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Head to head · 2 phones

iPhone 17 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra

Verified specs side by side. The green tick marks the better value on each measurable row.

Comparing 2 phones
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro8.7Very good· Top score
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Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra8.6Very good
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VerdictApple iPhone 17 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better buy for most people.

  • It wins four of seven rounds outright: stills and zoom, battery and charging, display, and software support.
  • It is also the one you can still buy new, since Apple no longer sells the iPhone 17 Pro.
  • Samsung gives you real glass at 3x and 5x on top of a 200MP main sensor, 60W wired charging that reaches 75% in about 30 minutes, a sharper 6.9-inch QHD+ panel with Privacy Display, a built-in S Pen and a written promise of seven OS upgrades.
  • In one independent lab's web test it also ran slightly longer.
  • The iPhone 17 Pro keeps two real wins.
  • Video is the big one: 4K120 Dolby Vision, ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2 and genlock make it a working tool for creators.
  • It is also smaller, lighter, rated IP68 to 6 m, and has MagSafe and Qi2 magnets built in.
  • Performance is a draw.
  • Everyone else should take the Ultra.

If you're staying on iPhone and shoot serious video, the 17 Pro still earns its place.

Read our full verdict
The short verdict

iPhone 17 Pro edges it on score

The iPhone 17 Pro leads overall; pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if its strengths below matter more to you.

iPhone 17 Pro
8.7
Galaxy S26 Ultra
8.6
Choose the iPhone 17 Pro if
  • Power users, mobile content creators, and buyers upgrading from an iPhone 14 Pro or older who want flagship performance, long battery life, and pro-grade video capabilities.
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Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if
  • Android power users who want an S Pen, 5x zoom and a screen that hides from shoulder-surfers
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At a glance

Key differences

Measured differences only. Ties and tiny gaps are left out.
Why pick theiPhone 17 Pro1 win
−0.6"Easier one-handed use6.3" vs 6.9"
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Why pick theGalaxy S26 Ultra5 wins
+160%Brighter screen outdoors2,600 vs 1,000 nits peak
+10%Larger screen6.9 vs 6.3 in
+25%Bigger battery5,000 vs 3,998 mAh
1.5×Faster wired charging60 vs 40 W
+33%More RAM for multitasking16 vs 12 GB
Check priceBest price · Amazon · check the store for today’s priceCheck price at Amazon ↗
Display5 differences
Screen size
6.3"
6.9"
Display type
Super Retina XDR display · ProMotion up to 120Hz · Always-On
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution
1206 x 2622
3120 x 1440 pixels
Peak brightness
1000 nits max brightness (typical) · 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR) · 3000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)
2600 nits
Pixel density
460 ppi
499 ppi
Performance1 difference
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro (3 nm)
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (SM8850, 3 nm)
Memory3 differences
RAM
12 GB
16 GB
Internal storage
256 GB
1 TB
Card slot
No
Not supported
Main camera2 differences
Primary camera
48 MP
200 MP
Stabilization
second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
Sound2 differences
Loudspeaker
Stereo speakers
Stereo
Headphone port
No
USB Type-C
Battery & Charging3 differences
Capacity
3,998 mAh
5,000 mAh
Wired charging
Up to 50% charge in 20 minutes
60W
Wireless charging
25W wireless MagSafe/Qi2
Yes
Connectivity3 differences
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 6.0
6.0
Cellular
5G, LTE, UMTS/HSPA+, GSM/EDGE
5G sub6 + mmWave
Body5 differences
Dimensions
5.91 in (15 cm)
163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9 mm
Weight
206 g
214 g
Water & dust resistance
Rated IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes)
IP68
Colors
Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue
Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue, White
Repairability
Class C
C
Launch & Software2 differences
Released
2025
2026
Operating system
iOS 26
Android 16
General1 difference
Energy Efficiency Class
Class A
A
Where to buy
eBayCheck price

Specs verified against manufacturer data. Prices in USD before tax; we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

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