Apple iPhone SE 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Apple iPhone SE 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Apple A18 (3nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 48MP vs 200MP camera…
Apple
iPhone SE 4
$499
2categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
12categories won
7 categories tied · 21 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 SE 4, 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 SE 4 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 SE 4 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $499 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 SE 4 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.06" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 2400 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A18 (3nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 8900 | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 128GB | 1TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 200 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 4Winner |
| Optical zoom | 1x | 5xWinner |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,279 mAh | 5,000 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 60 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 165 gWinner | 214 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm | 7.9 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | Aerospace aluminum frame, glass front and back | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 18 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 7 years | 7 years |
| Security updates | 7 years | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $499Winner | $1,299 |
Apple iPhone SE 4
The iPhone SE 4 transforms Apple’s budget lineup: the home button and thick bezels are replaced with a 6.1-inch OLED, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera, and full Apple Intelligence capability for under $500.
- Display
- 6.06"
- Chipset
- Apple A18 (3nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,279mAh
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