance and the convenience of MagSafe, but Samsung’s faster wired charging is more useful when you need a quick refill before heading out.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: verdict
The iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are — unsurprisingly — close enough that the “best” choice depends less on raw power and more on how you actually use your phone.
Choose the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you want the smoother all-round experience. Its biggest strengths are consistency, ecosystem integration, long-term performance, and a camera system that feels easy to trust. It’s also the better fit if you already use Apple’s other products.
Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the phone that simply does more. The S Pen, sharper display, lighter design, longer camera reach, faster charging, and broader AI toolkit make it the more versatile device, especially for power users.
Overall, the Galaxy S26 Ultra wins more individual categories, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max may still be the better buy for many people. Samsung has the stronger spec-sheet argument; Apple has the more cohesive flagship experience.
Winner: Tie (sorry!)
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