Asus ROG Phone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Compare Asus ROG Phone 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 50MP vs 200MP…

Asus

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299

11categories won

3 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Asus ROG Phone 9 takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Asus ROG Phone 9 claims the overall win over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, delivering a stronger technical package across battery endurance and core hardware. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Asus ROG Phone 9. Choose the Asus ROG Phone 9 if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S26 Ultra if its specific hardware strengths better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryAsus ROG Phone 9

Asus ROG Phone 9 wins on endurance with 5,800 mAh and 65W fast charging.

🎮 GamingAsus ROG Phone 9

Asus ROG Phone 9 leads gaming and raw performance powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S26 Ultra

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

🏷️ ValueAsus ROG Phone 9

Asus ROG Phone 9 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.

Asus ROG Phone 9 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Screen size	6.78"	6.9"
Resolution	1080 x 2400	1440 x 3120Winner
Pixel density	388 ppi	498 ppiWinner
Refresh rate	185 HzWinner	120 Hz
Peak brightness	2500 nits	2400 nits

Performance

Performance comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Process node	3 nm	3 nm
AnTuTu score	3,120,000Winner	2,400,000
Geekbench multi	10180Winner	8900
Maximum RAM	16 GB	16 GB
Maximum storage	512GB	1TBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Main sensor	50 MP	200 MPWinner
Rear cameras	3	4Winner
Optical zoom	—	5x
Ultrawide	13 MP	50 MPWinner
Selfie camera	32 MPWinner	12 MP
Max video	8K@30fps, 4K@60fps Gimbal OIS	8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Capacity	5,800 mAhWinner	5,000 mAh
Wired charging	65 WWinner	60 W
Wireless charging	15 W	25 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Weight	227 g	214 gWinner
Thickness	8.9 mm	7.9 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Armor aluminum frame, AniMe Vision programmable mini-LED rear matrix, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
Operating system	Android 15	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	7 yearsWinner
Security updates	5 years	7 yearsWinner

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Asus ROG Phone 9, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Specification	Asus ROG Phone 9	Galaxy S26 Ultra
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)	Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth)
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	No
Launch price	$999Winner	$1,299

Asus ROG Phone 9

The Asus ROG Phone 9 breaks display speed barriers with a 185Hz LTPO AMOLED panel, powered by Qualcomm's 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite. Features a rear AniMe Vision programmable mini-LED matrix that lets you play retro mini-games on the back, AirTrigger ultrasonic touch sensors, 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal OIS, dual USB-C ports, and IP68 water resistance.

Display: 6.78"
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Main camera: 50MP
Battery: 5,800mAh

Full Asus ROG Phone 9 specifications →

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

Full Galaxy S26 Ultra specifications →