iPhone 18 Pro Max Challenges Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299 With 5,567 mAh Battery

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Sep 16

$1,299 flagship rivals now face off with Apple pitching the iPhone 18 Pro Max on battery life, camera control and ecosystem fit, while Samsung leans on the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s stylus, customization and zoom.
5,567 mAh gives the iPhone 18 Pro Max its clearest hardware edge—Apple says up to 30 hours of use, 50% charge in 15 minutes and as much as six more hours than the prior model.
48MP cameras on the iPhone gain a new variable-aperture system for the 24mm main lens, adding manual control over photos and video; Samsung counters with a 200MP main camera and stronger long-range shooting via 3x and 5x optical zoom.
6.9-inch displays and matching starting prices leave software and workflow as the main differentiators: Apple’s A20 Pro is its first 2-nanometer iPhone chip, while Samsung pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with an included S Pen.
September 18 is Apple’s ship date after preorders opened, while Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is already on sale, underscoring that the choice largely comes down to ecosystem and preferred features rather than price.