Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: 14 of 15 decision facts sourced.
iPhone 16: 9 of 15 decision facts sourced.
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price today | $39.99 | Price not yet checked |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy samsung.com | A18 chip apple.com |
| RAM | 16 gigabytes bestbuy.com | Not yet sourced |
| Storage | 1000 gigabytes bestbuy.com | Not yet sourced |
| Screen size | 6.9 in samsung.com | 6.1‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display apple.com |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz bestbuy.com | Not yet sourced |
| Peak brightness | 2600 nits samsung.com | 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR) apple.com |
| Battery | 5000 mAh samsung.com | Not yet sourced |
| Battery life | 31 hrs video playback samsung.com | Up to 22 hours (video playback) apple.com |
| Main camera | 200 MP samsung.com | 48MP Fusion Main apple.com |
| Optical zoom | 5x optical (10x optical quality) samsung.com | 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom range apple.com |
| Weight | 214 g samsung.com | 6.00 ounces (170 grams) apple.com |
| Water resistance | IP68 samsung.com | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes) apple.com |
| Wired charging | 60 watts bestbuy.com | Not yet sourced |
| Starting MSRP | From $1,299.99 samsung.com | $799 apple.com |
Not yet sourced — Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: OS updates. iPhone 16: RAM, Storage, Refresh rate, Battery, Wired charging, OS updates. No manufacturer, official or retailer source we read publishes these yet; we don't estimate them.
Verdict: Pick Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if you need the highest‑resolution camera (200 MP vs 48 MP) and brightest display (2600 nits vs 1600 nits).
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra lists at $39.99 while iPhone 16 lists at $799 — Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra undercuts iPhone 16 by $759.01 (1898%).
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: 8.2/10
iPhone 16: 6.5/10
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.9 in | 6.1‑inch (diagonal) all‑screen OLED display |
| Panel | OLED | Super Retina XDR display |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 2556‑by‑1179-pixel resolution at 460 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | — |
| Peak brightness | 2600 nits | 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | A18 chip |
Our pick: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display, A18 Pro chip, and 4,685mAh battery for $1,199, while the iPhone 17 Air features a 6.6-inch 120Hz OLED, A19 chip, and 170g ultra-thin design starting at $1,099. The Pro Max offers superior zoom camera and battery life, but the Air wins on portability and lower price.
The iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch 120Hz display, A18 chip, and starts at $899, while the iPhone 17 is expected to feature a 6.3-inch screen, A19 chip, and launch around $799. Early rumors suggest the iPhone 17 will offer better battery life and a redesigned camera bar but lack the Plus model's larger display.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch 120Hz display, A18 Pro chip, and starts at $999, while the iPhone 17 is expected to feature a 6.3-inch display with under-display Face ID, A19 chip, and a similar $999 starting price. Real-world benchmarks show the A19 offering about 15-20% better CPU performance than the A18 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch 120Hz display, A18 Pro chip, 48MP main camera, and starts at $999. The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to upgrade to a 6.3-inch under-display Face ID screen, A19 Pro chip, and improved 48MP ultrawide but will likely start higher at around $1099.
The iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, A18 Pro chip, and starts at $999, while the iPhone 17 Air features a thinner 5.5mm body, 6.6-inch screen, and A19 chip starting at $1099. The 17 Air prioritizes slim design and lighter weight over the 16 Pro's superior zoom camera and longer battery life.
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