BeastCompare

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?

iPhone 18 Pro edges ahead with a BeastScore of 88.5/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Samsung · 2026

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra
88/ 100
Launch price$1,299
Apple · 2026

iPhone 18 Pro

iPhone 18 Pro
89/ 100
Launch price$1,299
Head-to-head

iPhone 18 Pro wins 4 of 8 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra
2 wins
iPhone 18 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro
4 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivitySecurityValue
Galaxy S26 UltraiPhone 18 Pro
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeediPhone 18 Pro
    90
    95
  • CameraGalaxy S26 Ultra
    100
    92
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieiPhone 18 Pro
    60
    76
  • BatteryGalaxy S26 Ultra
    86
    80
  • DisplayiPhone 18 Pro
    90
    92
  • ConnectivityTie
    100
    100
  • SecurityTie
    100
    100
  • ValueiPhone 18 Pro
    55
    62
Key differences
  • Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery5,000 mAh vs 4,288 mAh
  • Galaxy S26 Ultra charges faster60W vs 45W
  • Galaxy S26 Ultra has a sharper main camera200 MP vs 48 MP
  • Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger screen6.9" vs 6.3"
  • iPhone 18 Pro is lighter211 g vs 214 g
  • iPhone 18 Pro has a sharper selfie camera18 MP vs 12 MP
  • iPhone 18 Pro has the faster chipApple A20 Pro (2 nm) vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • iPhone 18 Pro can text for help by satelliteYes vs No
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy Galaxy S26 Ultra
  • ✓Bigger 5,000 mAh battery (+712 mAh)
  • ✓200 MP main camera
  • ✓6.9" display at 120 Hz
Reasons to buy iPhone 18 Pro
  • ✓3 g lighter (211 g vs 214 g), easier to hold
  • ✓48 MP main camera
  • ✓6.3" display at 120 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationGalaxy S26 UltraiPhone 18 Pro
1. Display & Screen🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Wins Display
Screen typeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X (Privacy Display)LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Size6.9"6.3"
Resolution & Density3120x1440 (501 ppi)1206 x 2622 pixels (19.5:9 ratio) (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz adaptive120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness2,600 nits peak1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Screen ProtectionNot listedCeramic Shield 2, Anti-reflective coating, Always-On display
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm)Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) (2nm)
CPU CoresNot listedHexa-core (2x High Performance + 4x Efficiency)
GPU GraphicsAdreno 840Apple GPU (7-core graphics)
Operating SystemAndroid 16iOS 27
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory12 GB LPDDR12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage256GB / 512GB / 1024GB256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Storage SpeedNot listedNVMe fast flash
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 Galaxy S26 Ultra Wins Camera
Primary Camera200 MP, f/1.4, OIS, Samsung HP248 MP, f/1.5, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, OIS, Dual pixel PDAF, Sensor-shift OIS (gen 2)
Telephoto Zoom10 MP (3x optical zoom), f/2.4, OIS + 50 MP (5x optical zoom), f/2.9, OIS48 MP (4x optical zoom), f/2.8, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS
Ultrawide Camera50 MP, f/248 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
LiDAR / DepthNoneTOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth sensing & night portrait)
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
4K@24/25/30/60/100/120fps1080p@240fps10-bit HDRDolby Vision HDR (up to 120fps)ProRes RAWApple Log 2Spatial 3D video & stereo sound
Front Video
Not listed
4K@24/25/30/60fps1080p@120fpsgyro-EISDolby Vision HDR
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens12 MP, f/2.218 MP, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide multi-aspect)
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone 18 Pro Lightest Chassis
Dimensions163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm150 x 71.9 x 8.8 mm (5.91 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
Weight214 g211 g (7.44 oz)
Build MaterialsNot listedGlass front (Ceramic Shield 2), aluminum frame, aluminum/glass back
SIM TypeNot listedNano-SIM + eSIM + dual eSIM support
Water ResistanceIP68IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
8. Battery & Charging🏆 Galaxy S26 Ultra Wins Battery
Battery Capacity5,000 mAh4,288 mAh
Wired Fast Charging60W wired fast charging45W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging25W wireless charging25W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedYes, with stereo speakers (Spatial Audio)
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band, hotspot)
Bluetooth6.0Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps), DisplayPort video out
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (Apple Pay Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedFace ID, LiDAR scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Satellite FeaturesNot listedEmergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedBlack, Silver, Glacier, Burgundy
Launch Price$1,299$1,299
Our verdict

iPhone 18 Pro wins — BeastScore 88.5/100

The iPhone 18 Pro is the better pick for most people thanks to its lighter body (211 g vs 214 g) and sharper selfie camera (18 MP vs 12 MP). The Galaxy S26 Ultra is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (5,000 mAh vs 4,288 mAh).

Buy Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want

Larger battery: 5,000 mAh vs 4,288 mAh · Faster wired charging: 60W vs 45W

Buy iPhone 18 Pro if you want

Brighter screen: 3,000 nits vs 2,600 nits

Common questions

Which is better: Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 18 Pro?

The iPhone 18 Pro is the better pick for most people thanks to its lighter body (211 g vs 214 g) and sharper selfie camera (18 MP vs 12 MP). The Galaxy S26 Ultra is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (5,000 mAh vs 4,288 mAh). BeastScore: Galaxy S26 Ultra 88.2/100, iPhone 18 Pro 88.5/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro?

Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch display and 5000 mAh battery. iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display and 4288 mAh battery.

How do Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro compare for speed?

Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 90/100 for performance; iPhone 18 Pro scores 95/100.

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