Samsung S26 Ultra VS iPhone 17 Pro Max: By the numbers

TLDR:

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 6.9″ QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 200MP main, 5000mAh, S Pen
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR, A19 Pro, Triple 48MP cameras, 12GB RAM, 5088mAh, Camera Control
• Malaysia: S26 Ultra ~RM5,699 | iPhone 17 Pro Max ~RM5,999
• Spec winner: Tie (Samsung retains the edge in display resolution and dual telephoto versatility, while Apple leads in selfie resolution and video consistency).

The battle between Samsung and Apple continues. If you are in the market for a new flagship phone in Malaysia, these are the two heavyweights to consider. Let’s break it down spec by spec.

Quick Spec Overview

Display

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 120Hz adaptive, 3000 nits peak, Privacy Display.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2868 x 1320 pixels (FHD+), 120Hz ProMotion, 3000 nits peak.

What This Means For You

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes a definitive lead in visual fidelity thanks to its QHD+ resolution. At a screen size of 6.9 inches, the density of pixels becomes crucial; on the Samsung, text appears like ink on paper, and fine details in photos or 4K videos remain incredibly sharp. This is especially noticeable for users who spend a lot of time reading articles or zooming into high-resolution images, where every extra pixel helps maintain clarity.

A major addition this year is Samsung’s Privacy Display, a hardware-level innovation that allows the screen to “black out” for anyone looking at it from a side angle. This is perfect for commuters on the LRT or users in crowded cafes who want to keep their messages and sensitive work private from prying eyes. While the iPhone’s Ceramic Shield 2 offers improved anti-reflective properties, it lacks this active privacy layer, making the Samsung a more comprehensive choice for the privacy-conscious professional.

• Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra

Processor

• Samsung S26 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 3nm, 12-16GB RAM.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: A19 Pro, 3nm, 12GB RAM.

What This Means For You

For the first time in several generations, the multitasking gap between these two platforms has largely closed. Apple has finally bumped the base RAM of the Pro Max to 12GB, a move primarily driven by the high memory requirements of Apple Intelligence. This shift to RAM parity means that both phones are now capable of keeping a dozen or more apps active in the background without aggressive reloads, ensuring that switching between a heavy game, a browser, and a camera remains instantaneous on both devices.

In terms of raw computational power, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has actually begun to trade blows with—and in some benchmarks, surpass—Apple’s A19 Pro. This is particularly relevant for power users in Malaysia who indulge in mobile gaming or AI-heavy tasks like on-device translation and photo generation. While Apple’s vertical integration ensures a very smooth daily experience, Samsung’s raw power and higher 16GB RAM option on the 1TB model make it a slightly more capable “pocket computer.”

• Winner: Tie

Camera

Main Camera

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 200MP, f/1.4, 1/1.3″ sensor, OIS.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 48MP, f/1.78, OIS, LiDAR.

What This Means For You

Samsung’s leap to an f/1.4 aperture on the 200MP main sensor marks a massive improvement in low-light photography. By allowing significantly more light into the sensor, the S26 Ultra can capture cleaner, more detailed photos at night in places like the brightly lit streets of Bukit Bintang or dim restaurants. This wide aperture also creates a more natural “bokeh” effect—that blurred background you usually see on professional DSLRs—giving your everyday snapshots a much more cinematic feel without relying on software tricks.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max continues to prioritize speed and color accuracy. While its 48MP sensor can’t match Samsung’s raw resolution for massive prints, its image processing remains the most consistent in the industry. For the user who wants to “point and shoot” without thinking, the iPhone delivers a perfect exposure almost every time. However, for those who want the freedom to crop deep into a photo or shoot in very dark environments, the Samsung’s hardware leap gives it the edge.

• Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra (for low-light and cropping)

Ultra Wide

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 50MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 48MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV.

What This Means For You

With Samsung’s 50MP and Apple’s 48MP sensors, expansive vistas now retain nearly as much detail as the primary camera, ensuring that landscapes and large group shots are rendered with fantastic clarity. This newfound resolution also provides a practical benefit when editing; you can straighten or re-crop your ultra-wide shots with very little loss in quality, which is a game-changer for getting that perfect composition after the fact.

Real-world impact becomes even more evident in challenging lighting environments. The Samsung S26 Ultra holds a distinct advantage here with its wider f/1.9 aperture, allowing significantly more light to reach the sensor than the iPhone’s f/2.2 lens. For the user, this means that ultra-wide photos taken in a dim bar, a cozy restaurant, or an urban setting at night will appear noticeably cleaner and brighter on the Samsung.

• Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra

Telephoto

• Samsung S26 Ultra: Dual telephoto — 10MP 3x optical + 50MP 5x optical.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: Single 48MP 4x optical.

What This Means For You

The approach to long-range photography reveals a major structural difference. Samsung utilizes a dual-telephoto system that provides two native optical steps: a 3x lens ideal for flattering portraits and a 5x lens for reaching across a stadium. This ensures optical purity at multiple common distances. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, meanwhile, has moved to a 4x optical zoom. While this is a versatile middle ground, it means that at 3x or 5x, the iPhone is using digital cropping, which can’t match the crispness of Samsung’s dedicated hardware.

At the 5x to 10x range, Samsung dominates. Its 50MP sensor allows for a “10x optical-quality” crop that remains remarkably sharp. If your lifestyle involves capturing distant wildlife, far-off city skylines, or performers on a stage at Zepp KL, Samsung’s hardware versatility offers a noticeable advantage in clarity and range.

• Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra

Front Camera

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 12MP, f/2.2.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 18MP, f/1.9 Center Stage.

What This Means For You

The front-facing camera on the iPhone 17 Pro Max has undergone a significant transformation with the introduction of its new Center Stage camera. This system features a unique square lens that allows the phone to intelligently switch between portrait and landscape framing without you actually needing to rotate the device. It is a massive convenience for content creators and professionals who jump between TikTok recordings and Zoom calls, as the camera can automatically re-frame the shot to keep you perfectly centered even if you move around.

While Samsung’s 12MP selfie shooter is boosted by a new “AI ISP” for better skin textures, it simply lacks the resolution and the advanced hardware tricks of the iPhone. Apple’s move to an 18MP sensor with a faster f/1.9 aperture means your selfies will not only be sharper but will also look better in low-light environments like a dimly lit theater or a night out. For anyone who prioritizes video calls, social media content, or high-quality self-portraits, the iPhone’s sophisticated front-facing system is the clear superior.

• Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

Video

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 8K30, 4K120, APV Codec, HDR10+.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 4K120, ProRes, Log, Dolby Vision, Action Mode.

What This Means For You

Video recording is where the iPhone 17 Pro Max truly shines as a professional-grade tool. With support for ProRes and Log recording, the iPhone provides a level of file flexibility that is standard in the film industry, allowing editors to color-grade footage with extreme precision. The addition of the new Camera Control button also makes the experience of filming much more tactile; you can half-press to lock focus and slide your finger across the button to smoothly zoom in and out, mimicking the feel of a dedicated camera lens.

Samsung counters this with its own “Advanced Professional Video” (APV) codec and the ability to record in 8K resolution. While 8K offers incredible detail for future-proofing your memories, it remains a niche feature for most users due to massive file sizes. For the everyday user, the iPhone’s legendary stabilization (Action Mode) and consistent color science across all three lenses make it the more reliable choice for capturing life’s moments. Whether you are filming a vlog in the park or a high-end production, the iPhone remains the industry benchmark for mobile video.

• Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

Battery & Charging

• Samsung S26 Ultra: 5000mAh, 60W wired, 25W wireless.
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5088mAh, 40W wired, 25W MagSafe.

What This Means For You

Samsung has finally stepped up its charging game, offering 60W wired speeds that can top the phone up significantly faster than the iPhone’s 40W ceiling. For a busy user in Malaysia, being able to gain a 70% charge in just 30 minutes while getting ready for work is a major quality-of-life improvement. On the other hand, Apple has increased its battery capacity to over 5000mAh, and when paired with the efficiency of the A19 Pro chip, it remains the champion of endurance—often lasting well into a second day of light use.

• Winner: Samsung for charging speed, iPhone for total endurance

Verdict: By Specs

Samsung S26 Ultra wins on:

• Display (QHD+, Privacy Display)
• Rear Cameras (f/1.4 main, versatile 3x + 5x dual telephoto)
• Productivity (S Pen, 60W charging, DeX)

iPhone 17 Pro Max wins on:

• Front Camera (18MP Center Stage, auto-reframing)
• Video (ProRes, Camera Control button, consistency)
• Total Endurance (proven battery efficiency)

Who Should Pick What?

Samsung S26 Ultra if:

• You want the best zoom and low-light hardware available.
• You prioritize privacy with the new pixel-level screen protection.
• You are a power user who needs a stylus (S Pen) and fast 60W charging.

iPhone 17 Pro Max if:

• Video quality and content creation are your main priorities.
• You want the most consistent “set it and forget it” camera experience.
• You are already deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.