iPhone 18 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: which premium phone should you buy?

Key figures

Two different ideas of a flagship

The Galaxy S26 Ultra went on sale in March 2026 and the iPhone 18 Pro on September 18, 2026. They cost about the same, but they are very different phones: the iPhone 18 Pro is a compact 6.3-inch device, while the S26 Ultra is a large 6.9-inch phone with a built-in stylus. TechRepublic concludes that "there's no single winner"; iGeeksBlog picks the Galaxy as the better all-round flagship, but the iPhone for people already using Apple products.

Head-to-head

Both are rated IP68. Benchmarks from iGeeksBlog's early tests; prices and specifications from TechRepublic.

Where each phone wins

• Speed: the A20 Pro is about 25 % faster in single-core tests, according to iGeeksBlog.
• Size and comfort: the iPhone is much smaller and easier to use with one hand, even though the Galaxy is thinner.
• Screen: the Galaxy's 6.9-inch display is better for films, games and reading. Its new Privacy Display, which hides the screen from people beside you, is widely praised by reviewers.
• Zoom: Samsung's 5x telephoto and 10x optical-quality zoom go further than the iPhone's 4x (8x optical-quality).
• Main camera and video: the iPhone's variable aperture gives more control, and iGeeksBlog prefers the iPhone for video thanks to Dolby Vision recording and its tracking and audio tools.
• Battery: a tie in Tom's Guide's web test. The iPhone charges to 50 % faster; the Galaxy reaches about 75 % in 30 minutes.
• Productivity: the S Pen and Samsung DeX, which turns the phone into a desktop on an external screen, have no equivalent on iPhone.
• AI: Galaxy AI is more complete today. Apple's new Siri AI launched in beta, in English first.
• Software support: Samsung promises seven years of updates in writing; Apple supports iPhones for a long time but publishes no fixed commitment.

The price question

At list price the iPhone is about $100 cheaper. But Samsung regularly cuts the S26 Ultra: TechRepublic noted the unlocked 256 GB model at $1,099.99 on Samsung's store after a $200 discount. With Black Friday approaching, a discounted Galaxy can be cheaper than an iPhone 18 Pro, which is rarely reduced.

Which one should you buy?

• You already use a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or AirPods: the iPhone 18 Pro.
• You want a phone that fits in one hand: the iPhone 18 Pro.
• You film a lot of video: the iPhone 18 Pro.
• You want the biggest screen and the longest zoom: the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• You take notes, sign documents or sketch: the Galaxy S26 Ultra and its S Pen.
• You want a written promise of long software support: the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• You own an iPhone 17 Pro or a Galaxy S25 Ultra: keep it; reviewers describe both new models as evolutions rather than revolutions.

Verdict

There is no universal winner. The iPhone 18 Pro is the better choice for a compact, very fast phone with excellent video and Apple's ecosystem. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better tool for people who want a large screen, long zoom, a stylus and Android's flexibility, and it is often the better deal once discounts apply. For more detail, read our iPhone 18 Pro analysis, our Galaxy S26 Ultra analysis and our iPhone 18 Pro vs Pixel 11 Pro comparison.

This article analyses reviews published by other outlets, in our own words. RealDigitalTech did not test the iPhone 18 Pro or the Galaxy S26 Ultra itself.