The iPhone 18 Pro Max is faster in the cited CPU and graphics tests, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra posts the higher score in one AI benchmark. That is the clearest answer to the speed-test question—but no single benchmark captures every app, game, or AI task. Results below are attributed to the publications that reported them, not presented as independent tests.
CPU speed: iPhone leads in Geekbench 7
Both PhoneArena and Tom’s Guide reported higher Geekbench 7 scores for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The size of the lead varies slightly between their test results, so these scores are best understood as measurements from each publication’s setup rather than fixed specifications.
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| Publication and test | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| PhoneArena, Geekbench 7 single-core | 4,047 | 3,155 |
| PhoneArena, Geekbench 7 multi-core | 11,648 | 10,733 |
| Tom’s Guide, Geekbench 7 single-core | 4,025 | 3,149 |
| Tom’s Guide, Geekbench 7 multi-core | 11,525 | 10,612 |
Single-core scores are commonly used as an indicator of performance in workloads that lean on one CPU core; multi-core scores measure a different kind of parallel workload. Neither number translates directly into a percentage improvement in everyday use. The evidence supports an iPhone lead in this benchmark, not a promise that every app will open or finish work faster.
PhoneArena’s A20 Pro versus Galaxy S26 Ultra comparison and Tom’s Guide’s comparison report the respective results.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Graphics and sustained performance: iPhone wins these cited tests
PhoneArena reported higher iPhone scores in both 3DMark Steel Nomad Light and Solar Bay Extreme. Its Steel Nomad Light stress-test results distinguish the initial high score from the low score after the phone heats during the run; the publication describes a sustained run following 20 minutes of intensive benchmark testing.
| PhoneArena test | Result type | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | High | 3,850 | 2,761 |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | Low, after heat buildup | 2,443 | 1,498 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay Extreme | High | 3,075 | 1,245 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay Extreme | Low | 1,714 | 834 |
Tom’s Guide separately reported a Solar Bay Unlimited average of 67.9 frames per second for the iPhone and 49.37 fps for the Galaxy, with scores of 17,850 and 12,984, respectively. These results come from that review’s setup and a different test variant; they should not be compared numerically with PhoneArena’s Solar Bay Extreme scores.
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
The graphics evidence points in the iPhone’s favor across the named tests, including the reported heat-stressed runs. It does not establish that the iPhone will deliver the same advantage in every game: frame rates depend on the game, graphics settings, software, and how long the session lasts.
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On-device AI: Galaxy scores higher in one test, with a caveat
Tom’s Guide reported Geekbench AI 1.7 scores of 83,047 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and 71,974 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. But the phones were tested using different backends: TensorFlow Lite QNN on the Galaxy and Quantized Core ML/Neural Engine on the iPhone. That makes the scores a result from this particular test setup, not a clean demonstration that one phone is generally better at on-device AI.
Rank #3
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
AI performance can differ by model, app, and hardware or software path. Treat the Galaxy’s higher score as a lead in this Geekbench AI result, rather than a verdict for every AI feature or task.
What the chip specifications and manufacturer claims add
Apple says the A20 Pro in the iPhone 18 Pro Max is built on a 2-nanometer process and has a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims up to 40% faster graphics than A19 Pro and up to 40% higher sustained performance than the prior generation, attributing the sustained-performance gain to a redesigned vapor chamber. These are Apple’s generational claims, not direct measurements against the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Rank #4
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Samsung identifies the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s processor as a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Samsung claims gains of up to 19% for CPU, 39% for NPU, and 24% for GPU, and describes a redesigned vapor chamber. Those figures compare Samsung’s phone with its preceding generation, not with the iPhone.
Read the announcements for the companies’ full framing: Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro announcement and Samsung’s Galaxy S26 announcement.
Best Value
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Which one should you choose?
If your decision is narrowly about the published speed tests, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the stronger pick for Geekbench CPU and the cited graphics workloads. If you focus on the Geekbench AI 1.7 result, the Galaxy scores higher, but its different backend limits direct comparison. Your preferred operating system and the features you use daily can matter more than these benchmark leads.
- Choose based on CPU or graphics benchmarks: the iPhone leads in the cited Geekbench 7 and 3DMark results.
- Choose based on the cited AI benchmark alone: the Galaxy has the higher Geekbench AI 1.7 score, with the backend caveat above.
- Compare the wider phone experience: Tom’s Guide’s comparison covers battery runtime, software, and other differences. It lists iOS 27 for iPhone and Android 17/One UI 9 for Galaxy. TechRadar also notes that the Galaxy includes an S Pen; both phones are described as having vapor chambers.
Tom’s Guide listed both phones at a starting price of $1,299 in its comparison. That is the review’s price context, not a guarantee of current pricing in every region or for every storage option; check local listings before buying.
For a broader feature comparison, see TechRadar’s iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra comparison.
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