Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Our take
Two 6.9-inch phones, both well over 200 g, that launched at about the same price. Most people settle this on iPhone versus Android before they look at a spec sheet. If you're genuinely undecided, the iPhone lasts longer on a charge, and the Galaxy has more zoom and a built-in pen.
Choose the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
If your friends are on iMessage and you wear an Apple Watch, you've mostly decided already. Battery is the other reason. This is the longest-lasting iPhone yet, and its single 4x zoom lens covers what most people need.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The better camera for anything far away. Besides the 200 MP main camera it has a 3x and a 5x zoom lens, and the 5x reaches further than any iPhone. Samsung promises seven years of Android updates, and you get the S Pen stylus.
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Best price | No shop here yet | No shop here yet |
| Screen | 6.9" · LTPO OLED · 120 Hz | 6.9" · LTPO AMOLED · 120 Hz |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Memory | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Battery | 5391 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 60 W | 60 W |
| Cameras | 48 MP main (f/1.5–4) · 48 MP ultrawide · 48 MP 4x periscope tele | 200 MP main · 50 MP ultrawide · 10 MP 3x tele · 50 MP 5x periscope |
| Weight | 249 g | 214 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Updates | – | 7 years |