Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Apple iPhone 17: Battle of the Premium Phones

Price: One Clear Winner

There are three Galaxy S26 phones and three iPhone 17 models; adding storage to any model increases the price. The Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, the S26+ starts at $1,099.99, and the S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99; all Galaxy S26 models come with at least 256GB of storage.

The Apple iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. All iPhone 17 models come with at least 256GB of storage. If it’s just dollars and cents, the iPhone 17 beats the Galaxy S26 head-to-head on its starting price for the base model and ultra-premium model. The S26+ is 99 cents more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra maxes out at $1,799.99 for a 1TB model, while a 1TB Apple iPhone Pro is $1,499, and the Pro Max is $1,599. Additionally, Apple offers a 2TB model (Samsung has no 2TB S26 models) at $1,999.

If it’s just about the numbers, Apple wins here.

Winner: iPhone 17

Design: Similar, But Still Subjective

The Galaxy S26 series and iPhone 17 line are rounded rectangular slabs with rounded corners. Samsung further refined the Ultra, boosting its visual similarities.

The rear panels hold the camera assembly, which features three lenses in a pill-shaped section.

Left to right: Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra (Credit: Eric Zeman)