Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: Spec-by-Spec Comparison for Malaysians
TLDR:
- Samsung S26 Ultra: 6.9″ QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 200MP main, 5000mAh, S Pen
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9″ FHD+ display, A18 Pro, 48MP main, 4685mAh, Camera Control
- Malaysia: S26 Ultra ~RM5,699 | iPhone 16 Pro Max ~RM5,999
- Spec winner: Samsung S26 Ultra (more RAM, higher res, better camera hardware)
The battle between Samsung and Apple continues in 2025. If you are in the market for a new flagship phone in Malaysia, these are the two heavyweights to consider. Lets break it down spec by spec.
Quick Spec Overview
| Spec | Samsung S26 Ultra | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ | 6.9″ Super Retina XDR FHD+ |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz adaptive | 120Hz ProMotion |
| Peak Brightness | 3000 nits | 2000 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 | A18 Pro |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Main Camera | 200MP f/1.7 | 48MP f/1.8 |
| Ultra Wide | 50MP f/1.9 | 48MP f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x | 12MP 5x |
| Front Camera | 12MP f/1.9 | 12MP f/1.9 |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 4685mAh |
| Wired Charging | 45W | 45W |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | 25W MagSafe |
| Weight | 218g | 227g |
| S Pen | ✅ Built-in | ❌ No |
| Malaysia Price (256GB) | ~RM5,699 | ~RM5,999 |
Display
Samsung S26 Ultra: 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 120Hz adaptive, 3000 nits peak, Always-On Display.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 2866 x 1320 pixels (FHD+), 120Hz ProMotion, 2000 nits peak.
What This Means For You
Higher resolution (QHD+): Text, images, and videos will look sharper. If you frequently read on your phone or zoom into photos, the difference is noticeable. At 6.9″, every pixel counts.
Brighter screen (3000 vs 2000 nits): Outdoor visibility improves significantly. In Malaysian afternoon sun — and its bright here — you will have an easier time seeing your screen without shading it with your hand.
Always-On Display: Samsung shows notifications, time, and widgets on the locked screen constantly. iPhones is more limited. If you glance at your phone for quick info, Samsung AOD is more useful.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra
Processor
Samsung S26 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 4.47GHz max, 3nm, 12-16GB RAM.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: A18 Pro, 4.04GHz max, 3nm, 8GB RAM.
What This Means For You
More RAM (12-16GB vs 8GB): Apps stay in memory longer. You can switch between 10+ apps without reloads. If you multitask — browsing while watching YouTube, or using split-screen — this matters.
Higher clock speed: Raw compute is faster. For heavy tasks like video editing, 3D gaming, or running AI features on-device, the extra headroom helps.
Note: iOS and Android handle RAM differently. 8GB on iPhone is efficient. But if you keep many apps open or use DeX (Samsung desktop mode), more RAM is a tangible benefit.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra (on paper)
Camera
Main Camera
Samsung S26 Ultra: 200MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3″ sensor, OIS, laser AF.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.28″ sensor, OIS, LiDAR.
What This Means For You
200MP vs 48MP: The S26 Ultra can capture more detail. Crop into photos heavily — architecture, distant subjects, food close-ups — and you will have more resolution to work with. For printing or heavy cropping, this is useful.
Wider aperture (f/1.7): Slightly better low-light performance. Night shots should be marginally brighter on Samsung.
Larger sensor: Better dynamic range and shallower depth of field comes easier on the Samsung.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra
Ultra Wide
Samsung S26 Ultra: 50MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 48MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV.
What This Means For You
Higher resolution: Landscapes and group shots will have more detail. When you crop or straighten ultra-wide shots, you lose less quality.
Wider aperture (f/1.9 vs f/2.2): Low-light ultra-wide shots should be noticeably better. That dim bar or restaurant? Samsung captures more light.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra
Telephoto
Samsung S26 Ultra: Dual telephoto — 10MP 3x optical + 50MP 5x optical.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Single 12MP 5x optical.
What This Means For You
Dual telephoto (3x + 5x): You get two useful zoom levels. 3x is great for portraits and everyday zoom. 5x is perfect for distant subjects — concerts, buildings, wildlife. iPhone only gives you 5x.
Higher resolution 5x (50MP vs 12MP): At 5x and beyond, Samsung shots should have significantly more detail. If you zoom in a lot, this matters.
10x combined: Samsung offers 10x optical-quality zoom (using the 5x lens with sensor crop). That is a genuine telephoto reach iPhone cannot match.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra
Front Camera
Both: 12MP, f/1.9 — Identical specs. Selfie quality should be similar.
Winner: Tie
Video
Samsung S26 Ultra: 8K30, 4K120, HDR10+, VDIS.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4K60 ProRes, 4K120 slow-mo, Cinematic Mode, Log.
What This Means For You
8K recording (Samsung): Future-proofing. 8K footage has more flexibility in editing, but takes huge storage. Most users will not need this yet.
ProRes (iPhone): Industry-standard for professional video work. If you edit footage in Final Cut or Premiere, iPhone delivers higher quality files.
Cinematic Mode (iPhone): Auto depth-of-field for video. Creates that professional focus pull effect automatically.
Note: iPhone video is widely considered the benchmark. Specs do not capture iPhone video consistency, color science, and stabilization. If video is your priority, iPhone is the safer bet.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max (for video specifically)
Battery & Charging
Samsung S26 Ultra: 5000mAh, 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4685mAh, 45W wired, 25W MagSafe, 5W reverse.
What This Means For You
Larger battery (5000 vs 4685mAh): Expect slightly longer screen-on time. At ~6% larger, S26 Ultra should last 30-60 minutes longer under similar use.
Wired charging: Both support 45W — same speed. You will need a 45W charger (around RM50-80 from Shopee) to hit max speed.
Wireless charging: iPhone 25W MagSafe is significantly faster than Samsung 15W. If you use wireless charging daily, iPhone tops up quicker.
Winner: Mixed — Samsung for capacity, iPhone for wireless speed
Build & Design
Samsung S26 Ultra: Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 3, 218g, IP68.
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield, 227g, IP68.
What This Means For You
Lighter (218g vs 227g): 9g difference. Over a full day of use — and these are heavy phones — every gram helps. Samsung is more comfortable for prolonged holding.
Winner: Samsung S26 Ultra
Special Features
Samsung S26 Ultra: S Pen (built-in), DeX mode, Ultrasonic fingerprint, Satellite messaging (Starlink)
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Camera Control button, MagSafe ecosystem, Face ID, Action Button, Satellite messaging (Globalstar)
What This Means For You
S Pen: Unique to Samsung. For note-takers, doodlers, or anyone who annotates screenshots, this is a genuine extra. No other flagship offers it.
DeX: Samsung can connect to a monitor and work like a PC. For light productivity — docs, email, browser — it is surprisingly useful. iPhone does not do this.
Fingerprint vs Face ID: Fingerprint works with wet fingers, in dark rooms, and does not require your face visible. Face ID is more secure and works hands-free. Preference depends on your use case.
Camera Control: Hardware button for photography. Half-press to focus, slide to zoom. Makes one-handed shooting easier. Unique to iPhone.
MagSafe: Magnetic accessories — cases, wallets, mounts. Convenient if you like snap-on accessories..
Samsung has no equivalent
Winner: Depends on your needs
Malaysia Availability & Pricing
| Model | Price (256GB) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung S26 Ultra | ~RM5,699 | Coming soon |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | ~RM5,999 | Available now |
Where to Buy:
- Samsung S26 Ultra: Samsung Official, Shopee, Lazada
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: Apple Official, Shopee, Lazada, Switch, Machines
Verdict: By Specs
Samsung S26 Ultra wins on:
- Display (QHD+, brighter, AOD)
- Processor (more RAM, higher clock)
- Camera (200MP main, 50MP ultra, dual telephoto)
- Battery (larger capacity)
- Weight (lighter)
- S Pen (unique)
iPhone 16 Pro Max wins on:
- Wireless charging speed (25W vs 15W)
- Video (proven ProRes, Log, Cinematic)
Who Should Pick What?
Samsung S26 Ultra if:
- You want the highest specs on paper
- You take a lot of photos (especially zoom)
- You prefer S Pen for notes/annotation
- You want a lighter phone
- You value fingerprint over face unlock
iPhone 16 Pro Max if:
- You are already in the Apple ecosystem
- Video is your priority
- You prefer MagSafe accessories
- You want Face ID
- You prefer iOS over Android
