Side-by-side technical data
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Comparison between Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max: camera, battery, fast charging, display, performance and colors, side by side. More phones from Samsung and Apple.
NeoTeo's verdict
Which of the two is the better buy
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max are closely matched overall: Samsung charges faster, while the iPhone has the camera edge. Their overall scores, 8.9 and 8.8, leave no clear winner.
Samsung’s display is sharper: 1440 × 3120 px and 500 ppi, compared with 1320 × 2868 px and 460 ppi on the iPhone. Apple reaches 3,000 nits versus 2,600, and PhoneArena found Samsung’s anti-reflective coating better for outdoor viewing. They also differ in size and weight: Samsung is 214 g and 7.9 mm thick; iPhone is 249 g and 8.8 mm. PhoneArena found the Samsung more comfortable to hold.
The iPhone has a 48 MP 4x telephoto; Samsung’s is 10 MP with 3x zoom, while its main camera is 200 MP against the iPhone’s 48 MP. SuperSaf found the iPhone stronger in low light and more natural for portraits, but saw more detail from Samsung’s ultrawide and telephoto cameras. The iPhone battery is larger, 5,567 mAh versus 5,000 mAh, and PhoneArena measured longer video playback; Samsung counters with 60 W versus 40 W charging. Storage tops out at 1 TB on Samsung and 2 TB on iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better buy for anyone who values 60 W charging and 16 GB of RAM.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better buy for anyone who wants 4x optical zoom and up to 2 TB of storage.
The verdict
Neither runs away with it: each wins something.
| Category | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Design & display | 8.6 | 8.3 |
| Performance & hardware | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Camera | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| Connectivity | 9.5 | 9.6 |
| Battery & charging | 8.7 | 8.2 |
Which one is for you?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, if you care about…
- AnTuTu Score
- 3,892,165
- against 3,010,000
- RAM Capacity
- 16 GB
- against 12 GB
- RAM Type
- LPDDR5X
- against DDR5
- Display Pixel Density
- 500 ppi
- against 460 ppi
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, if you care about…
- Battery Capacity
- 5,567 mAh
- against 5,000 mAh
- Display Technology
- LTPO OLED
- against Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Maximum Storage Capacity
- 2 TB
- against 1 TB
- Peak Display Brightness
- 3,000 nits
- against 2,600 nits
Video reviews
The comparison on video
iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra - Which is the Flagship KING?
SuperSaf · 17:45
YouTube videos picked by relevance. They belong to the channels shown, not to NeoTeo.
Specification comparison
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Model | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A20 Pro |
| Processor Process Size | 3 nm | 2 nm Best value |
| Graphics GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 840 | Apple A20 Pro GPU |
| Storage Type | UFS 4.1 | NVMe |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 4.74 GHz | 4.9 GHz Best value |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 1 TB | 2 TB Best value |
| AnTuTu Score | 3,892,165 Best value | 3,010,000 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 3,710 | 4,459 Best value |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 11,284 | 13,493 Best value |
| CPU Description | Octa-core CPU with 2×4.74 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6×3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores. | Hexa-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. |
| Processor Type | Octa-Core | Hexa-Core |
| 64-Bit Processor | Yes | Yes |
| RAM Capacity | 16 GB Best value | 12 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5X Best value | DDR5 |
| AnTuTu version | v11 | v11 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 7,744 | — |
Design
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Body Colors | Black, White, Silver, Blue, Gold, Grey, Purple, Cyan, Pink | Black, Silver, Burgundy, White, Blue, Brown, Cyan |
| Body Thickness | 7.9 mm Best value | 8.8 mm |
| Body Width | 78.1 mm | 78 mm |
| Body Height | 163.6 mm | 163.4 mm |
| Weight | 214 g Best value | 249 g |
| Usable Surface | 90.7 % | 90.7 % |
| Body Materials | Glass, Aluminium Alloy | Glass, Aluminium Alloy |
| Resistance Features | IP68 | IP68 |
| Waterproof Depth | 1.5 m | 6 m Best value |
| Drop Resistance Class | A | — |
| Repairability Class | C | — |
| Drop Test Count | 270 | — |
Battery
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Efficiency Rating | B | — |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,567 mAh Best value |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Fast Charge Power | 60 W Best value | 40 W |
| Battery Features | Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging, Bypass Charging, Battery Level Indicator Best value | Fast Charging, Wireless Charging, Reverse Charging, Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator |
| Battery Endurance | 55 h | — |
| Wireless charging power | 25 W | 25 W |
| Charge cycles | 1,200 | — |
| Reverse wireless charging power | 4.5 W | — |
Display
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display Aspect Ratio | 19.5:9 | 19.5:9 |
| Display Technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | LTPO OLED Best value |
| Peak Display Brightness | 2,600 nits | 3,000 nits Best value |
| Display Diagonal | 6.9″ | 6.9″ |
| Display Horizontal Resolution | 1,440 px Best value | 1,320 px |
| Display Vertical Resolution | 3,120 px Best value | 2,868 px |
| Display Pixel Density | 500 ppi Best value | 460 ppi |
| Display Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 240 Hz | — |
| Display Features | Hole-Punch Notch, HDR10, HDR10+, Always-On Display, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, LTPO, DC Dimming, DCI-P3, 10-Bit Panel, Scratch Resistant, Anti-reflective coating, Mohs Level 6, Stylus Support | Hole-Punch Notch, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Always-On Display, LTPO, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Scratch Resistant, Ceramic Shield, Anti-reflective coating, DCI-P3 |
Sensors
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor Placement | Under Display | — |
Sensor
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Features | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass, Barometer, Cooling System, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass, Barometer, Light Sensor, Cooling System, 3D face recognition, LiDAR Scanner |
Software
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 16 | iOS 27 |
| OS Family | Android | iOS |
| OS Version | 16 | 27 |
| OS Update Support | 7 years | 7 years |
| Direct OS Updates | No | Yes Best value |
| Google Services | Yes | — |
Connectivity
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| SIM Configurations | Dual Nano-SIM, Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual eSIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM Best value | Nano-SIM + eSIM, Dual Nano-SIM, Dual eSIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Cellular Bands | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B8, 3G UMTS 1700 AWS, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B25, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B28A, 4G LTE B28B, 4G LTE B32, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B66, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n25, 5G NR n26, 5G NR n28a, 5G NR n28b, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n48, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n75, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78 | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B8, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B13, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B25, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B28A, 4G LTE B28B, 4G LTE B30, 4G LTE B32, 4G LTE B34, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B39, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B42, 4G LTE B48, 4G LTE B53, 4G LTE B66, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n25, 5G NR n26, 5G NR n28a, 5G NR n28b, 5G NR n30, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n48, 5G NR n53, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n70, 5G NR n75, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78, 5G NR n79 |
| Cellular Technologies | GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, 5G | GSM, HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Tri-Band, Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO, Wi-Fi Password Sharing | Tri-Band, Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, MIMO |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 6.0 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE | A2DP, LE |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC |
| Connectivity Features | UWB, NFC, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, USB Type-C, eSIM, VoLTE, OTA Sync, Tethering, Satellite Connectivity, Computer Sync, DisplayPort output, ANT+ | UWB, Satellite Connectivity, NFC, USB Type-C, USB Host 3.2, DisplayPort output, eSIM, VoLTE, VoWiFi, OTA Sync, Tethering, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) |
| USB Version | USB 3.2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Best value |
| SAR American Head | 1.09 W/kg Best value | 1.19 W/kg |
| SAR American Body | 1.19 W/kg | 1.19 W/kg |
| SAR (EU) head | 1.28 W/kg Best value | 1.49 W/kg |
| SAR (EU) body | 1.35 W/kg | — |
| Max. download speed | 12,500 Mbps Best value | 6,000 Mbps |
| Max. upload speed | 3,500 Mbps | — |
Audio
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone Count | 2 | — |
| Audio Features | Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res Audio, Noise-Cancellation Microphone, A2DP, LE | Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos, Noise-Cancellation Microphone, Three Microphones, A2DP, LE |
Technical
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Model numbers | SM-S948B, SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948U, SM-S948U1, SM-S948W, SM-S948N, SM-S9480, SM-S948E, SM-S948E/DS | — |
Related comparisons
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Google Pixel 11 Pro XL
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs vivo iQOO 15
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Motorola Razr Fold
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Xiaomi 18 Fold
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs vivo X500 5G
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Huawei Mate 80 RS Ultimate
- Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
