Versus Engine
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — iPhone 17 Pro Max against Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, side by side.
Cheaper to start
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Starts about $100 lower.
Rated higher
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
9.5 vs 9.4 on our design scale.
Standout
iPhone 17 Pro Max
6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
iPhone 17 Pro Max
Apple's flagship at $1,199 — the best video capture on a phone, inside a deliberately closed system.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Advanced camera features with on-device AI for smart photo capture
- Regular iOS updates ensure long-term software support
- Ceramic Shield provides superior scratch resistance and durability
Cons
- High price point of $1199 may be prohibitive for some users
- Closed ecosystem limits flexibility and customization options
Specifications
- 5GiPhone + 5G = a superfast experience
- AP—
- Battery—
- Camera—
- Camera FeaturesSmart Take uses on-device AI to detect when people are posed and automatically takes the picture
- Ceramic ShieldCeramic Shield 2 on the front, with better scratch resistance, and Ceramic Shield on the back for added durability
- Charge—
- Chipvapor-cooled A20 Pro chip
- cpu—
- iOS Updatesregular iOS updates keep your iPhone feeling new for years to come
- key_features6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Triple Camera system, 12GB RAM
- stylus—
- Water Resistancestands up to splashes from everyday liquids like water, coffee, and soda
- Wireless ChargingSnap on a MagSafe Charger for faster wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung's top Galaxy S26 model, with long-range zoom cameras and S Pen AI tools.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- High-end display
- S-Pen utility
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
Specifications
- 5G—
- APCustomized processor Improved NPU, GPU and CPU
- Battery31 hrs of video playback
- Camera200 MP Wide F1.4, 50 MP Tele F2.9
- Camera Features—
- Ceramic Shield—
- ChargeUp to 75 % in around 30 mins
- Chip—
- cpuSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6
- iOS Updates—
- key_features—
- stylusS-Pen
- Water Resistance—
- Wireless Charging—