Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26

Our Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S26 came out in 2026, after the Apple iPhone 13 Pro in 2021, so it's the more recent phone. The S26 has a far higher-resolution main camera, 50MP against the iPhone 13 Pro's 12MP, and the S26 has the bigger battery of the two, 4300mAh against 3095mAh, though iOS and Android manage power differently, so more mAh doesn't always mean longer battery life. The S26 has the bigger screen at 6.3" against 6.1", while the iPhone 13 Pro has the sharper one at 457 PPI, and storage goes higher on the iPhone 13 Pro, up to 1TB against 512GB. The S26 is the one to have if you want what it adds, but the iPhone 13 Pro is the smarter buy if you'd rather keep the money.

If you'd rather pay up front, the iPhone 13 Pro is the cheaper buy at £275 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.4
11 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.3"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
457 409
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery
3,095 mAh 4,300 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm
Weight
204 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
- £28.29/mo (£9.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£274.99 £579.00
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Apple iPhone 13 Pro Samsung Galaxy S26 Samsung Galaxy S26
Expert Rating 4.4
11 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.3"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 2532 x 1170 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 457 409
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery 3,095 mAh 4,300 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm
Weight 204 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts - £28.29/mo
£9.00 upfront
SIM-free £274.99 £579.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Apple iPhone 13 Pro

128GB

Sierra Blue

Refurbished

From £274.99

Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S26

24 Months

256GB

White

Refurbished

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£28.29 a month, £9 upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 has the bigger screen at 6.3" compared to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 13 Pro has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 409, and the Apple iPhone 13 Pro uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £274.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 use?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 uses the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy S26 is lighter but the Apple iPhone 13 Pro is more compact. It's 37g lighter at 167 grams, though the Apple iPhone 13 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is slimmer at 7.2mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S26 is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 run?

The Apple iPhone 13 Pro runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S26 runs Android 16. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.