iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra durability compared

iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra compared in durability test

The creators of the YouTube channel PhoneBuff conducted a durability test of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The first test was dropping the smartphones from a height of one meter. The back glass cracked on both devices, but Apple's flagship fared better. The Samsung phone sustained visibly more significant damage.

In the second round, the devices were dropped on their corner. The aluminum frames of both smartphones were scratched, but the damage to the iPhone 18 Pro Max was more severe — in particular, noticeable dents appeared. The Galaxy S26 Ultra performed better at this stage.

The third test — a face-down drop — proved decisive. The iPhone's display remained intact, while the Galaxy's screen shattered completely. Additionally, its fingerprint scanner stopped working.

In the subsequent rounds, the height was increased to 1.5 meters, but the situation remained largely unchanged. Interestingly, the screen of the iPhone 18 Pro Max only cracked after the sixth and final drop.

Based on the test results, the iPhone 18 Pro Max scored 56 points and took the lead, ahead of the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 53 points.

While this drop test cannot be called strictly scientific, it provides a general idea of what could happen to the smartphones in an accidental fall. It is worth noting that both devices were tested without cases, so in real life, with protection, they will certainly be more durable.