iPhone 18 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: Which Is Worth More?

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Two flagship smartphones aimed at premium users are now offering markedly different approaches. Apple has introduced the iPhone 18 Pro with the A20 Pro chip and a 48 MP main camera featuring variable aperture, while Samsung relies on the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a 200 MP main camera, a 6.9-inch display and an S Pen.

Both devices include artificial intelligence features, premium cameras and high performance. However, if users had to choose one, which is more worth it in 2026?

Design and display

The iPhone 18 Pro features a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. The screen supports ProMotion with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits outdoors. It weighs around 211 grams and measures 8.75 mm thick.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a larger Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, measuring 6.9 inches, with QHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Samsung has also equipped it with Privacy Display, which can help obscure screen content from certain viewing angles. The device weighs 214 grams and is 7.9 mm thick.

For users who mainly watch videos, read or multitask, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the advantage in screen size. Conversely, the iPhone 18 Pro is more compact and relatively more comfortable for one-handed use.

Performance

The iPhone 18 Pro uses the A20 Pro, built on a 2-nanometre process. Apple says the chip has a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU with Neural Accelerators and a 16-core Neural Engine. Apple also claims its GPU can deliver up to 40 per cent improvement over the A19 Pro.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The chip has enhancements to its CPU, GPU and NPU to handle AI, gaming and demanding tasks. Samsung has also redesigned its vapour chamber cooling system to improve heat dissipation by up to 21 per cent compared with the previous generation.

In terms of specifications, both sit at the very top of the market. Differences in everyday performance are unlikely to be the main reason to choose one over the other. The ecosystem and the type of work users do are more decisive.

Camera comparison

The camera is one of the most striking differences.

The iPhone 18 Pro has three rear cameras, all using 48 MP sensors. The main camera offers variable aperture with settings of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0. The 48 MP telephoto lens provides 4x optical zoom, while the ultra-wide also has 48 MP resolution.

Samsung has taken a different approach. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 200 MP f/1.4 main camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide, a 50 MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The device also offers up to 10x optical-quality zoom and digital zoom of up to 100x.

In camera testing conducted by TechRadar, the iPhone 18 Pro was judged to produce more natural and consistent colours, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra performed better when shooting with zoom.

So the camera choice again comes down to needs. Users who create more videos and selfies and want natural-looking results may prefer the iPhone. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will appeal more to those who enjoy photographing distant subjects.

Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro can play video for up to 36 hours, while its charging can reach 50 per cent in about 15 minutes with a compatible adapter.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery. Samsung claims the device can play video for up to 31 hours and charge up to 75 per cent in about 30 minutes.

The battery capacity figures of the two devices cannot be compared directly, because the iPhone and Galaxy use different operating systems and power management. However, for charging speed, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers greater charging capacity within roughly half an hour.

AI features and productivity

The iPhone 18 Pro comes with the latest Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, integrated with iOS 27. Siri AI is designed to be more personal and can understand user context to help carry out various tasks.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra relies on Galaxy AI, with features such as Photo Assist. Users can give commands in everyday language to edit photos. The device also includes an S Pen and Samsung DeX, which add value for productivity.

In this respect, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has an advantage for users who often work from their phones. The S Pen, large screen and DeX make the device feel more flexible for work and multitasking.

The iPhone 18 Pro is available in 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB capacities. The 2 TB option is a distinct advantage for users who store many high-resolution videos or large files.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is available in 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB options. The 1 TB variant comes with 16 GB of RAM, while the 256 GB and 512 GB options use 12 GB of RAM.

For users who need the largest amount of storage, the iPhone 18 Pro offers the wider range.

Price

Price is also an important consideration, as both sit in the premium segment.

According to prices listed on Samsung Indonesia’s official sales channels, the Galaxy S26 Ultra 256 GB starts at Rp24,499,000, the 512 GB variant costs Rp27,499,000 and the 1 TB variant Rp31,999,000.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro at Digimap Indonesia starts at Rp27,499,000. This is the starting price listed for the device on the official sales channel of Apple Premium Reseller in Indonesia.

At these starting prices, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the lower entry price. However, price comparisons must also take storage capacity into account, as the configurations of the two devices differ.

So, which is more worth it?

If you are looking for a camera with zoom capability, a large screen, an S Pen, productivity tools and Galaxy AI features, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is more appealing.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro is better suited to users who prioritise video, performance, a more compact size, storage of up to 2 TB and the Apple ecosystem.

In terms of starting price in Indonesia, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is also cheaper. Given that price difference and its feature set, the Galaxy S26 Ultra can be considered more worth it for users who want as many features as possible in a single device.

However, if users already own a Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods or other Apple devices, the iPhone 18 Pro remains the more sensible choice. Ultimately, the best flagship is not just about megapixel counts or chip speed, but also about how the device is used every day.