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S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Who takes the throne for the ultimate smartphone?The two giants of the latest smartphone market, Samsung S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, engaged in a fierce performance battle. From exclusive features to camera, display, speed, battery, and user experience, we deeply analyzed the pros and cons of both devices to help you find out which one is more suitable for you.
1. ✨ Samsung S26 Ultra's Exclusive Features
· The special features unique to Samsung S26 Ultra differentiate it from the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· The S Pen remains a powerful productivity tool even after 15 years.
· The Privacy Display is a built-in screen feature that can obscure the entire screen or specific parts like notifications and passwords, making it excellent for privacy protection.
· Multitasking allows any app to be used in split-screen, offering flexibility impossible on iPhones.
· Samsung Dex 2 allows you to connect the S26 Ultra to a TV or monitor and use it like a computer.
· The Secure Folder provides a safe space to hide anything you want, including apps, notes, and photos.
· The Now Bar on the lock screen and notification bar allows easy control of various functions like music and timers.
· The S Pen remains a powerful productivity tool even after 15 years.
· The Privacy Display is a built-in screen feature that can obscure the entire screen or specific parts like notifications and passwords, making it excellent for privacy protection.
· Multitasking allows any app to be used in split-screen, offering flexibility impossible on iPhones.
· Samsung Dex 2 allows you to connect the S26 Ultra to a TV or monitor and use it like a computer.
· The Secure Folder provides a safe space to hide anything you want, including apps, notes, and photos.
· The Now Bar on the lock screen and notification bar allows easy control of various functions like music and timers.
00:14 - 01:10
1. ✨ Samsung S26 Ultra's Exclusive Features
· The special features unique to Samsung S26 Ultra differentiate it from the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· The S Pen remains a powerful productivity tool even after 15 years.
· The Privacy Display is a built-in screen feature that can obscure the entire screen or specific parts like notifications and passwords, making it excellent for privacy protection.
· Multitasking allows any app to be used in split-screen, offering flexibility impossible on iPhones.
· Samsung Dex 2 allows you to connect the S26 Ultra to a TV or monitor and use it like a computer.
· The Secure Folder provides a safe space to hide anything you want, including apps, notes, and photos.
· The Now Bar on the lock screen and notification bar allows easy control of various functions like music and timers.
· The S Pen remains a powerful productivity tool even after 15 years.
· The Privacy Display is a built-in screen feature that can obscure the entire screen or specific parts like notifications and passwords, making it excellent for privacy protection.
· Multitasking allows any app to be used in split-screen, offering flexibility impossible on iPhones.
· Samsung Dex 2 allows you to connect the S26 Ultra to a TV or monitor and use it like a computer.
· The Secure Folder provides a safe space to hide anything you want, including apps, notes, and photos.
· The Now Bar on the lock screen and notification bar allows easy control of various functions like music and timers.
01:13 - 01:49
2. 🍎 iPhone 17 Pro Max's Exclusive Features
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max also enhances the user experience with exclusive features not found on Samsung.
· The Dynamic Island, maintained for three years, is a special space that displays various information and allows interaction.
· The Action Button allows users to assign desired functions for quick execution, and can even be used for simple games.
· The Dedicated Camera Button makes taking photos more convenient.
· 3D or Spatial Photos offer a unique experience within the Photos app and utilize LAR technology to assist with autofocus.
· The Car Crash Detection feature is a crucial safety function, with actual cases of saving lives.
· The Dynamic Island, maintained for three years, is a special space that displays various information and allows interaction.
· The Action Button allows users to assign desired functions for quick execution, and can even be used for simple games.
· The Dedicated Camera Button makes taking photos more convenient.
· 3D or Spatial Photos offer a unique experience within the Photos app and utilize LAR technology to assist with autofocus.
· The Car Crash Detection feature is a crucial safety function, with actual cases of saving lives.
02:04 - 04:27
3. 📸 Camera Performance Comparison: Photos and Videos
· The cameras of both devices show subtle differences in specifications and actual quality.
· Selfie photos are slightly sharper on the iPhone, while Samsung's 200MP offers slightly more detail in regular photos.
· Night photos are superior on the iPhone in terms of lighting expression, while Samsung gives a somewhat faded impression.
· Although Samsung's optical 5x and digital 100x zoom are numerically higher, the actual detail is better on the iPhone.
· For video recording, Samsung offers 8K and horizontal lock video features, but overall video quality is superior on the iPhone.
| Camera Type | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 200MP | 48MP |
| Telephoto Camera | 50MP | 48MP (Zoom) |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP | 18MP Square (Switch horizontal/vertical with button) |
| Optical Zoom | 5x | 4x (More Detail) |
| Digital Zoom | 100x | 40x (More Detail) |
| Ultra-Wide | 0.6x | 0.5x (Slightly Wider) |
| Video Resolution | 8K | 4K |
| Special Video Features | Horizontal Lock Video (Maintains Horizontal) | Log Recording (Better Quality) |
· Selfie photos are slightly sharper on the iPhone, while Samsung's 200MP offers slightly more detail in regular photos.
· Night photos are superior on the iPhone in terms of lighting expression, while Samsung gives a somewhat faded impression.
· Although Samsung's optical 5x and digital 100x zoom are numerically higher, the actual detail is better on the iPhone.
· For video recording, Samsung offers 8K and horizontal lock video features, but overall video quality is superior on the iPhone.
04:28 - 06:35
4. 📱 Display Performance Comparison
· Both devices boast top-tier screens, but the Samsung S26 Ultra has made significant advancements in display technology.
· While the iPhone offers a brighter screen outdoors, the Samsung S26 Ultra takes a step forward in display technology with 10-bit display simulation, the world's first privacy display, and improved reflectance.
| Item | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Almost Identical | Almost Identical |
| Indoor Brightness | Very Bright | Very Bright |
| Outdoor Brightness | Up to 2,600 nits | Up to 3,000 nits (Brighter) |
| Always On Display | Supported (Less Battery Drain) | Supported (Less Battery Drain) |
| Color Expression | 10-bit Display Simulation (Smoother Color Banding) | - |
| Privacy Feature | New Privacy Display (World's First) | - |
| Reflectance | Improved | - |
· While the iPhone offers a brighter screen outdoors, the Samsung S26 Ultra takes a step forward in display technology with 10-bit display simulation, the world's first privacy display, and improved reflectance.
06:36 - 08:30
5. ⚡ Speed and AI Performance Test
· We compared the speed and AI performance of both devices through various tests.
· While the iPhone was slightly superior in power-on and game launch speeds, Samsung showed faster performance in gaming benchmarks and video export.
· For AI features, Samsung sometimes required a Wi-Fi connection for object erasing or wallpaper generation, whereas the iPhone processed all AI tasks on-device.
· Both devices are equipped with powerful chipsets, offering excellent gaming performance, and their overall speed and AI processing capabilities have different strengths.
| Test Item | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Power On | - | Fast |
| Game Launch | - | Slightly Faster |
| Gaming Benchmark (3D Mark) | 4% Faster | - |
| Video Export | 1 Minute Faster | - |
| AI Object Eraser | Requires Wi-Fi Connection, Excellent Results | On-Device Processing, No Connection Needed |
| AI Wallpaper Generation | Connection Required | On-Device Processing |
· While the iPhone was slightly superior in power-on and game launch speeds, Samsung showed faster performance in gaming benchmarks and video export.
· For AI features, Samsung sometimes required a Wi-Fi connection for object erasing or wallpaper generation, whereas the iPhone processed all AI tasks on-device.
· Both devices are equipped with powerful chipsets, offering excellent gaming performance, and their overall speed and AI processing capabilities have different strengths.
08:31 - 09:48
6. 🎨 Customization and Personalization Options
· How freely you can customize your smartphone significantly impacts the user experience.
· Samsung offers a much wider range of customization options through the Good Lock app and custom launcher support.
· The iPhone has unique features like 3D wallpapers and automatic app icon color changes based on case color, but Samsung offers overwhelmingly more personalization freedom overall.
| Item | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Weather Wallpaper | Possible | Not Possible |
| 3D Wallpaper | Not Possible | Possible |
| Animated Wallpaper (Including TikTok Videos) | Possible | Not Possible |
| App Icon Theme Change | Easy | Requires Third-Party App |
| App Color Change | Basic Color Options | Better (Automatically changes based on case color) |
| Transparent Widgets | Possible (Gallery Widget, etc.) | Not Possible |
| Quick Settings/Control Panel Customization | Possible | Possible (Apple introduced first) |
| Good Lock | Animation speed, unlock effects, colors, and everything else customizable | - |
| Custom Launcher | Downloadable | iOS Fixed |
· Samsung offers a much wider range of customization options through the Good Lock app and custom launcher support.
· The iPhone has unique features like 3D wallpapers and automatic app icon color changes based on case color, but Samsung offers overwhelmingly more personalization freedom overall.
09:52 - 11:11
7. 🔋 Battery Capacity and Charging Speed
· Battery performance is a very important factor in the smartphone user experience.
· Battery capacity is almost identical for both devices, around 5,000mAh.
· In terms of charging speed, Samsung supports 60W charging, fully charging much faster than the iPhone's 40W.
· Wireless charging speed is identical at 25W, taking approximately 2 hours for a full charge.
· In typical usage, both devices can last more than a day, and for continuous use, the Samsung S26 Ultra provides about 30 minutes longer battery life than the iPhone.
| Item | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5,000mAh | 5,088mAh (eSIM Version) 4,800mAh (Regular SIM Version) |
| Wired Charging Speed | 60W 0-75% 30 minutes 0-100% 40 minutes | 40W 0-50% 20 minutes 0-100% 75 minutes |
| Wireless Charging Speed | 25W (Full charge approx. 2 hours) | 25W (Full charge approx. 2 hours) |
| Battery Life (Continuous Use) | Approx. 30 minutes more than iPhone | Approx. 12 hours |
· Battery capacity is almost identical for both devices, around 5,000mAh.
· In terms of charging speed, Samsung supports 60W charging, fully charging much faster than the iPhone's 40W.
· Wireless charging speed is identical at 25W, taking approximately 2 hours for a full charge.
· In typical usage, both devices can last more than a day, and for continuous use, the Samsung S26 Ultra provides about 30 minutes longer battery life than the iPhone.
11:12 - 12:47
8. 💡 Advanced Features and AI Assistants
· Both devices are equipped with various advanced features that enhance user convenience.
· The Samsung S26 Ultra introduced numerous innovative AI-based features, including photo text editing, audio erasing, and automated actions.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers useful features like emoji merging and Hold Assist, but Samsung has a broader range of advanced features overall.
| Feature | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Text Editing | New feature, very realistic | Not Possible |
| Photo Object Eraser | Superior | Possible |
| Audio Eraser | Video background noise control, voice clarification | Not Possible |
| Text Rewriting | Possible (Similar to iPhone) | Possible (Similar to Samsung) |
| Call Support | Answer calls and converse | Call Hold End Notification (Hold Assist) |
| Emoji Merge | Not Possible | Combine two emojis to create a new one |
| AI Assistant | Gemini, Bixby, Perplexity (New Search Assistant) | Siri, ChatGPT |
| Automated Actions | Screen control, Uber orders, etc. (US/Korea only) | Not Possible |
· The Samsung S26 Ultra introduced numerous innovative AI-based features, including photo text editing, audio erasing, and automated actions.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers useful features like emoji merging and Hold Assist, but Samsung has a broader range of advanced features overall.
12:50 - 15:05
9. 💰 User Experience and Price Competitiveness
· User experience and price are important considerations when choosing a smartphone.
· Samsung offers a more flexible ecosystem, including interoperability with Windows PCs, and guarantees 7 years of software updates.
· The iPhone boasts strong interoperability within the Apple ecosystem, but compatibility with other devices is limited.
· In terms of price, the Samsung S26 Ultra has a higher initial purchase cost, but it can offer more value in the long run due to better trade-in value and frequent discount opportunities.
· Ultimately, the Samsung S26 Ultra was rated as the best smartphone, leading the iPhone 17 Pro Max 8 to 4.
| Item | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Ecosystem Flexibility | Compatible with various devices like Windows PC (Phone Link), Samsung TV/Tablet, etc. | Fixed to Apple products (Mac, iPad, AirPods) |
| Software Update Guarantee | 7-year guarantee | 6-7 years (Historically) |
| Software Experience | Becoming similar due to feature copying | Becoming similar due to feature copying |
| Price (US Standard) | $100 more expensive (UK £1299) | $1199 (Same for 3 years) |
| Trade-in Value | Up to $720 (Better) | Up to $685 |
| Discounts/Sales | Frequent Discounts | Rarely |
· Samsung offers a more flexible ecosystem, including interoperability with Windows PCs, and guarantees 7 years of software updates.
· The iPhone boasts strong interoperability within the Apple ecosystem, but compatibility with other devices is limited.
· In terms of price, the Samsung S26 Ultra has a higher initial purchase cost, but it can offer more value in the long run due to better trade-in value and frequent discount opportunities.
· Ultimately, the Samsung S26 Ultra was rated as the best smartphone, leading the iPhone 17 Pro Max 8 to 4.