Head-to-head
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S26 Ultra
Two flagships, compared spec-for-spec by the people who reviewed both. We tested each phone for two weeks. Here's where each one wins.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
9.2
/ 10
$1,299
7 category wins
VS
Galaxy S26 Ultra
9.0
/ 10
$1,399
6 category wins
Score-by-score
9.5
Display
9.4
9.5
Performance
9.3
9.4
Camera
9.5
8.9
Battery
9.2
8.4
Value
7.8
Spec-by-spec
6.9″ LTPO OLED · 120Hz
Display
6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED · 120Hz
4,000 nits
Peak brightness
2,600 nits
Apple A19 Pro
Chipset
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4
12 GB
RAM
16 GB
256GB → 2TB
Storage
256GB → 1TB
48MP f/1.78
Main camera
200MP f/1.7
5× tetraprism
Telephoto
5× periscope + 3×
5,210 mAh
Battery
5,400 mAh
28W USB-C
Charging (wired)
65W USB-C
25W MagSafe
Charging (wireless)
15W Qi2
Grade-5 titanium
Build
Titanium frame
IP68 (6m/30min)
Water resistance
IP68 (1.5m/30min)
203 g
Weight
232 g
$1,299
Starting price
$1,399
6 years
Software support
7 years
The verdict
Buy the one whose strengths match how you actually use a phone.
These are the closest flagships have been in five years. There is no wrong answer — only a less-right one for you, which depends on whether you weigh the camera, the brightness, the battery, or the price.
May 18, 2026 · MJI News