Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max – Which One Should You Buy?
Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max can be a tough decision when both are premium flagships with cutting‑edge tech. We’ve compared design, display, performance, camera, battery, software and many other features to help you pick wisely.
Watch the video below for a fast side‑by‑side look, then scroll down for the full breakdown.
Whether you care most about photography, gaming, multitasking or everyday use, this Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max comparison gives you a clear, simple answer.
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max – Full Specs
| Feature Name | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max | 🏆 Best |
| Display Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X / COE OLED | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | Tie (both top-tier OLED) |
| Display size | 6.89 – 6.9 in | 6.9 in | Tie |
| Display Ratio | ~21:9? (slimmer bezels) | 19.5:9 | S26 Ultra (slightly more screen) |
| Resolution | QHD+ (~3120×1440) | 1320×2868 | S26 Ultra (higher res) |
| Display PPI Density | ~500 ppi | ~458 ppi | S26 Ultra |
| Outer Glass protection | Gorilla Victus 2 | Ceramic Shield (2025 gen) | Tie |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | Tie |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 | Tie |
| thickness | ~slimmer than S25 Ultra’s 8.2 mm | – | S26 Ultra (thinner) |
| Main camera | 200 MP Sony + 50 MP UW + 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× | 48 MP wide + 48 MP periscope + 48 MP ultrawide | S26 Ultra (more versatile sensors) |
| Ultra wide | 50 MP | 48 MP | S26 Ultra |
| Depth | ToF 3D LiDAR? | LiDAR | Tie |
| Video Rec | 8K/4320p? (120 Hz) likely | 4K@60 (some at 100/120) | S26 Ultra (higher res) |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 24 MP | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
| Selfie camera features | Likely HDR, gyro‑EIS | HDR Dolby Vision, spatial audio | iPhone |
| OS | Android 15 / One UI | iOS 26 | Tie (personal preference) |
| CHIP | Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 / 8 Gen 4 | A19 Pro | Tie (both top-tier) |
| Processor | Hexa‑core up to ~5 GHz | Hexa‑core | Tie |
| Graphic | Adreno GPU (latest) | 6‑core Apple GPU | Tie |
| Antutu | Expected higher (~1.8–2M) | Likely optimized ~1.7M+ | S26 Ultra (raw performance) |
| Weight | ~228 g | (unspecified) likely ~230 g | Tie |
| Internal storage | 256/512 GB, 1 TB | 256/512 GB, 1 TB | Tie |
| Storage Type | NVMe + microSD | NVMe | S26 Ultra (expandable) |
| RAM | 12/16 GB | 12 GB | S26 Ultra (optionally 16 GB) |
| Memory card | microSD up to 1 TB supported | None | S26 Ultra |
| Battery | ~5000 mAh (si‑carbon up to 6k mAh leak) | – | S26 Ultra (capacity) |
| Battery (dup) | – | Li‑Ion (typical Apple) | S26 Ultra |
| Fast Charging | 45‑65 W wired | PD2.0 (unknown watt) | S26 Ultra |
| Wireless charging | 15 W Qi2 | 25 W MagSafe | iPhone |
| Reverse charging | Yes (4.5 W wired) | No | S26 Ultra |
| Network | GSM/CDMA/HSPA/EVDO/LTE/5G SA/NSA/Sub‑6/mmWave | Same | Tie |
| Finger print | Under‑display | Face ID only | S26 Ultra (fingerprint) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 | Tie |
| Port | USB‑C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort | USB‑C 3.2 Gen 2 | Tie |
| Infrared port | No | No | Tie |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| WiFi | Wi‑Fi 7 | Wi‑Fi 7 | Tie |
| Headphones Aux | None | None | Tie |
| Positioning | GPS L1+L5, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | same | Tie |
| Radio | No | No | Tie |
| Speaker | Stereo | Stereo | Tie |
| 3.5 mm jack | No | No | Tie |
| Colors | Phantom Black, Green, Red | Black + others | Tie |
| Features | S‑Pen support, ProVisual Engine, UWB, satellite SOS | Spatial video/audio, SL 3D, LiDAR, satellite SOS | Tie |
| Price | ₹1,59,990 ($~1,600) | Estimated ₹1,64,900 ($2,300) | S26 Ultra (cheaper) |
