iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: When it comes to premium flagship smartphones, the competition between Apple and Samsung has always been the most interesting. Now that information about the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has started coming out, there is a lot of discussion among tech lovers about which phone will explode in the market next year. In this article, we will understand the possible features of these two giants in detail in a desi style.
Design & Style
There is a discussion about the design of iPhone 17 Pro Max that this time Apple is going to do something new. Ceramic Shield front with aluminum frame, and a new camera bump design can be seen. There is also talk of a thinner “Air” model which can make the iPhone lighter and more stylish than before.
On the other hand, talking about Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the camera bump can be reduced further in it so that the look of the phone looks clean. Its build quality is also expected to be more premium than before, and its strength will be better than before with Gorilla Glass Armor 2. The IP68 rating will also protect it from water and dust.
Display & Visuals
Both the smartphones are coming with a large 6.9-inch display, but there may be a difference in their touch and visual experience. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will get an LTPO OLED panel, which supports 1-120Hz ProMotion. It is likely to get even more brightness and less dynamic island cutout.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will have a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which can give a peak brightness of 3000+ nits with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung’s display technology is already well-liked, and this time the anti-reflection coating has been further improved.
Performance & Processor
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will have Apple’s new A19 Pro chipset, which is based on TSMC’s 3nm process. It will have better AI capabilities, great graphics and power efficiency. RAM can also go up to 12GB this time, which will be a big jump from before.
On the other hand, the Galaxy S26 Ultra can get Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 or Elite Gen 2 chipset, which will be a special custom version of Samsung and Qualcomm. This chip is expected to have overclocked CPU and better GPU performance. It is likely to get 16GB of RAM with it, which will be the same in all storage variants.
Camera Setup
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is ready to take a big leap in photography this time. It will have a larger 48MP primary sensor, which will capture more light. Also, a 48MP ultra-wide camera and a new telephoto camera will be available, which will zoom 5x or 6x. Along with this, the lidar scanner will also be improved.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not behind in this either. Its 200MP ISOCELL HP2 camera will come with a new lens. Along with this, there will be a 50MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP periscope zoom lens which will zoom 5x. There will also be a 12MP telephoto lens which will give 3x zoom. Also, the new laser autofocus system and ProVisual Engine will make it even more powerful.
Features & Tech
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max will get iOS 19, in which “Apple Intelligence” i.e. on-device AI features will be promoted. It will also have satellite communication features, such as SOS and messaging.
Galaxy S26 Ultra will get Android 15 with One UI 7, which will have new features of Galaxy AI. S Pen will be available with it this time too, so that desktop mode i.e. DeX can also be used. There is talk of satellite features also coming in it.
Battery & Charging
The battery of iPhone 17 Pro Max can be around 5000mAh this time, which will be the largest iPhone battery ever. With this, fast charging of 45W or more can be found. MagSafe will also be made more powerful, and the Qi2 wireless charging standard will also be supported.
At the same time, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will also have about 5000mAh battery, but it can support wired charging from 65W to 100W. Qi2 standard will also be available for wireless charging, which will work with magnetic case.
Price & Variants
The price of iPhone 17 Pro Max in India can start from ₹ 1,50,000 and go up to ₹ 2,00,000 or more, especially if the 2TB storage variant comes.
The starting price of Galaxy S26 Ultra is likely to be around ₹ 1,30,000, and its top model can go above ₹ 1,60,000.
Final Verdict
If you are a fan of iOS and Apple’s ecosystem, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max could be the ultimate choice for you. Its performance, camera and design look even more refined this time.
If you are looking for more RAM, a bigger camera sensor, more customization and productivity like the S Pen, then the Galaxy S26 Ultra will give you more freedom.
Both phones will be great in their own right. Now it is up to you to choose – Apple’s smooth experience and integration, or Samsung’s versatility and power-packed features.
