Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26

Our Verdict: The Galaxy S26 takes the lead for lower current deal pricing and the larger battery, which gives it the stronger headline appeal. It backs that up with 4300mAh battery, 167g weight and 10,901 active deals, while the iPhone 16 Pro counters with 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display and 128GB-1000GB storage options. Current active deals start around £525 for the Galaxy S26, versus about £620 for the iPhone 16 Pro. The ecosystem split matters too: the iPhone 16 Pro is the iOS option and the Galaxy S26 is the Android option. Your choice should come down to priorities: the iPhone 16 Pro for the sharper display and more storage headroom, or the Galaxy S26 for lower current deal pricing and the larger battery.

The S26 is the cheaper one to own: around £600 over a typical contract, £173 less than the iPhone 16 Pro.

Expert Rating
4.2
11 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen
6.3" 6.3"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch
458 409
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 Pro Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery
3,582 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/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.2, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm
Weight
199 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
£29.50/mo (£20.00 upfront) £20.00/mo (£179.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£562.00 £569.00

Prices updated 17 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Apple iPhone 16 Pro Samsung Galaxy S26 Samsung Galaxy S26
Expert Rating 4.2
11 reviews
3.9
11 reviews
Screen 6.3" 6.3"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1080 x 2340
Pixels Per Inch 458 409
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 Pro Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
Battery 3,582 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/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE 5.4, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm
Weight 199 grams 167 grams
Water Resistance IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts £29.50/mo
£20.00 upfront
£20.00/mo
£179.00 upfront
SIM-free £562.00 £569.00
Prices updated 17 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple iPhone 16 Pro

24 Months

128GB

Black Titanium

Refurbished

1GB

Data

£29.50 per month, £20 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung Galaxy S26

24 Months

256GB

Sky Blue

100GB

Data

£20 per month, £179 upfront.

Use codes: ENUJ (£100) + APP5 (5%)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26 cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is cheaper on contract at £600.05 over the life of the deal from £20.00 per month with £179.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.3", the Apple iPhone 16 Pro has the sharper display at 458 pixels per inch versus 409, and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S26 has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro features a 48 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 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £562.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 comes in 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is powered by the Apple A18 Pro, 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 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the more portable of the two: it's 32g lighter at 167 grams, both are similar in overall footprint, and is slimmer at 7.2mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S26?

Both phones share the same water resistance rating of IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 run?

The Apple iPhone 16 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.