Apple iPhone Air 2 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Apple iPhone Air 2 (2027) runs on the Apple A20 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 81/100 (a 3-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 48 MP vs 200 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 3,434,654); the Apple iPhone Air 2 is thinner (5.2mm vs 7.9mm).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air 2
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
What makes Apple iPhone Air 2 better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 4772 vs 3601
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12989 vs 10686
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 96/100)
- Better portability (100/100 vs 51/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 3434654
- Faster charging: 60W vs 20W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Better camera (86/100 vs 51/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air 2 vs the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 3 points higher (84/100 vs 81/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (97/100 vs 96/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air 2 are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air 2 (86/100 vs 51/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air 2 significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (100/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air 2 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A20 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 3434654 | 3463142 | |
| Geekbench Single | 4772 | 3601 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 12989 | 10686 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 1260x2736 | 3120x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | — | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 20W | 60W | |
| Wireless charging | — | 25W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | — | 157 | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 18 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 27.x | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 2600 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 156.2×74.7×5.2 mm | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | |
| Weight | — | 214 g | |
| Launch price | — | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air 2
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Front: 18MP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air 2
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 1260x2736
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone Air 2
- —
- Wired: 20W
- Wireless: supported, wattage unknown
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone Air 2 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Apple iPhone Air 2 by 0.8% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Apple iPhone Air 2
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (97/100 vs 96/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air 2 are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air 2 (86/100 vs 51/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air 2 significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (100/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra edges out the Apple iPhone Air 2 by just 3 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air 2 has a MobileRank rating of 81/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 84/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air 2 or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 51/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air 2 over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air 2 is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.