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I put the iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S26 Ultra through a 7-round face-off - here’s the winner
Tom's Guide • • technology
Key Points:
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are now priced equally at $1,299 for their base 256GB models, leveling the playing field for consumers.
- In design, the iPhone 18 Pro Max impresses with a refined, denser build and ergonomic contours, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a lighter feel and the unique utility of a built-in S Pen.
- Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra features a Privacy Display that protects screen content from side viewing, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers superior brightness and anti-reflective coating for better outdoor visibility.
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max wins on camera performance with its mechanical variable aperture, better low-light shots, and more natural color science, despite Samsung’s advantage in optical zoom and video stabilization features.
- Apple’s A20 Pro chip outperforms Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in CPU and GPU benchmarks, and the iPhone also leads in battery life and charging speed, while Samsung excels in AI processing and productivity features like Samsung DeX.
