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Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro, Shocking Conclusion of a Speed Test with a 34-Second DifferenceThe speed test results for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro, which compete for the title of the best smartphone in the first half of 2026, have been released. In this test, the Galaxy S26 Ultra showed overwhelming performance from the start, especially in game loading and the latter half's app refresh section, significantly outperforming the iPhone 17 Pro to secure a perfect victory with a 34-second difference.
1. 🎮 Early Speed Test: Galaxy S26 Ultra's Dominant Lead
· The speed test between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro has begun.
· In early general app loading, the Ultra started to pull ahead by one app.
· In the first high-spec game section, 'Rainbow Six', the Ultra entered first, maintaining its lead.
· In the second high-spec game section, 'Wuthering Waves', the Ultra also surpassed the iPhone, breaking the expectation that iPhones are typically strong in game performance and showing positive signs.
· In early general app loading, the Ultra started to pull ahead by one app.
· In the first high-spec game section, 'Rainbow Six', the Ultra entered first, maintaining its lead.
· In the second high-spec game section, 'Wuthering Waves', the Ultra also surpassed the iPhone, breaking the expectation that iPhones are typically strong in game performance and showing positive signs.
00:00 - 01:25
1. 🎮 Early Speed Test: Galaxy S26 Ultra's Dominant Lead
· The speed test between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro has begun.
· In early general app loading, the Ultra started to pull ahead by one app.
· In the first high-spec game section, 'Rainbow Six', the Ultra entered first, maintaining its lead.
· In the second high-spec game section, 'Wuthering Waves', the Ultra also surpassed the iPhone, breaking the expectation that iPhones are typically strong in game performance and showing positive signs.
· In early general app loading, the Ultra started to pull ahead by one app.
· In the first high-spec game section, 'Rainbow Six', the Ultra entered first, maintaining its lead.
· In the second high-spec game section, 'Wuthering Waves', the Ultra also surpassed the iPhone, breaking the expectation that iPhones are typically strong in game performance and showing positive signs.
01:26 - 02:57
2. 📱 Game and General App Loading: iPhone 17 Pro's Widening Gap
· While the Ultra entered 'Wuthering Waves' in-game first, the iPhone was still loading.
· The Ultra quickly entered YouTube, Naver Maps, and Genshin Impact, moving on to the next apps.
· The iPhone belatedly exited 'Wuthering Waves', went through YouTube and Naver Maps, and then entered 'Genshin Impact'.
· The Ultra then completed all apps including ChatGPT, Coupang, Gemini, Opinit, and Geekbench.
· At the end of the first half, the Ultra was approximately 14 seconds ahead of the iPhone, and the iPhone needed to save time in Geekbench loading.
· The Ultra quickly entered YouTube, Naver Maps, and Genshin Impact, moving on to the next apps.
· The iPhone belatedly exited 'Wuthering Waves', went through YouTube and Naver Maps, and then entered 'Genshin Impact'.
· The Ultra then completed all apps including ChatGPT, Coupang, Gemini, Opinit, and Geekbench.
· At the end of the first half, the Ultra was approximately 14 seconds ahead of the iPhone, and the iPhone needed to save time in Geekbench loading.
02:58 - 03:36
3. 📊 Spec Comparison and Fair Test Environment Setup
· The specifications of the two devices used in the test and the settings for a fair test are as follows:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | AP: Equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite Z 5 Performance Improvement: CPU 19%↑, GPU 24%↑ compared to S25 Ultra Resolution: Higher on paper, but test conducted at FHD+ (2340x1080) |
| iPhone 17 Pro | Resolution: Higher than Ultra during the test |
| Common Test Conditions | Copied iPhone 17 Pro content to new S26 Ultra via Smart Switch Same Wi-Fi environment Device temperature measured before start All apps closed before the match |
03:37 - 04:57
4. 🚨 Second Half App Refresh Test: iPhone's Fatal Weakness Exposed
· In the second half app refresh test, the iPhone failed to catch up with the Ultra.
· Most of the Ultra's apps were alive or only needed to load from the server, with almost no refreshing.
· In contrast, the iPhone experienced continuous refreshing in most apps, starting from Papago, then Rainbow Six, Baemin, Good Company, Naver Store, Miso, Lotto, Naver, and more.
· The iPhone's apps repeatedly reloaded from scratch, revealing a fatal weakness.
· Most of the Ultra's apps were alive or only needed to load from the server, with almost no refreshing.
· In contrast, the iPhone experienced continuous refreshing in most apps, starting from Papago, then Rainbow Six, Baemin, Good Company, Naver Store, Miso, Lotto, Naver, and more.
· The iPhone's apps repeatedly reloaded from scratch, revealing a fatal weakness.
04:58 - 05:22
5. 🏆 Final Result: Galaxy S26 Ultra, Perfect Victory by 34 Seconds
· The results of this test were the exact opposite of the previous match between the S25 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro.
· The iPhone failed to catch up with the Ultra due to the 'refresh bomb' that started with Papago in the second half.
· Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 Ultra completely dominated the iPhone 17 Pro, winning by a 34-second margin.
· Despite conducting multiple tests with the same settings, the results were consistent, and the iPhone's refresh sections appeared identically.
· The best phone of the first half of 2026 has been selected as the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
· The iPhone failed to catch up with the Ultra due to the 'refresh bomb' that started with Papago in the second half.
· Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 Ultra completely dominated the iPhone 17 Pro, winning by a 34-second margin.
· Despite conducting multiple tests with the same settings, the results were consistent, and the iPhone's refresh sections appeared identically.
· The best phone of the first half of 2026 has been selected as the Galaxy S26 Ultra.