Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Apple iPhone 16 Pro 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
iPhone 16 Pro
$999
2categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
13categories won
7 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro, 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 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.
Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone 16 Pro provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $999 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 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.3" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1206 x 2622 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2400 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 1,805,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 8520 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 1TB | 1TB |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | 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
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,582 mAh | 5,000 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 27 W | 60 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | 25 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 199 gWinner | 214 g |
| 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
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 18 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 6 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone 16 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | — |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $999Winner | $1,299 |
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Delivering full parity with its larger sibling, the 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro packs the 5x tetraprism zoom, 4K 120fps video capture, and A18 Pro silicon into an ergonomic titanium frame.
- Display
- 6.3"
- Chipset
- Apple A18 Pro
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,582mAh
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a premium 6.9-inch flagship built for power users and creators. Priced at $1299, it pairs a heavily upgraded Snapdragon processor and 60W charging with a versatile quad-camera array and the signature built-in S Pen stylus.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Main camera
- 200MP
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
Other comparisons
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 17 Air
- iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Air
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro