iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins 7-Round Face-Off Against Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Sep 19
iPhone 18 Pro Max Wins 7-Round Face-Off Against Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299
3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Sep 19
Summary
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max took the overall win in a seven-category comparison with Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra, with both flagship phones starting at the same $1,299 price.
The iPhone won on design, cameras, performance and battery life, helped by its A20 Pro chip, mechanical variable-aperture camera and nearly 18.5-hour battery result versus 16 hours 40 minutes for Samsung.
Samsung still claimed the display and software/AI rounds, with its Privacy Display, built-in S Pen, DeX desktop mode and Gemini-powered features standing out as key differentiators.
Benchmark and camera tests showed a mixed picture: Apple led in Geekbench 6 and graphics, while Samsung posted a higher 83,047 AI score and stronger long-range zoom performance.
The verdict positions the iPhone 18 Pro Max as the more rounded flagship, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra remains the stronger pick for users prioritizing AI tools, productivity features and privacy hardware.