Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Critics score the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 91 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 86 out of 100, from 6 and 20 professional reviews. 6 outlets reviewed both: 3 scored the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher, 1 scored the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra higher and 2 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 4 points ahead.
Image: AppleApple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Praised for: performance (5 of 6), battery life (5 of 6)
Criticised for: size and weight (2 of 6)
The catch: It is big, heavy and pricier than last year.
All 6 reviews of the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max →
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Image: SamsungSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Praised for: picture quality (18 of 20), performance (17 of 20), battery life (7 of 20)
Criticised for: price (10 of 20), battery life (7 of 20)
The catch: Very expensive, and the AI features are hit-and-miss.
All 20 reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra →
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Critics who reviewed both
The fairest comparison: the same reviewer, the same standards| Outlet | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert Reviews | 95 | 80 | +15 |
| WIRED | 90 | 80 | +10 |
| Trusted Reviews | 90 | 83est. | +7 |
| TechRadar | 95 | 95 | same |
| Tom's Guide | 90 | 90 | same |
| CNN Underscored | 83est. | 89est. | -6 |
Scores converted to 0–100. Difference is the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max minus the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Outlined tiles are estimated from the verdict. Each score links to the review.
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Common questions
Which is better, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Critics rate the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher: 91 against 86. 6 outlets reviewed both: 3 scored the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max higher, 1 scored the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra higher and 2 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max 4 points ahead.
Do critics agree about the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max: critics agree, scores from 83 to 95. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: broad agreement, scores from 66 to 95.