TECH

Clash of titans: S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max

Just days before the highly anticipated Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, Samsung saw one of its biggest secrets revealed in the most public way possible. The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra didn't just appear in renders or factory schematics; it surfaced in a real "hands-on" video, being directly compared to its biggest rival, Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max. This massive leak offers the most detailed look yet at the upcoming South Korean flagship, confirming design changes, dimensions, and some controversial hardware choices.

The revelation was made on the social network X (formerly Twitter) by YouTuber Sahil Karoul, who claims to have managed to buy a retail unit of the Galaxy S26 Ultra before its official launch. The exclusivity came at an astronomical price: Karoul revealed he paid around AED 12,000 (United Arab Emirates Dirhams), which translates to approximately 3,000 euros. This large investment allowed her to share images of the device in its white color variant, providing the tech world with an unobstructed view of the final aesthetics Samsung has prepared for its main 2026 "flagship."

In the shared images, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is placed side-by-side with industry heavyweights: the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the Vivo X300 Pro, and its own predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The size comparison reveals that Samsung's new device maintains an imposing presence. The S26 Ultra appears to be slightly larger and wider than the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Vivo X300 Pro, while maintaining the generous proportions that Ultra line fans expect to maximize productivity and multimedia consumption. Against the S25 Ultra, the dimensions appear almost identical, but the design has undergone visible refinements. The screen is completely flat, embraced by a metallic frame (presumably titanium) with slightly rounded corners, improving ergonomics without sacrificing a professional look. 

The size comparison reveals that Samsung's new device maintains an imposing presence. The S26 Ultra appears to be slightly larger and wider than the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Vivo X300 Pro, while maintaining the generous proportions that Ultra line fans expect to maximize productivity and multimedia consumption. Against the S25 Ultra, the dimensions appear almost identical, but the design has undergone visible refinements. The screen is completely flat, embraced by a metallic frame (presumably titanium) with slightly rounded corners, improving ergonomics without sacrificing a professional look. 

Changes to the camera module and the mystery of the logo...When we turn the device over, the design changes become undeniable. Samsung has abandoned the completely isolated lens arrangement that marked the last generations. The Galaxy S26 Ultra displays a quad rear camera system, where three of these lenses are now grouped within a unified pill-shaped module. This change creates a more cohesive back and aligns with some of the design trends of other competing manufacturers.

Interestingly, the unit shown in the video does not have the Samsung logo engraved on the back panel. Although Karoul claims it is a final unit, this omission suggests that the device may be a late-stage production prototype or a test unit intended for partners, where the branding is sometimes omitted for pre-launch confidentiality reasons. Another noticeable hardware change is the slot for the S Pen, which has been slightly repositioned towards the edge of the bottom bezel.

Perhaps the most controversial revelation of this leak is related to Samsung's iconic stylus. Karoul claims that the S Pen included with the Galaxy S26 Ultra does not support Bluetooth connectivity features.

If this information is confirmed, it means that users will not be able to use the S Pen as a remote control — a feature popularized in previous generations that allowed taking photos ("click-to-capture"), controlling slideshows, or pausing music remotely with a click of the pen's button. This would not, however, be an absolute first. Samsung had already removed Bluetooth capabilities in the previous generation, the S25 Ultra, likely justifying the decision with space considerations, the stylus's battery life, or simply usage data indicating that few consumers took advantage of this remote tool.

With the visual confirmation of the design and dimensions, Samsung now needs to focus on the device's internals during the official event. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be powered by a custom "Snapdragon S8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy" processor, promising unprecedented levels of performance and Artificial Intelligence processing.

Confirmation of all these details will take place at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, scheduled for February 25th in San Francisco. Until then, this "hands-on" video has already cleared up much of the physical mystery surrounding the most important launch in the Android ecosystem at the start of this year.

mundophone