The Test
Tech YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss ran a head to head battery test between Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max, published September 16, 2026. The test simulated everyday tasks like browsing, gaming and video streaming until each phone died.
The Results
The iPhone 18 Pro Max lasted 12 hours and 32 minutes. The Galaxy S26 Ultra shut down after around 10 hours. That gap of roughly two and a half hours is significant for anyone who relies on their phone all day without a charger nearby.
Sammy Fans, reporting on the test, noted the Galaxy S26 Ultra still holds up well against older Apple phones. It reportedly could outlast the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro in similar conditions. It just could not keep pace with this year’s iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Performance Numbers Tell Another Story
The test also ran 3DMark, a standard benchmark for raw processing power. The iPhone 18 Pro Max scored 9,024 points. The Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 7,970. Apple’s A20 Pro chip, built on a 2 nanometer process, appears to be driving both the performance lead and part of the battery efficiency gain.
Charging Speed Favors Samsung
Battery life was not the full picture. Mrwhosetheboss found the Galaxy S26 Ultra charges faster than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. So while Apple’s phone lasts longer on a single charge, Samsung’s flagship gets back to full power quicker when it is time to plug in.
What This Means for Buyers
Neither phone is a clear winner across every category. Someone who forgets to charge overnight and needs a phone to survive a long day might prefer the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Someone who charges more often but wants shorter top up sessions might lean toward the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Independent battery tests like this one matter because manufacturers rarely publish real world endurance numbers. This test gives a clearer picture of how the two flagship phones perform side by side under the same conditions.
Source: Sammy Fans