iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra, short answer: buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max for the longest battery life of any iPhone, the new variable-aperture camera, top video quality and the Apple ecosystem. Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra for the 200MP camera with a 5x periscope, the built-in S Pen, the privacy display and a lighter body. Both are the best phones their brands make in 2026.
Updated 24 October 2026
Design and display
Both have 6.9 inch 120Hz screens, aluminium frames and IP68 water resistance. The S26 Ultra is clearly lighter at about 214 g against about 249 g for the 18 Pro Max, and it is thinner at 7.9 mm. The Samsung's QHD+ AMOLED is sharper on paper and adds a privacy display mode that hides the screen from people beside you. The iPhone's OLED reaches 3000 nits outdoors and has a redesigned Dynamic Island that can show three Live Activities. The S26 Ultra keeps an S Pen inside its body.
Performance
The iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the A20 Pro, Apple's first 2nm chip, with 12GB RAM and a large vapour chamber. The S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with 12GB or 16GB RAM. Both run every game and app with ease. The iPhone tends to hold its speed better in long gaming sessions, while the Samsung gives more freedom for split screen and DeX.
Cameras
The iPhone has three 48MP rear cameras (main, ultra-wide and 4x telephoto, with an 8x optical-quality crop). New this year, the main camera has a variable aperture from f/1.48 to f/4.0 for more control over background blur. The S26 Ultra has a 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP 5x periscope and 10MP 3x telephoto, so it wins for long zoom and concert or wildlife shots. The iPhone wins for video, with very stable footage, natural skin tones and pro video formats. Selfies: 18MP on the iPhone against 12MP on the Samsung.
Battery and charging
Apple rates the 18 Pro Max at up to 45 hours of video playback, the most of any iPhone so far. The S26 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery and also lasts a full heavy day. Charging is close: the iPhone reaches about 50% in 15 minutes with a 60W adapter, and the Samsung supports 60W wired charging. Neither comes with a charger in the box.
Specs side by side
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra, key specs:
- Display: 6.9 inch 120Hz OLED vs 6.9 inch 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED with privacy display
- Chip: A20 Pro (2nm) vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- RAM: 12GB vs 12GB or 16GB
- Rear cameras: 48MP x3, 4x zoom, variable aperture vs 200MP + 50MP + 50MP 5x + 10MP 3x
- Front camera: 18MP vs 12MP
- Battery: up to 45 hours video vs 5,000 mAh
- Charging: 50% in about 15 min (60W) vs 60W wired
- Weight: about 249 g vs about 214 g
- Stylus: no vs built-in S Pen
- Software: iOS 27 vs Android with One UI
Software and updates
The iPhone runs iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence, and works smoothly with AirPods, Apple Watch, Mac and iMessage. Apple usually supports iPhones for many years. Samsung promises seven years of Android and security updates for the S26 Ultra, and Galaxy AI adds tools like Circle to Search and Live Translate.
PTA status of our stock
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a Non Custom / Non PTA (Box Pack) unit: a local SIM works for a limited time, then you register it and pay the PTA tax. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, like all our Android phones, is a PTA Patch Approved box pack unit. SIM setup also differs: the iPhone 18 Pro Max is eSIM only in the USA, Canada, Japan and some other markets, so ask us which variant is in stock. Read our PTA tax guide (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid) for details.
Orders need a 30% advance, the remaining 70% is paid to the courier, delivery takes 48–72 hours, and each phone has a 7-day checking warranty.
Who should buy which
Final verdict on iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra. Buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max (iPhone 18 Pro Max) for battery life, video, resale value and iOS.
Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra) for long zoom, the S Pen, the privacy screen and a lighter phone. Comparing with last year's iPhone? See iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra (iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra). The current price of each storage size is on its model page.
