Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads
by 8 points on overall. The category breakdown below shows where the gap comes from.
Galaxy S26 Ultra leads overall versus iPhone Air. Battery: 66.1 vs 84.6.
Scoring profile: balanced
Apple iPhone Air
Best for users who prioritize build.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Best for users who prioritize performance and camera.
This is MyTechAdvisor's own independently compiled analysis, not the manufacturer's — it's provided for informational purposes only and isn't guaranteed to be complete or error-free. See our editorial policy.
Spec table
Start with the key differences, then expand a section to check the full specifications.
Visible rows
66
Meaningful differences
32
Layout
Full side-by-side mode
Display Size
Key differenceResolution
Key differencePeak Brightness
Key differencePixel Density
Key differenceDisplay Protection
Key differenceRefresh Rate
Panel Type
HDR Support
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
Display Size Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 6.5" | 6.9"Better |
Resolution Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 1260 x 2736 | 1440 x 3120Better |
Refresh Rate Close match | 120Hz | 120Hz |
Peak Brightness Apple iPhone Air leads | 3000 nitsBetter | 2600 nits |
Pixel Density Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 463 ppi | 498 ppiBetter |
Panel Type Close match | OLED | OLED |
HDR Support Close match | Yes | Yes |
Display Protection Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | Ceramic Shield 2 | Anti-reflective coating | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 | DX anti-reflective coating Privacy DisplayBetter |
RAM
Key differenceGeekbench (Single)
Key differenceGeekbench (Multi)
Key differenceStorage Type
Key differenceChipset
Key differenceRAM Type
CPU Clock
CPU Cores
CPU Cluster Speeds
AnTuTu Score
Storage
GPU
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
RAM Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 12GB | 16GBBetter |
RAM Type Close match | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |
CPU Clock Different | 4.26GHz | 4.74GHz |
CPU Cores Different | 6 | 8 |
CPU Cluster Speeds Different | 2x4.26GHz + 4x2.60GHz | 2x4.74GHz + 6x3.62GHz |
AnTuTu Score Different | 2200000 | 3892165 |
Geekbench (Single) Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 3700 | 3800Better |
Geekbench (Multi) Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 9400 | 11566Better |
Storage Close match | 1024GB | 1024GB |
Storage Type Apple iPhone Air leads | NVMeBetter | UFS 4.0 |
Chipset Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8850-1-AD Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Better |
GPU Different | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Adreno 840 (1.3GHz) |
Rear Camera
Key differenceRear Camera (All Lenses)
Key differenceRear Sensor Size
Key differenceRear Aperture
Key differenceOptical Zoom
Key differenceMax Video Resolution
Key differenceFront Camera
Key differenceFront Aperture
Key differenceFront Video Resolution
Key differenceDigital Zoom
Optical Image Stabilization
Front Sensor
Camera Features
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
Rear Camera Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 48MP | 200MPBetter |
Rear Camera (All Lenses) Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 48MP | 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MPBetter |
Rear Sensor Size Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 1/1.56 | 1/1.3Better |
Rear Aperture Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | f/1.6 | f/1.4Better |
Optical Zoom Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | None (no telephoto) | 5xBetter |
Digital Zoom Different | 10x | 100x |
Optical Image Stabilization Close match | Yes | Yes |
Max Video Resolution Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EISBetter |
Front Camera Apple iPhone Air leads | 18MPBetter | 12MP |
Front Sensor Different | 18MP Center Stage camera (square sensor) | 12MP 1/3.2" front camera |
Front Aperture Apple iPhone Air leads | f/1.9Better | f/2.2 |
Front Video Resolution Apple iPhone Air leads | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EISBetter | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps |
Camera Features Different | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better choice overall. Key differences: Galaxy S26 Ultra scores higher for camera (85.8 vs 73). Galaxy S26 Ultra lasts longer on a charge (about 10.6h vs 8.3h of estimated screen-on time). However, iPhone Air may still suit your needs better depending on your priorities.
Galaxy S26 Ultra scores higher overall than iPhone Air once each category is weighted. Chipset: Qualcomm SM8850-1-AD Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) vs Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) That makes Galaxy S26 Ultra the safer all-round pick, though iPhone Air may lead in specific areas.
Best for users who prioritize build. iPhone Air offers strong performance in these areas.
Best for users who prioritize performance and camera. Galaxy S26 Ultra excels in processing power and multitasking.
Non-PTA
PTA
| Price | Apple iPhone Air | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Non-PTA | ≈ Rs 203,507 | ≈ Rs 299,317 |
| PTA | -- | Rs 365,000 |
≈ Converted from a fetched price. Store offers, when available, are listed separately.
Choosing between Apple iPhone Air and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra can be tough. This comparison breaks down performance, camera, battery, and listed pricing so you can decide faster.
We focus on practical differences that impact daily use, not just spec sheet noise.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores higher overall once each category is weighted, making it the safer all‑round pick.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the better choice overall, winning in 5 key categories.
The top differences are: Display Size (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra advantage), Resolution (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra advantage), Peak Brightness (Apple iPhone Air advantage), Pixel Density (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra advantage), Display Protection (Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra advantage).
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers better camera performance overall.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra tends to last longer on a charge.
Apple iPhone Air: non-PTA approximately Rs 203,507; PTA not entered. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: non-PTA approximately Rs 299,317; PTA Rs 365,000. These are phone reference prices, not optional store offers.
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