Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26+
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max 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 $1,000 versus $1,199, 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 17 Pro Max stands out for 48mp periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom, while Samsung Galaxy S26+ is praised for larger 6.7-inch qhd+ display. 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 17 Pro Max if…
- →48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- →4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- →Up to 2TB storage
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26+ if…
- →Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- →45W fast charging
- →4900 mAh battery
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Pros
- 48MP periscope telephoto with 8x optical zoom
- 4823 mAh battery for all-day use
- Up to 2TB storage
- Ceramic Shield 2 front and back
- Spatial Video recording
Cons
- 227g is heavy
- Still 27W wired charging
- $1199 starting price
- Aluminum unibody less premium feel than titanium
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Pros
- Larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display
- 45W fast charging
- 4900 mAh battery
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Cons
- Same 12MP ultrawide as base S26
- No S Pen support
- Incremental upgrade over S25+
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S26+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 19 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum unibody frame, Ceramic Shield 2 | Armor Aluminum frame |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163 x 78 x 8.3 mm | 157 x 75 x 7.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 24 MP, f/1.9 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@120fps ProRes, Spatial Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, f/2.8, 8x optical zoom, periscope | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4823 mAh | 4900 mAh |
| Charging | 27W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, ProMotion | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2868 | 1440 x 3120 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | 6-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | 6-core GPU | Adreno |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 (Thunderbolt) | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
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Related Comparisons
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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