October 6, 2026
Apple and Samsung are entering into a direct technical confrontation between their most powerful phones, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Galaxy S26 Ultra, in a comparison that highlights the difference in design and technical philosophies between the two giants, according to a report published by the “Neowin” platform.
The two phones match the screen size of 6.9 inches. The Apple phone relies on an “OLED” screen with “ProMotion” technology and a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, while its competitor uses a “Dynamic AMOLED 2X” screen at the same rate. The “iPhone 18 Pro Max” excels in peak brightness, reaching 3,000 nits, compared to 2,600 nits for the Samsung phone, in addition to obtaining a smaller version of the “Dynamic Island” interaction island thanks to the integration of some components of the “Face ID” technology under the screen. On the other hand, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is unique in offering the “Privacy Display” feature, which narrows the side viewing angles to protect sensitive data.
In the imaging system, the “iPhone 18 Pro Max” relies on three 48-megapixel rear cameras, led by a main lens with a variable aperture ranging between f/1.4 and f/4.0 to improve performance in low light and control depth of field, in addition to an ultra-wide camera and another periscope camera with 4x optical zoom, in addition to an 18-megapixel front camera.
On the other end, the “Galaxy S26 Ultra” includes a quad imaging system, which includes a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 10-megapixel (3x) telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel periscope lens that provides 5x optical zoom, in addition to a 12-megapixel front camera.
In terms of performance, the heart of the “iPhone 18 Pro Max” beats with the “A20 Pro” chip developed with 2nm technology, while the “Galaxy S26 Ultra” relies on a customized version of the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5” processor with a manufacturing accuracy of 3nm. The two phones match the minimum amount of random access memory (RAM) of 12 GB, but Apple offers internal storage options of up to 2 terabytes, compared to a maximum of 1 TB in the Samsung phone.
Regarding power, the “iPhone 18 Pro Max” outperforms on paper with a battery capacity of 5567 mAh compared to 5000 mAh for the “Samsung” phone. The two devices support 60 watts of wired charging, while the Apple phone excels in wireless charging at 25 watts, compared to 15 watts for the Samsung phone.
In terms of aesthetics and structural environment, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is noticeably lighter and thinner. Its weight is 214 grams with a thickness of 7.9 mm, compared to 249 grams and a thickness of 8.75 mm for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
To sum up the comparison, Apple is betting in its phone on the power of the “A20 Pro” processor, its main camera with a variable aperture, battery capacity and wireless charging speed, while the “Galaxy S26 Ultra” offers users a main camera with a higher resolution, a longer optical zoom range, and a lighter body, along with the “S Pen” and the privacy protection feature for the screen.
