Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26+

Our Verdict: If you are choosing between Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26+, display quality is the main reason to lean one way. The Samsung has a larger 6.7-inch screen, a sharper 513 PPI display, and its Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel; the iPhone mainly responds with its LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel, 128GB to 1000GB storage, and its IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes rating. A bigger mAh figure is useful context, but real battery life still depends on software and chipset efficiency. Software may decide it too: the iPhone keeps you in Apple's iOS ecosystem, while the Samsung is the Android choice. The Samsung is the better fit for display quality, while the iPhone is the one to consider for storage.

The S26+ is the cheaper one to own: around £816 over a typical contract, £60 less than the iPhone 16 Pro.

Expert Rating
4.2
11 reviews
3.9
10 reviews
Screen
6.3" 6.7"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch
458 513
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 4,900 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 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
Weight
199 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP 68
Contracts
£35.29/mo (£29.00 upfront) £32.79/mo (£29.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£569.99 £799.00
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Apple iPhone 16 Pro Samsung Galaxy S26+ Samsung Galaxy S26+
Expert Rating 4.2
11 reviews
3.9
10 reviews
Screen 6.3" 6.7"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1440 x 3120
Pixels Per Inch 458 513
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 4,900 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 158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm
Weight 199 grams 190 grams
Water Resistance IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes IP 68
Contracts £35.29/mo
£29.00 upfront
£32.79/mo
£29.00 upfront
SIM-free £569.99 £799.00
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple iPhone 16 Pro

24 Months

128GB

Desert Titanium

Refurbished

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£35.29 a month, £29 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy S26+
Samsung Galaxy S26+

24 Months

256GB

Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

Unlimited

Unlimited

£32.79 a month, £29 upfront.

Related Comparisons

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 £815.96 over the life of the deal from £32.79 per month with £29.00 upfront.

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

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the bigger screen at 6.7" compared to the Apple iPhone 16 Pro's 6.3", the Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the sharper display at 513 pixels per inch versus 458, 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 £569.99.

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+?

It's a trade-off: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is lighter but the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is more compact. It's 9g lighter at 190 grams, though the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is actually the more compact phone at 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is slimmer at 7.3mm thick.

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

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes, while the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is rated IP 68.

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.