Galaxy S26
iPhone 17 Pro
🏆 Verdict
iPhone 17 Pro is the better pick overall by 3.8 points, leading in Display and Camera. Galaxy S26 remains a strong contender elsewhere.
Galaxy S26 offers more for the money ($799 vs $1,099 at launch).
By category
Performance
Galaxy S26 is faster with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (performance index 100 vs 99). You notice it in heavy games and video editing, less in daily use.
Camera
Galaxy S26's main camera is 50 MP vs 48 MP. More pixels help cropping and digital zoom, but final quality depends on sensor size and processing. iPhone 17 Pro zooms further optically (4× vs 3×). iPhone 17 Pro has the higher-resolution selfie camera (18 MP vs 12 MP).
Battery
Both batteries are about the same size (4,276 mAh).
Charging
Wireless charging is faster on iPhone 17 Pro (25W vs 15W).
Display
iPhone 17 Pro's screen gets brighter (3,000 vs 2,600 nits), which shows outdoors. iPhone 17 Pro's screen is sharper (458 vs 409 ppi).
Build & durability
Galaxy S26 is 43 g lighter.
Updates
Galaxy S26 should get OS updates for longer (7 vs 6 years, per the maker's policy at launch).
Specifications
| Galaxy S26 | iPhone 17 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Chipset | Apple A19 Pro |
| 12 GB | RAM | 12 GB |
| 256 GB / 512 GB | Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| 6.3" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Display | 6.3" LTPO OLED |
| 120 Hz | Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| 2340×1080 (409 ppi) | Resolution | 2622×1206 (458 ppi) |
| 2,600 nits | Peak brightness | 3,000 nits |
| 50 MP | Main camera | 48 MP |
| 12 MP | Ultrawide | 48 MP |
| 10 MP · 3× | Telephoto | 48 MP · 4× |
| 12 MP | Front camera | 18 MP |
| 4,300 mAh | Battery | 4,252 mAh |
| 45 W | Wired charging | 40 W |
| 15 W | Wireless charging | 25 W |
| IP68 | Water & dust rating | IP68 |
| aluminium | Frame | aluminium |
| 163 g | Weight | 206 g |
| 7 years | OS updates (estimated) | 6 years |
| $799 | Launch price | $1,099 |
| 2026-02 | Released | 2025-09 |
Official source: Galaxy S26 · Official source: iPhone 17 Pro
⚠ Data pending confirmation: Galaxy S26
Galaxy S26
Pros
- Light at 163 g
- Lower price ($799)
iPhone 17 Pro
Pros
- 4× optical zoom
Cons
- Heavier (206 g)
- Pricier ($1,099)
How is the score calculated?
Each phone gets 0–100 points in seven categories (performance, camera, battery, charging, display, build, updates), computed only from its published specs, then combined with fixed, published weights. A gap under 2.5 points counts as a tie. The performance index is an estimate based on benchmark results published at launch.
Figures come from the manufacturers’ official pages. Some specs vary by market. We do not sell devices or earn commissions.