Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Today
Previous check$1,549
Amazon: the cheapest today among the stores checked
8.5 out of 10 on the spec sheet +0.1
Buy on AmazonApple iPhone 18 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S26 FE?
Galaxy S26 FE costs $949 less today; iPhone 18 Pro Max has score 0.1 higher (8.5 vs. 8.4).
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
8.5score · higher
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
8.4score
Apple wins 1by componentSamsung wins 0
- 8.6Performance8.6
- 8.0Screen8.0
- 7.9Camera6.7
- ·Battery7.8
- 10.0Connectivity10.0
- ·Longevity10.0
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is the cheaperSamsung Galaxy S26 FE is $949 the cheaper
The best for each use
By the spec rule for each use, the same one the lists on this site use.
Cell phones for gaming
Both work. Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is $949 cheaper.
Cell phones for photos
Only Samsung Galaxy S26 FE works: 50 MP camera or better, up to $600.
Neither one fits: Cell phones for seniors, Best value cell phones, Cheap cell phones with NFC, Cheap 5G cell phones, Compact cell phones.
The comparison in detail
Score by component, side by side
iPhone 18 Pro Max wins on camera.
- 8.6Performance8.6
- 8.0Screen8.0
- 7.9 (wins)Camera6.7
- N/ABattery7.8
- 10.0Connectivity10.0
- N/ALongevity10.0
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Today
Previous check$600
Amazon: the cheapest today among the stores checked
8.4 out of 10 on the spec sheet
Buy on AmazonAffiliate links: if you buy, the store pays us a commission at no cost to you.
Where is each one cheapest today?
Updated 12/11/2026
iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Amazon Lowest price$1,549Buy on Amazon
Galaxy S26 FE
- Amazon Lowest price$600Buy on Amazon
Spec sheet side by side
| Item | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Galaxy S26 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Chip changes | A20 Pro | Samsung Exynos 2500 |
| Cores changes | 6 | 10 |
| RAM changes | 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage changes | 256 GB | 128 GB |
| Memory card changes | not listed | No |
| System changes | iOS | Android |
| Factory software version changes | 27 | 16 |
| Screen | ||
| Size changes | 6.9″ | 6.7″ |
| Technology changes | OLED | AMOLED Dinâmico 2X |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Resolution changes | not listed | 1080 px x 2340 px |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera changes | 48 MP | 50 MP |
| Front camera changes | 18 MP | 12 MP |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 3 |
| Optical zoom changes | 4× | 3× |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity changes | not listed | 4,900 mAh |
| Fast charging | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity and extras | ||
| Network | 5G | 5G |
| NFC (tap to pay) | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Dual SIM | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5 mm headphone jack changes | not listed | No |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| General | ||
| Release changes | not listed | 2026 |
| Weight changes | 249 g | 193 g |
| Foldable changes | not listed | No |
| Charging connector | USB-C | USB-C |
Other comparisons
How we choose
Source: Amazon.com catalog, checked on 12/11/2026.
Lowest price seen for the product on Amazon.com, shipped to New York 10001, on the day it was read, before sales tax. The model is the brand plus the name of the phone; the memory versions go in the table. The price range, the median and the position use only models with a score; the price comparison looks at models whose score is within 0.5 points.
The spec score doesn’t measure real-world photos or durability, and the strong or weak point reading is just a comparison of numbers, not a buying recommendation.