iPhone 17 Pro Max VS Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
We are comparing the iPhone 17 Pro Max (Apple) with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (Samsung). Scroll down to the pros and cons of each phone, in-depth specs, and performance highlights.
Overall Comparison
KEY DIFFERENCES OF iPhone 17 Pro Max AND Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Here’s how iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra stack up against each other in their most impactful areas.
Reasons to consider the iPhone 17 Pro Max
-
4% higher single-core Geekbench score (3895 vs 3753)
-
Higher Selfie Camera Resolution of 18 MP
-
100% more storage (2 TB vs 1 TB)
-
15% brighter (3000 nits vs 2600 nits)
-
Phone unlock via face
Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
-
Higher Main Camera Resolution of 200 MP
-
3% larger battery (5000 mAh vs 4832 mAh)
-
67% higher AnTuTu v11 score (4005831 vs 2400156)
-
33% more RAM (16GB vs 12GB)
-
Higher resolution (1440 x 3120)
-
16% higher multi-core Geekbench score (11259 vs 9746)
-
50% faster charging (60 W vs 40 W)
SPECIFICATION TABLE COMPARISON OF iPhone 17 Pro Max AND Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Below is the detailed specification table comparing iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Note: Highlighted specs mean that Phone wins that spec row.
If neither side is highlighted, it is a tie or there is not enough data for both specs.
| Specification | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
|
General Information
|
||
| Brand: | Apple | Samsung |
| Release Date: | September 19, 2025 | March 6, 2026 |
| Mobile SoC: | A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| GPU: | Apple A19 Pro GPU | Adreno 840 |
| Operating System: | iOS 26 | Android 16 |
| Weight: | 233g | 214 g |
|
Display
|
||
| Display Size: | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Display Resolution: | 1320×2868 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Display Pixels Per Inch: | 458 | 498 |
| Display Technology: | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
| Display Refresh Rate: | 120 | 120 |
| Display Brightness: | 3000 nits | 2600 |
|
Camera
|
||
| Main Camera Setup: | Triple Camera | Quad Camera |
| Main Camera: | 48 MP | 200 MP |
| Main Camera Features: | LiDAR, SmartHDR, Photonic Engine | Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Main Camera Video: | 4K at 30/60fps, 1080p at 30/60fps | 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60/120fps, 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps |
| Selfie Camera: | 18 MP | 12 MP |
| Selfie Camera Video: | 4K at 30/60fps, 1080p at 30/60fps | 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p at 30/60 fps |
|
Standard Lens
|
||
| Megapixels | 48 MP | 200 MP |
| Aperture | f/1.78 | f/1.4 |
| Focal Length | 24 mm | 23 mm |
| Sensor | Sony IMX903 | Samsung ISOCELL S5KHP2 |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.28" | 1/1.3" |
| Pixel Size | 1.22 micron | 0.6 micron |
| Autofocus | Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) | Laser autofocus |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
|
Telephoto Lens
|
||
| Megapixels | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.9 |
| Focal Length | 100 mm | 111 mm |
| Sensor | Sony IMX973 | Sony IMX854 |
| Sensor Size | a1/2.55" | 1/2.52" |
| Pixel Size | 0.7 micron | 0.7 micron |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
|
Ultra-wide Lens
|
||
| Megapixels | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | f/1.9 |
| Focal Length | 13 mm | 13 mm |
| Sensor | Sony IMX972 | Samsung ISOCELL S5KJN3 |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/2.5" |
| Pixel Size | 0.7 micron | 0.7 micron |
| Stabilization | Digital | Digital |
|
Selfie Lens
|
||
| Megapixels | 18 MP | 12 MP |
| Image Resolution | 4896 x 3672 | 4000 x 3000 |
| Aperture | f/1.9 | f/2.2 |
| Focal Length | 20 mm | 23 mm |
| Sensor | Sony IMX914 | Samsung ISOCELL S5K3LU |
| Sensor Size | — | 1/3.2" |
| Pixel Size | 1 micron | 1.12 micron |
| Autofocus | Phase autofocus | Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) |
| Stabilization | Optical | Digital |
|
Battery & Charging
|
||
| Battery Capacity: | 4832 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Battery Life (in hours tested): | 39 | 29 |
| Battery Type: | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Charging Speed: | 40W | 60W |
| Wireless Charging: |
|
|
|
Performance
|
||
| RAM: | 12 GB | 16 GB, 12 GB |
| Storage: | 2TB, 1 TB, 512 GB, 256 GB | 1 TB, 512 GB, 256 GB |
| DxOMark Score: | 168 | 157 |
|
GEEKBENCH V6
|
||
| Single-Core (V6) | 3895 | 3753 |
| Multi-Core (V6) | 9746 | 11259 |
|
ANTUTU SCORE
|
||
| Overall (AnTuTu V11) | 2400156 | 4005831 |
| CPU | 690322 | 1165757 |
| GPU | 897791 | 1539732 |
| MEM | 220128 | 488505 |
| UX | 591915 | 811837 |
| Overall (AnTuTu V10) | 2600719 | 3720219 |
| CPU | 929218 | 1094797 |
| GPU | 976500 | 1447696 |
| MEM | 285782 | 425113 |
| UX | 409219 | 752613 |
|
Connectivity
|
||
| Network Technology: | 5G | 5G |
| SIM Type: | Dual Sim | — |
| Wi-Fi: |
|
|
| Bluetooth: |
|
|
| GPS: |
|
|
| NFC: |
|
|
| USB: | USB Type-C | — |
|
Extras & Build
|
||
| Fingerprint Sensor: |
|
|
| Fingerprint Sensor Type: | — | Under Display |
| Face Recognition: |
|
|
| Water Resistance: |
|
|
| Speaker: | Stereo Speakers | — |
Tip: ▲ indicates a higher-is-better spec advantage, while ▼ indicates a lower-is-better advantage.
PERFORMANCE CHART COMPARISON OF iPhone 17 Pro Max AND Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The charts below visualize how iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra stack up in key performance metrics.
Radar Chart Comparison
Bullet Chart Comparison
SCREEN SIZE COMPARISON OF iPhone 17 Pro Max AND Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Here’s a proportional visualization of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 6.9 inches screen compared to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 6.9 inches display.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
6.9 inches″
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
6.9 inches″
Release Timeline of iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
iPhone 17 Pro Max was released 5 months, 15 days earlier than Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Value For Money Calculator
Prices use available launch or current data. Enter your own prices to see which phone gives better value.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Calculating...
Domain Score Summary
Scores are generated by Comparigon's scoring algorithm and are intended as a high-level guide. They may not map 1-to-1 with the individual spec-by-spec comparisons shown in the table.
Our Verdict
In conclusion, this is a close match and neither phone clearly wins overall. iPhone 17 Pro Max is stronger in Camera and Battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is stronger in Performance and Display. Pick based on what you value most day to day.
Try to Compare Again One of These Phones With Another Phone
Pick which phone to keep, then search for the other phone to compare.
Disclaimer: Specs, pricing, and benchmarks are sourced from official manufacturer data and verified test results. While we strive for precision, product details and pricing may change. Comparigon may earn an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases.