Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Vivo iQOO U1
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Vivo iQOO U1 (2020) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 39/100 (a 45-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 200 MP vs 48 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 517,460); the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has NFC for contactless payments, the Vivo iQOO U1 doesn't; the Vivo iQOO U1 is noticeably lighter (190g vs 214g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Vivo iQOO U1
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 517460
- Better Geekbench Single: 3601 vs 746
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 1762
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 18W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 41/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 29/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 33/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 57/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO U1 better?
- Lighter: 190g vs 214g
- Better portability (59/100 vs 51/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs the Vivo iQOO U1, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 45 points higher (84/100 vs 39/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (96/100 vs 41/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 29/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 33/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (96/100 vs 41/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (88/100 vs 57/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (86/100 vs 29/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (61/100 vs 33/100). In the "portability" category, the Vivo iQOO U1 is a bit better (59/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Vivo iQOO U1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G | |
| AnTuTu | 3463142 | 517460 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3601 | 746 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 10686 | 1762 | |
| Display | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.5" IPS LCD | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | — | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 60W | 18W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 0W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 157 | — | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 0 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 0 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 6GB / 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 64GB / 128GB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 10, iQOO UI 1.0 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | no | |
| Protection | IP68 | — | |
| Dimensions | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | 162.1×76.6×8.5 mm | |
| Weight | 214 g | 190 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | — |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Vivo iQOO U1
- Main: 48MP f/1.8
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo iQOO U1
- 6.5" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: —
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Vivo iQOO U1
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 18W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Vivo iQOO U1, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Vivo iQOO U1 by 569.3% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Vivo iQOO U1
Price unknownDetailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (96/100 vs 41/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (88/100 vs 57/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (86/100 vs 29/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 (61/100 vs 33/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Vivo iQOO U1 is a bit better (59/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Vivo iQOO U1?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Vivo iQOO U1 by 45 points (84/100 vs 39/100).
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Vivo iQOO U1?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 84/100, the Vivo iQOO U1 — 39/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Vivo iQOO U1?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 29/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Vivo iQOO U1?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on performance (96/100 vs 41/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Vivo iQOO U1?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.