Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S26
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the cheaper of the two at $800 versus $999, a difference of about $199. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple iPhone 16 Pro stands out for compact pro form factor with larger 6.3-inch display, while Samsung Galaxy S26 is praised for compact 6.2-inch flagship. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro if…
- →Compact Pro form factor with larger 6.3-inch display
- →Same A18 Pro chip as Pro Max
- →5x telephoto now on smaller Pro model
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 if…
- →Compact 6.2-inch flagship
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- →7 years of OS updates
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Pros
- Compact Pro form factor with larger 6.3-inch display
- Same A18 Pro chip as Pro Max
- 5x telephoto now on smaller Pro model
- Excellent video recording capabilities
- Premium titanium design
Cons
- Shorter battery life than Pro Max
- Expensive
- Charging speeds trail Android rivals
- Base 128 GB storage feels limiting
Samsung Galaxy S26
Pros
- Compact 6.2-inch flagship
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 7 years of OS updates
- IP68 water resistance
Cons
- Smaller 4000 mAh battery
- Only 25W charging
- 12MP ultrawide is dated
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 16 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 168 g |
| Material | Titanium frame | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm | 146 x 70 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@120fps Dolby Vision | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 5x | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 3582 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.3 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2622 x 1206 | 1080 x 2340 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | Apple GPU (6-core) | Adreno |
| Chipset | Apple A18 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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