Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes out ahead overall, scoring 75% to 25% across the categories compared — particularly battery capacity (5000 mAh vs 4823 mAh).
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max scored 25%, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 75%.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is priced around $1199, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra around $1299.
How Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Rank
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple A19 Pro ranks in the top 9% of 37 chipsets we track.
Glass/Aluminum build ranks in the top 40% of 5 build materials we track.
Wi-Fi 7 ranks in the top 25% of 4 Wi-Fi standards we track.
4K@24/25/30/60fps front camera video ranks in the top 43% of 7 front-video specs we track.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ranks in the top 14% of 37 chipsets we track.
Dynamic LTPO AMOLED display ranks in the top 7% of 16 display types we track.
Glass/Aluminum build ranks in the top 40% of 5 build materials we track.
Wi-Fi 7 ranks in the top 25% of 4 Wi-Fi standards we track.
4K@30/60fps front camera video ranks in the top 15% of 7 front-video specs we track.
8K@24/30fps main camera video ranks in the top 63% of 16 video-recording specs we track.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Display
| Spec |
 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.9 in | 6.9 in |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 2600 nits |
| Display type | LTPO Super Retina | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 1440 x 3120 |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Camera
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Main camera resolution | 48 MP | 200 MP |
| Ultrawide camera resolution | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Periscope camera resolution | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Front camera resolution | 18 MP | 12 MP |
| Periscope zoom | 4 x | 5 x |
| Main aperture | 1.8 f | 1.4 f |
| Front aperture | 1.9 f | 2.2 f |
| Ultrawide aperture | 2.2 f | 1.9 f |
| Optical image stabilization | Yes | Yes |
| Main video | 4K@120fps | 8K@24/30fps |
| Front video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps |
| Camera features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Battery
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 4823 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charge time | 20 min | 30 min |
| Wired charging | 25 W | 60 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 25 W |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Performance
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Storage options | 256GB, 512GB, 12GB, 12GB | 256GB, 512GB, 16GB |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Network & Connectivity
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| 5G (sub-6) | Yes | Yes |
| 5G (mmWave) | No | No |
| 5G capable | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth version | 6 | 6 |
| Wi-Fi generation | 7 | 7 |
| SIM type | Nano-SIM/eSIM | Nano-SIM/eSIM |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Build & Design
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 233 g | 214 g |
| Thickness | 8.8 mm | 7.9 mm |
| Build material | Glass/Aluminum | Glass/Aluminum |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Available colors | Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue | Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: OS & Software
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 26 | One UI 8.5 |
| OS version | — | 16 |
| Update policy | Not Specified | 7 Updates |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Audio
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | No | No |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Extras & Features
| Spec |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|---|---|---|
| Desktop mode | No | No |
| Stylus support | No | No |
| Satellite connectivity | No | No |
| Wireless reverse charging | Yes | Yes |
Where each phone wins
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Charge time: 20 min (vs 30 min)
- Front camera resolution: 18 MP (vs 12 MP)
- Front aperture: 1.9 f (vs 2.2 f)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Battery capacity: 5000 mAh (vs 4823 mAh)
- Wired charging: 60 W (vs 25 W)
- Main camera resolution: 200 MP (vs 48 MP)
- Ultrawide camera resolution: 50 MP (vs 48 MP)
- Periscope camera resolution: 50 MP (vs 48 MP)
- Periscope zoom: 5 x (vs 4 x)
- Main aperture: 1.4 f (vs 1.8 f)
- Ultrawide aperture: 1.9 f (vs 2.2 f)
- Brightness: 2600 nits (vs 1000 nits)
- Weight: 214 g (vs 233 g)
- Thickness: 7.9 mm (vs 8.8 mm)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the better battery capacity, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the better battery capacity at 5000 mAh, versus 4823 mAh on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Which has the better main camera resolution, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the better main camera resolution at 200 MP, versus 48 MP on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Which has the better weight, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the better weight at 214 g, versus 233 g on the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Which has the better charge time, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max has the better charge time at 20 min, versus 30 min on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.