Although much information about the new generation iPhone has not yet been released, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to have improvements in specifications compared to the previous generation, namely the iPhone 17 Pro Max introduced in September 2025. Use of the new, more power-efficient A20 Pro chip, increased battery life, and the addition of a variable aperture to the camera system are among the expected changes for Apple’s new flagship.
But for users looking for an Android phone with specifications close to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which option can be a direct rival to this flagship? Among Android phones, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is in the same price and hardware class and also has notable similarities in specifications with Apple’s upcoming flagship.
Comparison of iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra specifications
In terms of dimensions, the difference between the two phones is not very large and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly bigger. Both devices are equipped with 12 GB of RAM in the base model; with the difference that Samsung also offers a version with 16 GB of RAM.
Apple has an advantage in internal storage by offering a 2 TB version; a capacity that is one terabyte more than the maximum storage mentioned for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
There are also differences between the two phones in the processor section. The iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with the A20 Pro chip with a six-core CPU, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra uses an eight-core processor.
According to the announced specifications, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s processor consists of two Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores at 4.74 GHz and six Oryon V3 cores at 3.62 GHz. In theory, Samsung’s eight-core architecture may perform better in multithreaded processing, while the iPhone may deliver stronger single-core performance.
An important difference in the camera
The camera section is one of the most significant possible differences between these two flagships. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is equipped with a 200-megapixel sensor in its main camera; a number that on paper seems much higher than the main camera resolution of the iPhone.
However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be equipped with a physical variable aperture that can change the aperture opening. This feature can be especially important for photography enthusiasts and provides more control over the amount of light entering the sensor.
Which phone is more worth buying?
Comparison of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra shows that the differences between these two flagships are not very significant in many areas. For example, the battery capacity of the iPhone 18 Pro Max is reported to reach 5567 mAh, which is about 500 mAh more than the Samsung generation being compared.
However, both phones are in the class of powerful flagships and can handle tasks such as running heavy games, photography, multitasking, and using AI features. Therefore their hardware differences do not necessarily mean a significant difference in users’ daily experience.
In terms of price, the pre-sale price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max has been announced as $1,299; a figure that matches the price of a version of the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 256 GB of internal storage and 12 GB of RAM.
For users looking for one of the most powerful phones on the market and without budget constraints, both options fall into the flagship category. However, previous generations of these products still have high capability. The regular Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which are now considered the previous generation, can still meet many users’ needs and cost less.
Pixel 11 Pro is another option
Comparing the market’s flagships is not limited to Apple and Samsung. Google also offers another option in this segment with the Pixel 11 Pro. Although this phone does not have very large changes compared to its predecessor, it can deliver performance at the level of the new Apple and Samsung flagships and its price is about $200 less.
Overall, the hardware changes of the 2026 flagships compared to previous generations have not been very dramatic. Therefore, if a user’s current phone still performs well, upgrading to the newest generation may not necessarily create a big leap in the usage experience and waiting for future generations could be another option.