Prakhar Khanna and Jason Hiner/ZDNET
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Samsung's February Unpacked 2026 event has left us with a new trio of flagship phones, the most premium being the Galaxy S26 Ultra. On the other side of the coin, Apple's best phone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is $100 cheaper, and has its own pros and cons, but they are both truly exceptional.
You might be wondering which one to buy. The easy answer is, "Stick with whichever OS you have now," but in all honesty, both phones are good enough to justify a switch. If you're going to go, go big! It doesn't get much bigger than these two powerhouses, so let's dive in and see which one is the winner.
Also: Samsung Unpacked 2026 live blog: Updates on Galaxy S26 Ultra, preorder deals, and pricing
As it happens, I carry the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and also the latest Android phone, and it doesn't get much more "latest" than the S26 Ultra, so these opinions are based on prior experience with the S25 Ultra, a good amount of hands-on time with the S26 Ultra, and the specs we have on hand.
You should buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max if...
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
1. You (or your family) are in the Apple ecosystem
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