Phone vs phone
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
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, £236 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Which has the bigger screen and battery?
Screen: iPhone 17 Pro Max 6.9″, Galaxy S26 Ultra 6.9″. Battery: iPhone 17 Pro Max 4,832 mAh, Galaxy S26 Ultra 5,000 mAh.
Is it cheaper to buy either one outright?
iPhone 17 Pro Max: £1,243 SIM-free plus SIM only. Galaxy S26 Ultra: £1,423. Compare with the contract totals above.
iPhone 17 Pro Max£1,151.80
Galaxy S26 Ultra£915.80True 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 £1,151.80 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max — a gap of £236, or about £9.83 a month.
Prices checked 28 October 2026 · How we compare
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra, side by side
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| True total (24 months) | £1,151.80 | £915.80 |
| Cheapest network | Talkmobile | Talkmobile |
| Upfront on that deal | £865 | £629 |
| Monthly on that deal | £11.95 | £11.95 |
| Lowest monthly anywhere | £9 | £11.95 |
| SIM-free price from | £1,099 | £1,279 |
| SIM-free + SIM only, 24 months | £1,243 | £1,423 |
| Contract deals tracked | 2,669 | 5,009 |
| Screen | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Battery | 4,832 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Weight | 233 g | 214 g |
| Released | September 2025 | February 2026 |
| Colours on sale | 3 | 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 | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talkmobile | £1,151.80 | £915.80 | £236 |
| iD Mobile | £1,161.96 | £982.96 | £179 |
| Three | £1,190.20 | £1,028.20 | £162 |
| Vodafone | £1,267 | £1,057 | £210 |
| O2 | £1,351 | £1,083 | £268 |
Our verdict
On price, the Galaxy S26 Ultra wins: £236 less over two years once each network’s April rises are counted. That is £9.83 a month — enough to matter unless the iPhone 17 Pro Max does something you need.
On the spec sheet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has the larger battery (5,000 mAh), the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the newer phone (February 2026).
Buying outright: iPhone 17 Pro Max SIM-free plus SIM only costs £1,243, more than its cheapest contract; the Galaxy S26 Ultra costs £1,423, more than its contract.
Pick the iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- You want to pay less on the day — from £39 upfront vs £379
- You want the lowest monthly price — from £9 a month vs £11.95
- You prefer Apple or the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s design
Pick the Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You want the lower total — £236 less over 24 months
- Battery size matters most to you
- You prefer a lighter phone
- You want the newer model with longer support ahead
FAQ
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra questions
Which is cheaper, the iPhone 17 Pro Max or the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Its cheapest contract costs £915.80 over 24 months including April rises, £236 less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max (£1,151.80).
What is the cheapest network for each?
For the iPhone 17 Pro Max it is Talkmobile (£865 upfront, £11.95 a month); for the Galaxy S26 Ultra it is Talkmobile (£629 upfront, £11.95 a month).
Is the iPhone 17 Pro Max bigger than the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 6.9-inch screen and the Galaxy S26 Ultra a 6.9-inch screen; they weigh 233 g and 214 g.
How much are they to buy outright?
SIM-free, the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at £1,099 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at £1,279, from retailers we track.