Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The S26 Ultra is the cheaper one to own: around £886 over a typical contract, £426 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
11 reviews 4.4
15 reviews
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
|
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | 18 September 2026 | 11 March 2026 |
| Expert Rating |
4.5 11 reviews |
4.4 15 reviews |
| Screen | 6.9" | 6.9" |
| Display | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 498 |
| Rear Camera | 48 Megapixels | 200 Megapixels |
| Front Camera | 18 Megapixels | 12 Megapixels |
| Chipset | Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| Battery | 5,391 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| OS | Apple iOS | Android |
| 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 | 6.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm | 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 249 grams | 214 grams |
| Water Resistance | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Contracts |
£11.95/mo
£1055.00 upfront |
£11.95/mo
£629.00 upfront |
| SIM-free | £1297.00 | £829.99 |
| Deals | Deals |
Cheapest Deals
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
£11.95 a month, £1055 upfront.
No mid-contract price increases.
Use code: 30JNOFF (£30 off)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
£11.95 a month, £629 upfront.
No mid-contract price increases.
Use code: 30JNOFF (£30 off)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra cheaper on contract?
Based on total cost of ownership, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper on contract at £885.80 over the life of the deal from £11.95 per month with £629.00 upfront.
Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.9", the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the sharper display at 498 pixels per inch versus 458, and the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X.
Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200 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 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £829.99.
What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB.
What processors do the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra use?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is powered by the Apple A20 Pro (2 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm).
Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the more portable of the two: it's 35g lighter at 214 grams, both are similar in overall footprint, and is slimmer at 7.9mm thick.
Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rated IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min).
What operating system do the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra run?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.