Apple iPhone Air vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Apple iPhone Air (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $999 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 75/100 (a 9-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 3149); the main camera is 48 MP vs 200 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 2,538,751); per DXOMark lab testing, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the stronger camera (157 vs 141); the Apple iPhone Air is noticeably lighter (165g vs 214g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
What makes Apple iPhone Air better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 3850 vs 3601
- Lighter: 165g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Better portability (96/100 vs 51/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 2538751
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 9800
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 3149 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 40W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 92/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 73/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 26/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air vs the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 9 points higher (84/100 vs 75/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 26/100). Value score: Apple iPhone Air — 60/100, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (96/100 vs 92/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (86/100 vs 73/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (61/100 vs 26/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (96/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 3463142 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3850 | 3601 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9800 | 10686 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 2736x1260 | 3120x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3149 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 60W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 25W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 141 | 157 | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 2600 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 6.0×74.7×5.6 mm | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | |
| Weight | 165 g | 214 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Front: 12MP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2736x1260
- 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
- 3149 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 7:48 hrs, total 22:15 hrs
- Wired: 40W
- Wireless: 25W
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 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Apple iPhone Air by 26.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $300. Apple iPhone Air was $300 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (96/100 vs 92/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Apple iPhone Air are nearly equal (88/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (86/100 vs 73/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (61/100 vs 26/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (96/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra edges out the Apple iPhone Air by just 9 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air has a MobileRank rating of 75/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 84/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 73/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Apple iPhone Air 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.