iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra Match on Size and Battery, Split on Cameras and Weight

The two phones follow similar formulas. Both are straight, rectangular devices without a foldable display, and both measure 6.9 inches diagonally. Apple gives the iPhone 18 Pro Max rounder corners and a back that combines aluminum and glass, while Samsung uses a straighter shape with an all-glass back, according to the comparison. Engadget notes that, aside from new color options, the iPhone 18 Pro Max looks identical to the previous generation.

The physical difference is easier to feel than to see. The Galaxy S26 Ultra weighs 214 grams against 249 grams for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and it is thinner at 7.9 mm versus 8.75 mm. Those gaps are modest on paper, but Engadget says they can matter during long stretches of one-handed use, particularly once a case is added.

Display specifications are also close. The iPhone uses an OLED panel at 2,868 by 1,320 pixels with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Samsung's AMOLED panel resolves 3,120 by 1,440 pixels and refreshes at 120Hz, but tops out at 2,600 nits. Engadget describes the resolution gap as extremely difficult to notice in everyday use, while higher brightness has more practical value outdoors. The S26 Ultra also ships with an S Pen, a feature the iPhone lacks; using an Apple Pencil requires the separate iPhone Duo, which the comparison describes as expensive.

Cameras account for the widest separation. Apple keeps a three-camera array on the back of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, with wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses all using 48-megapixel sensors. The main sensor adds a mechanical variable aperture, letting users change how much light reaches the sensor rather than relying on the fixed aperture used by most phones, a capability Engadget says few current handsets offer. Samsung counters with a 200-megapixel main sensor that allows heavier cropping, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide, and two telephoto lenses, one at 3x zoom and one at 5x. The iPhone has a single telephoto lens at 4x.

Video capabilities diverge as well. The iPhone records 4K at up to 120 frames per second with HDR and Dolby Vision, specifications it has carried for some time. The S26 Ultra can shoot 8K, which Engadget characterizes as a nice extra rather than a standard most users will adopt.

Battery and charging are nearly level. Both phones sit around 5,000 mAh, enough for a full day of typical use, and both reach 50 percent charge in about 15 minutes with a 60W charger. On performance, the S26 Ultra runs a 3-nanometer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a chip that Engadget says outperforms Apple's A19 Pro in some tests.

Engadget concludes that the decision will come down to small details and personal preference, such as a preference for iOS or Android, the appeal of a dark red iPhone 18 Pro Max, or the S Pen on the Galaxy, and that neither device disappoints.

Editor's Summary

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max and Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra are closely matched on screen size, battery capacity and 60W charging, leaving camera design, weight and stylus support as the main points of difference. Apple's variable aperture and Samsung's 200-megapixel main sensor and dual telephoto lenses reflect two distinct approaches to mobile photography. The comparison frames the choice as a matter of ecosystem and personal preference rather than a clear hardware winner.