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Updated April 2026 PIXLRUN · COMPARE LAB v3

Compare
anything.

A laboratory-grade side-by-side that scores phones, laptops and headphones on the things buyers actually feel — not the spec-sheet poetry manufacturers print on the box.

1,284

Devices benchmarked

Lab metrics per unit

94%

Reader trust score

Affiliate sponsorships

Side-by-side index Live catalogue Catalogue live

The duel.
Two phones, one verdict.

Lab-tested over 14 days each. Identical conditions, identical workloads, scored on a calibrated 100-point rubric.

Samsung · 2026 PixlRun pick

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Ultimate Android Powerhouse for 2026

9.4^/10

From

$1,399

Apple · 2026 Worth a look

iPhone 17 Pro Max

The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026.

9.4^/10

From

$1,299

Where each one wins.

Six pillars tailored to Smartphone reviews — scored independently in our Victoria, BC lab. Bars animate to live values when in view.

Camera

Samsung9.6

Apple9.6

Performance

Apple +0.3

Samsung9.5

Apple9.8

Battery

Samsung +0.3

Samsung9.5

Apple9.2

Display

Samsung +0.1

Samsung9.7

Apple9.6

Build & feel

Apple +0.5

Samsung9.1

Apple9.6

Value

Samsung +0.2

Samsung8.7

Apple8.5

Six dimensions, overlaid.

Radar of normalized scores across our full rubric.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra iPhone 17 Pro Max

Score gap

+0.0%

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — composite lab score difference.

Fast charge

65W Super Fast Charging 3.0 vs 45W MagSafe USB-C

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra / iPhone 17 Pro Max

Weight

238g vs 228g

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra / iPhone 17 Pro Max

The full spec sheet.

Grouped by what matters to use, not by alphabet. Winners highlighted with an acid dot.

Display

Display6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 3X, 144Hz

Display6.9in Super Retina XDR OLED 120Hz ProMotion

Resolution3200 x 1440 (QHD+)

Resolution2868 x 1320 px @ 460 ppi

Brightness3000 nits peak

Brightness—

Peak Brightness—

Peak Brightness3000 nits (outdoor)

Performance

ProcessorSnapdragon 8 Elite 2 (3nm)

ProcessorApple A19 Pro (3nm TSMC)

RAM16GB LPDDR6

RAM12GB LPDDR5X

Storage256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.1

Storage256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)

Camera

Main Camera200MP, f/1.7, OIS, Laser AF

Main Camera48MP Fusion, f/1.6, OIS, sensor-shift

Ultrawide Camera50MP, f/1.9, 120° FOV

Ultrawide Camera48MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV, macro

Periscope Telephoto50MP, 10x optical zoom, f/3.4

Periscope Telephoto—

Front Camera20MP, f/2.2, autofocus

Front Camera24MP TrueDepth, autofocus, f/1.9

Video8K@30fps, 4K@120fps

Video8K ProRes @ 30fps, 4K @ 120fps

Telephoto Camera—

Telephoto Camera12MP periscope, 5x optical zoom, f/2.8

Battery & Charging

Battery5500mAh Si-C cell

Battery5200mAh Li-Ion

Wired Charging65W Super Fast Charging 3.0

Wired Charging45W MagSafe USB-C

Wireless Charging25W Wireless, 15W Reverse

Wireless Charging25W MagSafe / 15W Qi2

Body & Build

DurabilityIP69 rated, Gorilla Armor 3

Durability—

Weight238g

Weight228g

Dimensions163.5 x 79.1 x 8.5mm

Dimensions163.0 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm

ColorsTitanium Black, Silver, Violet, Orange

ColorsBlack Titanium, White Titanium, Desert Titanium, Teal Titanium

Build—

BuildGrade 5 Titanium frame, textured matte glass back

IP Rating—

IP RatingIP69 (dust & water resistant)

Connectivity

ConnectivityWi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G (mmWave + Sub-6)

Connectivity5G SA/NSA, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB

SatelliteTwo-way satellite messaging

SatelliteEmergency SOS + Roadside Assistance via Satellite

NFCYes, Samsung Pay Ultra

NFCYes (Apple Pay, background reading)

General

S PenBuilt-in, 2.8ms latency, AI features

S Pen—

Pros & cons,
at a glance.

A bento grid of what each one nails — and where it falls short.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

What you'll love

The Ultimate Android Powerhouse for 2026

Stunning 200MP periscope camera system, Blazing Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 performance, Gorgeous 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 3X display, Impressive 5500mAh battery with 65W fast charging

Watch out for

Premium price tag not for everyone, Bulky and heavy at 238g, S Pen silo limits design slimness

iPhone 17 Pro Max

What you'll love

The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026.

A19 Pro chip dominates every benchmark, Titanium design with refined aesthetics, 48MP periscope triple-camera system with AI computational photography, ProMotion 120Hz always-on display with peak 3000 nits

Watch out for

Premium price tag remains steep, USB-C still limited to USB 3 speeds on base model, Heavier than previous generation

The verdict.

After 14 days each, in real-world use — here's how we'd actually spend the money.

PixlRun verdict · May 2026

It is a coin flip. Either picks lose nothing the other has.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win at 9.4/10. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Ultimate Android Powerhouse for 2026. iPhone 17 Pro Max: The future of iPhone, redefined for 2026..

See Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review See iPhone 17 Pro Max

PixlRun Lab Score

Composite · 14-day test cycle

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra9.4

iPhone 17 Pro Max9.4

Margin0.0

ConfidenceClose call