GoKawiilPrakhar Khanna and Jason Hiner/ZDNET
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It's been several months since Samsung launched its Galaxy S26 series of phones, so now that the dust has settled, I'm reevaluating them against the industry's best. That starts with the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Between it and the best iPhone available, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you might be wondering which one is the better investment. 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: Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy: I've tested both brands extensively, and there's a clear winner
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 review 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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