iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 | 10 Key Features Comparison
Smartphones rule our world today. Every year, two big companies make new phones. Apple plans to launch the iPhone 17 in September 2025. Samsung will bring the Galaxy S26 in early 2026. Fans are excited to see what each phone can do.
Both phones want to impress us. The iPhone 17 might have a faster A19 chip. It could have a screen that stays on all the time. The Galaxy S26 Ultra might have a 200 MP camera. It could use a very fast Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip. Both phones use strong glass and metal. They will look nice and feel solid.
These new phones will also run new software. Apple’s iOS 26 may add smarter helpers. Samsung’s Android 15 may bring new AI tricks. Soon, we will see which ideas work best.
Next, we will learn ten main ways these phones are different. Let’s look at their design, screens, cameras, and more.
1. Design and Build
iPhone 17 Air is very slim and light. It measures about 6 mm thick. It uses a titanium frame. The back is matte glass. It feels soft in hand. It may come in five colors.
Galaxy S26 Ultra is under 8 mm thick. It uses Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass. It feels solid and smooth. It may weigh a bit more. It looks sleek with curved edges. It may offer four color options.
2. Screen and Display
iPhone 17 has a 6.1‑inch OLED screen. It runs at 120 Hz for smooth motion. It can stay always on. You see time and widgets without unlocking.
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.8‑inch Dynamic AMOLED display. It also runs at 120 Hz. It reaches over 3,000 nits brightness. You see it well in bright sun. Colors look vivid and bold.
3. Main Camera
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max use three 48 MP cameras. They include wide, ultra‑wide, and telephoto lenses. They may use a mechanical aperture for better light. They can record 8K video at 24 fps.
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200 MP main sensor. It adds a 50 MP telephoto lens with 5× optical zoom. It also has ultra‑wide and depth sensors. It records 8K video at 30 fps. It uses AI to sharpen photos.
4. Front Camera
iPhone 17 upgrades to a 24 MP TrueDepth camera. It uses a six‑element lens for clear selfies. It may add better low‑light performance. Face ID works faster and in the dark.
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a ~12 MP punch‑hole front camera. It uses AI for skin tone and noise reduction. It can record 4K video at 60 fps. Selfies look bright and detailed.
5. Performance and Speed
iPhone 17 runs on the A19 chip. The Pro uses A19 Pro with vapor‑chamber cooling. Base and Air models come with 8 GB of RAM. Pro models may get 12 GB. Apps launch instantly. Games run without lag.
Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip. It has 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM. Storage is UFS 4.0 up to 1 TB. It handles heavy games and apps smoothly. It stays cool under load.
6. Battery and Charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max packs about 5,000 mAh. The Air model has around 3,500 mAh but lasts all day. Apple adds a denser battery cell. MagSafe charging may go up to 35 W. You get a 50% charge in about 30 minutes.
Galaxy S26 Ultra holds around 5,000 mAh. It uses dense battery tech too. It supports 65 W wired charging. It also offers 45 W wireless. You can fill to 50% in under 20 minutes.
7. Storage and Memory
iPhone 17 starts at 128 GB of storage. You can choose 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB on Pro models. RAM is 8 GB on base models and 12 GB on Pro.
Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at 256 GB. You can get 512 GB or 1 TB. It may support microSD cards up to 1 TB. RAM is 12 GB or 16 GB.
8. Connectivity
iPhone 17 supports 5G on all U.S. bands. It adds Wi‑Fi 7 for faster home internet. It uses eSIM only. It has Bluetooth 5.4 and UWB for AirTags.
Galaxy S26 Ultra also supports 5G and Wi‑Fi 7. It has a physical SIM slot plus eSIM. It uses Bluetooth 5.4 and UWB. It may add satellite SOS features.
9. Security Features
iPhone 17 uses Face ID under the display. It unlocks quickly. It works in low light. It stores data in Secure Enclave. It protects passwords and keys.
Galaxy S26 Ultra uses an under‑screen fingerprint scanner. It unlocks fast. It also uses Samsung Knox to secure apps. You can add a PIN or pattern too. It may offer secure folder options.
10. Software and AI
iPhone 17 runs iOS 26. It adds Apple Intelligence for photos and texts. Siri may sound more natural. It links well with Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Galaxy S26 Ultra runs One UI on Android 15. It adds Galaxy AI with tools from Perplexity. Bixby and Samsung apps use AI to help you write texts and edit images. It works with Galaxy Buds and Watch.
Comparison Table (Quick Summary)
| Feature | iPhone 17 Series | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Sept 2025 | Early 2026 |
| Thickness | Air: ~6 mm; Pro: ~7.7 mm | < 8 mm |
| Frame | Titanium (Air), Aluminum (Pro) | Armor Aluminum |
| Screen | 120 Hz OLED, always‑on | 120 Hz Dynamic AMOLED, 3,000 nits |
| Main Camera | 48 MP triple, 8K video | 200 MP + 50 MP tele, 8K |
| Front Camera | 24 MP TrueDepth | ~12 MP punch‑hole |
| Chipset | A19 / A19 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 |
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB–1 TB | 256 GB–1 TB + microSD |
| Battery | ~5,000 mAh | ~5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 35 W MagSafe | 65 W wired, 45 W wireless |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi‑Fi 7, UWB, eSIM | 5G, Wi‑Fi 7, UWB, SIM slot |
| Security | Face ID, Secure Enclave | Fingerprint, Knox |
| Software/AI | iOS 26, Apple Intelligence | Android 15, Galaxy AI |
FAQs
- When will each phone come out?
iPhone 17 in September 2025. Galaxy S26 early 2026. - Which phone is slimmer?
iPhone 17 Air at about 6 mm is slimmer than S26 Ultra. - Can I use a microSD card?
Only Samsung S26 Ultra may support microSD. iPhone does not. - Which phone charges faster?
Galaxy S26 Ultra with 65 W wired charges fastest. - Do both record 8K video?
Yes. iPhone 17 Pro models and S26 Ultra support 8K. - Which phone has a better selfie camera?
iPhone 17 has a 24 MP front camera. S26 Ultra has ~12 MP with AI. - Which is better in sunlight?
S26 Ultra’s screen at over 3,000 nits is brighter. - Which is more secure?
Both are secure. iPhone uses Face ID. Samsung uses fingerprint and Knox. - Which has more storage options?
Both offer up to 1 TB. Samsung adds microSD support. - Which ecosystem is best?
iPhone fits Apple devices. S26 Ultra fits Samsung and Google services.
Conclusion
Both phones bring strong upgrades. iPhone 17 is slim and light. It has a smooth screen and good cameras. It works well with other Apple gear.
Galaxy S26 Ultra has a huge 200 MP camera. It charges very fast. It has more storage options and a brighter screen. It fits well in the Samsung world.
Choose iPhone 17 if you value thin design and Face ID. Choose Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want top camera power and quick charging. Either phone will make many users happy.
