The two main flagships of the autumn, two different worlds - and one question I keep getting in the comments: "Which one should I get if money is no object?". The honest answer is that it depends on how you use your phone. Below I break everything down, and at the end I give a short verdict for every scenario.
Short answer
iPhone 18 Pro - for those who want a compact flagship, the most powerful mobile chip and already live in the Apple ecosystem. Galaxy S26 Ultra - for those who need a big screen, the S Pen stylus, a 200 MP camera with two telephoto lenses and who don't want to overpay: right now the Ultra is noticeably cheaper.
Key differences
| Spec | iPhone 18 Pro | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3", OLED, 1206×2622, 120 Hz, up to 3000 nits | 6.9", Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1440×3120, 120 Hz |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro (2 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Memory | 12 GB / 256 GB - 2 TB | 12/256, 12/512, 16 GB/1 TB |
| Main camera | 48 MP, variable aperture f/1.48-f/4.0 | 200 MP, f/1.4 |
| Telephoto | 48 MP, 4× | 50 MP 5× + 10 MP 3× |
| Front | 18 MP | 12 MP |
| Stylus | No | S Pen |
| Charging | wireless 25 W | wired 60 W, wireless 25 W |
| Dimensions, weight | 150 × 71.9 × 8.75 mm, 211 g | 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9 mm, 214 g |
| Battery | 4056 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Price | current prices | current prices |
Specs come from the device pages on Smartphone.ua; current prices are on the iPhone 18 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra pages.
Design and size
The difference is obvious even in photos. The iPhone 18 Pro is 6.3 inches and feels compact in the hand, although 211 g is no longer a feather. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a 6.9-inch slab, yet it is thinner (7.9 mm vs 8.75 mm) and only 3 g heavier. Sounds paradoxical? Yes - Samsung managed to make the Ultra noticeably slimmer than previous generations.
Both are IP68 rated, so rain or an accidental dip in water is not a problem.
In my opinion, the main question here is not "which one is prettier" but "are you comfortable using a big screen with one hand". If not, the choice is almost made.
Display
Samsung is traditionally strong in displays: 1440×3120 on 6.9 inches gives a very dense picture, plus S Pen support - notes, signing documents, quick screenshots with selection. For working with documents on the go this is a real advantage.
The iPhone 18 Pro answers with up to 3000 nits of brightness - the screen is easy to read in the sun. Both have adaptive 120 Hz, so smoothness is the same.
Performance
This is where it gets interesting. The A20 Pro is Apple's first 2 nm chip, with a doubled Neural Engine (32 cores) and a 7-core GPU. On paper it is the biggest jump for the iPhone in several years. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 brings the second generation of Oryon cores and an Adreno 840 GPU with ray tracing.
In real life both run any game at max settings. The difference will show under sustained load: the Snapdragon in a thin body needs good cooling, while Apple's 2 nm chip is expected to run cooler. More about both chips on the A20 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 pages.
Cameras
The most interesting section. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has four cameras, including two telephoto lenses (3× and 5×) and a 200 MP main sensor. For zoom - concerts, sports, architecture - it is the most versatile setup on the market.
The iPhone 18 Pro bets on something else: its 48 MP main camera gets a variable aperture from f/1.48 to f/4.0. What does that give you? More light at night, and during the day - deeper focus and control over background blur, like on a "real" camera. There is one telephoto, 48 MP with 4× zoom, plus high-quality sensor cropping.
For video I would pick the iPhone - stabilization, colours and ProRes are still the benchmark for mobile shooting. For long-zoom photos - Samsung.
Battery and charging
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery and 60 W wired charging. The iPhone 18 Pro has 4056 mAh, and Apple doesn't list its wired charging power; wireless is 25 W MagSafe on both.
If fast charging is critical for you, Samsung wins.
Software and updates
iOS 27 vs Android 16 with One UI 8.5. This is more of a worldview choice: if you have a Mac, AirPods and an Apple Watch, the iPhone makes more sense. If you like customising everything, use Windows and value Galaxy AI with the S Pen - Samsung.
What they have in common
- 120 Hz OLED displays with adaptive refresh rate
- IP68
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, eSIM
- USB-C with high-speed data transfer
- Flagship on-device AI features
Verdict: who should buy which
- Photos with long zoom - Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Video - iPhone 18 Pro.
- Documents and notes - Galaxy S26 Ultra (S Pen).
- Compactness - iPhone 18 Pro.
- If price matters - Galaxy S26 Ultra, it is noticeably cheaper.
- If you are already in the Apple ecosystem - iPhone 18 Pro, no question.
FAQ
Which is faster - the A20 Pro or the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5?
You won't feel a difference in everyday tasks. Both are at the top of benchmarks; the A20 Pro has an efficiency edge thanks to its 2 nm process.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra come with a stylus?
Yes, the S Pen is built into the body.
Which phone shoots better at night?
Both are very strong. The iPhone wins thanks to its variable aperture and processing, Samsung - thanks to its large 200 MP sensor with f/1.4.
Which one is cheaper?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is noticeably cheaper - check current prices on the device pages.