Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: The Ultimate Flagship Showdown
📊 Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.81″ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 165Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits peak brightness | 6.9″ LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 2000 nits peak brightness |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels (~503 ppi) | 1320 x 2868 pixels (~460 ppi) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (3 nm) | Apple A19 Pro (2 nm) |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage Options | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Rear Cameras | Quad: 200MP (wide), 50MP (periscope telephoto, 5x), 50MP (telephoto, 3x), 50MP (ultrawide) | Triple: 48MP (wide), 12MP (periscope telephoto, 5x), 48MP (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 50MP | 12MP |
| Battery Capacity | 5500 mAh | 4685 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless | Fast charging, MagSafe wireless charging, Qi2 wireless charging, reverse wired charging |
| Operating System | Android 16 with One UI | iOS 19 |
| Build | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor front and back, IP71 rating | Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield front and back, IP68 rating |
| Weight | 232g | 227g |
| Additional Features | S Pen support, Samsung DeX, UWB support | Face ID, LiDAR scanner, UWB support, Emergency SOS via satellite |
📱 Design & Build Quality
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a robust titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Armor on both front and back, providing durability and a premium feel. It boasts an IP71 rating, offering resistance against dust and water.
iPhone 17 Pro Max also sports a titanium frame, complemented by Ceramic Shield glass on the front and back. With an IP68 rating, it ensures protection against dust and water ingress.
🔋 Battery & Charging
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is equipped with a substantial 5500 mAh battery, supporting 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max houses a 4685 mAh battery, offering fast charging capabilities, MagSafe wireless charging, Qi2 wireless charging, and reverse wired charging.
📸 Camera Capabilities
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra:
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Rear Cameras: Quad setup featuring a 200MP wide sensor, 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens.
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Front Camera: 50MP sensor capable of high-resolution selfies and video calls.
iPhone 17 Pro Max:
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Rear Cameras: Triple setup with a 48MP wide sensor, 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 48MP ultrawide lens.
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Front Camera: 12MP sensor with advanced features like Face ID and LiDAR scanning.
⚙️ Performance & Software
Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, coupled with 12GB or 16GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and gaming experiences. It operates on Android 16 with Samsung’s One UI interface.
iPhone 17 Pro Max is powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chip, paired with 12GB of RAM, delivering efficient performance and energy management. It runs on iOS 19, offering a seamless and secure user experience.
🎮 Gaming & Multimedia
Both devices are equipped with high-refresh-rate displays and powerful processors, making them suitable for gaming and multimedia consumption. The Galaxy S26 Ultra‘s 165Hz display provides ultra-smooth visuals, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max‘s Super Retina XDR OLED ensures vibrant and accurate colors.
🔐 Security & Additional Features
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Galaxy S26 Ultra: Features an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, S Pen support for productivity tasks, and Samsung DeX for a desktop-like experience.
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iPhone 17 Pro Max: Utilizes Face ID for secure authentication, includes a LiDAR scanner for augmented reality applications, and offers Emergency SOS via satellite for enhanced safety.
💰 Pricing & Availability
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Expected to be priced around $1913 USD.
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iPhone 17 Pro Max: Anticipated starting price is approximately $1801 USD.
🏁 Conclusion
Both the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max represent the pinnacle of smartphone technology in 2025. The choice between the two largely depends on user preference regarding operating systems, ecosystem integration, and specific feature requirements.
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Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you value a higher-resolution camera system, S Pen functionality, and a more customizable Android experience.
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Opt for the iPhone 17 Pro Max if you prefer seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem, advanced security features like Face ID, and a consistent iOS environment.