Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Apple A18 Pro vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 48MP vs 200MP camera…

Apple

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

14categories won

7 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone 16 Pro Max if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.

🎮 GamingGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueiPhone 16 Pro Max

iPhone 16 Pro Max provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1299.

Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.

iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.9"	6.9"
Resolution	1320 x 2868	1440 x 3120Winner
Pixel density	460 ppi	498 ppiWinner
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	2000 nits	2400 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Apple A18 Pro	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	3 nm	3 nm
AnTuTu score	1,810,000	2,400,000Winner
Geekbench multi	8580	8900Winner
Maximum RAM	8 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	1TB	1TB

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	48 MP	200 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	4Winner
Optical zoom	5x	5x
Ultrawide	48 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	12 MP	12 MP
Max video	4K at 120fps Dolby Vision	—

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	4,685 mAh	5,000 mAhWinner
Wired charging	30 W	60 WWinner
Wireless charging	25 W	25 W

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	227 g	214 gWinner
Thickness	8.25 mm	7.9 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Grade 5 Titanium frame, textured matte glass back	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	iOS 18	Android 16
OS updates	6 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	7 years	7 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 16 Pro Max	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)	—
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,199Winner	$1,299