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Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: A Comparative Analysis of Two Flagships Becoming Surprisingly SimilarLong-standing rivals, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, are showing more common ground than expected this year, pushing the boundaries of user experience. From design materials to software optimization, camera performance, and battery efficiency, both devices are evolving in similar directions. The choice between them will likely come down to individual detailed preferences.
1. 📱 Design: Material Changes and Grip
· Both devices have changed their frame material from titanium to aluminum.
· Complaints have been raised about the iPhone 17 Pro Max's frame peeling.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains the same design as its predecessor, giving it a more premium feel.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max has strongly curved edges, making it much smoother to hold.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra still has an angular design, which can be uncomfortable to use without a case.
· Complaints have been raised about the iPhone 17 Pro Max's frame peeling.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains the same design as its predecessor, giving it a more premium feel.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max has strongly curved edges, making it much smoother to hold.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra still has an angular design, which can be uncomfortable to use without a case.
00:31 - 02:11
1. 📱 Design: Material Changes and Grip
· Both devices have changed their frame material from titanium to aluminum.
· Complaints have been raised about the iPhone 17 Pro Max's frame peeling.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains the same design as its predecessor, giving it a more premium feel.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max has strongly curved edges, making it much smoother to hold.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra still has an angular design, which can be uncomfortable to use without a case.
· Complaints have been raised about the iPhone 17 Pro Max's frame peeling.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains the same design as its predecessor, giving it a more premium feel.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max has strongly curved edges, making it much smoother to hold.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra still has an angular design, which can be uncomfortable to use without a case.
02:12 - 04:33
2. 🚀 Performance and Software: AI and Stability
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Quick Panel allows icon repositioning and resizing, similar to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· One UI 8.5's settings interface has been simplified like iOS 26, and system app navigation bars have also moved to the bottom.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra shows excellent stability with almost no errors during two weeks of use.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max had stability issues, such as UI cropping errors during camera tests.
· Galaxy AI is functionally far superior to Apple Intelligence. It offers powerful AI editing features like generative erase, object addition, and prompt-based background changes.
· Both devices feature the latest chipsets, providing top-tier performance, and high-spec games run smoothly without frame drops or overheating.
· Extreme temperature tests conducted in a 5G environment showed similarly low heat levels for both devices.
· One UI 8.5's settings interface has been simplified like iOS 26, and system app navigation bars have also moved to the bottom.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra shows excellent stability with almost no errors during two weeks of use.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max had stability issues, such as UI cropping errors during camera tests.
· Galaxy AI is functionally far superior to Apple Intelligence. It offers powerful AI editing features like generative erase, object addition, and prompt-based background changes.
· Both devices feature the latest chipsets, providing top-tier performance, and high-spec games run smoothly without frame drops or overheating.
· Extreme temperature tests conducted in a 5G environment showed similarly low heat levels for both devices.
04:34 - 05:26
3. 💰 Price Comparison: List Price vs. Actual Purchase Price
· The list prices of the two devices are 36.9 million VND for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and 37.9 million VND for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, a difference of about 1 million VND.
· Based on actual purchase price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper due to discounts and promotional gifts.
· Based on actual purchase price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is cheaper due to discounts and promotional gifts.
05:27 - 10:31
4. 📸 Camera Performance: Night, Zoom, Portrait Photos
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max's camera performance has significantly improved with a new 48.4x telephoto sensor and professional video shooting capabilities.
· Night Photos (1x): Both devices show natural colors, a slight yellow tone, and appropriate contrast. They provide natural results, unlike Chinese flagship phones.
· Night Photos (2x): The results from both devices are very similar, making them difficult to distinguish.
· Backlit Night Shots: The Galaxy S26 Ultra tends to show significant noise and reduced image quality in backlit conditions, such as bright LED signs.
· Zoom Function: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is much more advantageous with its two telephoto cameras.
· 3x Zoom: The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses an optical 3x telephoto sensor, while the iPhone uses digital zoom from the main camera, making the Galaxy superior in color and detail.
· 5x Zoom: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is superior with more uniform lighting, appropriate contrast, and clear text rendering.
· Daytime Photos (1x): Both devices offer excellent flagship-level quality, and the choice may depend on individual color preferences.
· Daytime Photos (3x/5x): The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a slight edge in detail, but the difference is not as significant as in night shots.
· Portrait Photos: Both devices show similar performance in detail, subject separation, and background blur.
· White Balance: Both devices show inconsistent white balance, with occasional yellow tones.
· Skin Tone: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is preferred for its softer and smoother skin rendering.
· Video Recording: Both devices offer top-tier video quality.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra can record stably in low-light environments without frame drops and supports advanced features like horizontal lock and Codex APV.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers professional video features such as ProRes Raw, Apple Log, and Genock.
· Night Photos (1x): Both devices show natural colors, a slight yellow tone, and appropriate contrast. They provide natural results, unlike Chinese flagship phones.
· Night Photos (2x): The results from both devices are very similar, making them difficult to distinguish.
· Backlit Night Shots: The Galaxy S26 Ultra tends to show significant noise and reduced image quality in backlit conditions, such as bright LED signs.
· Zoom Function: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is much more advantageous with its two telephoto cameras.
· 3x Zoom: The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses an optical 3x telephoto sensor, while the iPhone uses digital zoom from the main camera, making the Galaxy superior in color and detail.
· 5x Zoom: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is superior with more uniform lighting, appropriate contrast, and clear text rendering.
· Daytime Photos (1x): Both devices offer excellent flagship-level quality, and the choice may depend on individual color preferences.
· Daytime Photos (3x/5x): The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a slight edge in detail, but the difference is not as significant as in night shots.
· Portrait Photos: Both devices show similar performance in detail, subject separation, and background blur.
· White Balance: Both devices show inconsistent white balance, with occasional yellow tones.
· Skin Tone: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is preferred for its softer and smoother skin rendering.
· Video Recording: Both devices offer top-tier video quality.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra can record stably in low-light environments without frame drops and supports advanced features like horizontal lock and Codex APV.
· The iPhone 17 Pro Max offers professional video features such as ProRes Raw, Apple Log, and Genock.
10:32 - 12:17
5. 📺 Display: Brightness, Anti-Reflection, Privacy Features
· Both devices feature large screens and thin bezels.
· Outdoor Max Brightness: There isn't a significant difference between the Galaxy S26 Ultra (3000 nits) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (2600 nits).
· Indoor Normal Brightness: The iPhone is brighter; the Galaxy S26 Ultra needs to be set to about 60% brightness to achieve a similar level to the iPhone's 40% brightness.
· Anti-Reflection: Both devices offer anti-reflection features, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra being superior as it disperses light better and provides a smoother screen.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra's new privacy display can selectively blur specific apps (e.g., banking, stock, messaging) to protect personal information.
· The iPhone requires a separate privacy film, which degrades the screen quality of all apps.
· While there are concerns that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's privacy display might degrade screen quality even when not activated, there are no significant issues with detail or viewing angles at typical usage distances.
· Outdoor Max Brightness: There isn't a significant difference between the Galaxy S26 Ultra (3000 nits) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (2600 nits).
· Indoor Normal Brightness: The iPhone is brighter; the Galaxy S26 Ultra needs to be set to about 60% brightness to achieve a similar level to the iPhone's 40% brightness.
· Anti-Reflection: Both devices offer anti-reflection features, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra being superior as it disperses light better and provides a smoother screen.
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra's new privacy display can selectively blur specific apps (e.g., banking, stock, messaging) to protect personal information.
· The iPhone requires a separate privacy film, which degrades the screen quality of all apps.
· While there are concerns that the Galaxy S26 Ultra's privacy display might degrade screen quality even when not activated, there are no significant issues with detail or viewing angles at typical usage distances.
12:18 - 13:15
6. 🔋 Battery and Charging: Efficiency and Speed
· Both devices have a battery capacity of approximately 5000mAh.
· Battery Life: In actual tests, both devices showed very similar battery usage times, with only an 8-minute difference.
· The iPhone has lower standby power consumption, providing slightly longer battery life in real-world use.
· Both devices are sufficient for a full day of use, lasting up to 1.5 days.
· Battery Life: In actual tests, both devices showed very similar battery usage times, with only an 8-minute difference.
· The iPhone has lower standby power consumption, providing slightly longer battery life in real-world use.
· Both devices are sufficient for a full day of use, lasting up to 1.5 days.
| Category | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Charging Speed (100% Full Charge) | 48 minutes (60W charger) | 81 minutes |
| Last 20% Charging Time | Fast | 30 minutes |