Phone vs phone
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max
Same question, two phones: which costs less over a 24-month contract, which is cheaper to buy outright, and what you actually get for the difference.
bemobiles tips
Which is cheaper over 24 months?
Galaxy S26 Ultra — its best deal costs £915.80 including April rises, £426 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9″, iPhone 18 Pro Max 6.9″. Battery: Galaxy S26 Ultra 5,000 mAh, iPhone 18 Pro Max 5,391 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
Galaxy S26 Ultra: £1,273 SIM-free plus SIM only. iPhone 18 Pro Max: £1,443. Compare with the contract totals above.
Galaxy S26 Ultra£915.80
iPhone 18 Pro Max£1,341.80True total of the cheapest deal, April rises included
Live from retailers, rises estimated for a contract starting this month.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the cheaper of the two today: its best contract costs £915.80 over 24 months with April rises, against £1,341.80 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max — a gap of £426, or about £17.75 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max, side by side
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £915.80 | £1,341.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £629 | £1,055 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,129 | £1,299 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,273 | £1,443 |
| Contract deals tracked | 5,301 | 7,973 |
| Screen | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,391 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 214 g | 249 g |
| Released | February 2026 | September 2026 |
| Colours on sale | 4 | 4 |
Highlighted = better on that line. Prices live from retailers; specifications from our data partner’s catalogue.
Network by network
If you already know which network you want, here is the cheapest deal for each phone on it, April rises included.
| Network | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 18 Pro Max | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £915.80 | £1,341.80 | £426 |
| iD Mobile | £982.96 | £1,401.96 | £419 |
| Three | £1,028.20 | £1,530.20 | £502 |
| Vodafone | £1,057 | £1,457 | £400 |
| O2 | £1,083 | £1,463 | £380 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra wins: £426 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £17.75 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 18 Pro Max does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has the larger battery (5,391 mAh), the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the newer phone (September 2026).
Buying outright: Galaxy S26 Ultra SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,273, more than its cheapest contract; the iPhone 18 Pro Max costs £1,443, more than its contract.
Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £379 upfront vs £799
- You want the lower total — £426 less over 24 months
- You prefer a lighter phone
Pick the iPhone 18 Pro Max if…
- Battery size matters most to you
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
FAQ
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max questions
Which is cheaper, the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its cheapest contract costs £915.80 over 24 months including April rises, £426 less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max (£1,341.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the Galaxy S26 Ultra it is Talkmobile (£629 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the iPhone 18 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£1,055 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch screen and the iPhone 18 Pro Max a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 214 g and 249 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at £1,129 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at £1,299, from retailers we track.