Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Apple A19 Pro (2nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 48MP vs 200MP…

Apple

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

9categories won

6 categories tied · 21 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 17 Air, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. 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 17 Air 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.

🎮 GamingTie

Both handsets deliver top-tier speed with Apple A19 Pro (2nm) and smooth everyday multitasking.

📸 CameraGalaxy S26 Ultra

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

🏷️ ValueiPhone 17 Air

iPhone 17 Air provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1099 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 17 Air vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.6"	6.9"
Resolution	1260 x 2740	1440 x 3120Winner
Pixel density	457 ppi	498 ppiWinner
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	2800 nitsWinner	2400 nits

Performance

Performance comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Apple A19 Pro (2nm)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	2 nmWinner	3 nm
AnTuTu score	2,400,000	2,400,000
Geekbench multi	8900	8900
Maximum RAM	12 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	256GB	1TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	48 MP	200 MPWinner
Rear cameras	1	4Winner
Optical zoom	1x	5xWinner
Ultrawide	—	50 MP
Selfie camera	24 MPWinner	12 MP

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	3,150 mAh	5,000 mAhWinner
Wired charging	25 W	60 WWinner
Wireless charging	25 W	25 W

Design

Design comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	149 gWinner	214 g
Thickness	5.5 mmWinner	7.9 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Grade 5 Titanium mid-plate, ultra-thin ceramic back, Ceramic Shield 2 front	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	iOS 19	Android 16
OS updates	7 years	7 years
Security updates	7 years	7 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Apple iPhone 17 Air, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	iPhone 17 Air	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$1,099Winner	$1,299