A fight as old as the term smartphone itself – Apple vs. Samsung has always been a spectacle whether it’s advertising, fan base, features or hardware. So, here is the latest one for you – we put the most recent Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max next to latest Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Size comparison The iPhone 18 Pro Max features a refined iteration of Apple's distinctive design language, combining multi-textured elements in a cohesive chassis.
The phone comes with Ceramic Shield 2 front, aluminum unibody and a Ceramic Shield 1st Gen over the wireless charging coil at the back. The iPhone is IP68-rated, but Apple promises it can survive for 30 minutes in 6m-deep water. The Galaxy S26 Ultra takes a decidedly no-nonsense approach, boasting one of the cleanest and most stylish designs on the market.
It has flat Gorilla Armor 2 at the front and flat Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the back. The frame and the chassis are made of aluminum. The device carries a standard IP68 rating, ensuring water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
Both smartphones have similar footprints as evident by their measurements, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra is noticeably lighter at 214g vs. the monstrous 249g for the iPhone. Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra for its clean looks and lighter body. Display comparison The iPhone 18 Pro Max packs a 6.9-inch LTPO OLED screen with 1320 x 2868 pixels (460ppi), dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision and HDR10 support.
It has a pill-shaped notch and is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 with oleophobic coating. The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 6.9-inch LTPO OLED screen with a higher resolution with 1440 x 3120 pixels or 500ppi, dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. The panel has a small punch-hole, features Gorilla Armor 2 protection, and also offers DX anti-reflective coating plus Privacy Display feature.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra offers higher maximum automatic brightness at 1,480nits vs. 969 nits for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The peak brightness of both devices is rather similar at about 2,800 nits. Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra.
While both screens are feast for the eyes, the one on the Galaxy has a higher resolution, a smaller cutout, and the Privacy Display feature. Battery life The iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by a 5,391mAh battery, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh battery cell. The phones feature different screen panels and chipsets, though, so endurance is not all about capacity.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max achieved an Active Use Rating of 19:20h, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra posted a 16:22h score. The iPhone did better across all on-screen tests – web browsing, video streaming, gaming. Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Charging speed The iPhone 18 Pro Max supports up to 54W wired charging and up to 25W wireless charging. The Galaxy S26 Ultra supports up to 60W wired and up to 25W wireless charging. It also supports reverse wireless charging, something Apple failed to deliver.
The iPhone and the Galaxy reach 50% of charge in 15 minutes, and north of 80% in 30 minutes. A full charge is achieved 12 minutes faster on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, though. Winner: Tie.
Both phones recharge equally fast in the first 30 minutes, which are the ones that matter the most. Speaker test Both the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Galaxy S26 Ultra offer stereo speakers and they both scored a Very Good mark on our loudness test. Furthermore, both phones sound almost the same with equally rich and deep audio output.
Winner: Galaxy S26 Ultra, but only if you care about full charge times.
Source: GSMArena · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing