Galaxy S26 Ultra Shows Impressive Performance Against iPhone 17 Pro Max
As the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series approaches, new benchmark results reveal that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is closing the performance gap with Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. The latest Geekbench 6 tests show that Samsung’s flagship, powered by the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, is nearly matching Apple’s A19 Pro chip in single-threaded performance and even surpassing it in multi-core scores. This development hints at a potential shift in the ongoing rivalry between Qualcomm and Apple in the mobile chipset arena.
Benchmark Details and Performance Insights
In the recent Geekbench 6 comparison, the Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 3,761 points in the single-core test, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max with its A19 Pro chip achieved 3,894 points—only 3.54% faster. More notably, the Galaxy S26 Ultra outperformed the iPhone in the multi-core test, scoring 11,454 points compared to the iPhone’s 9,741, representing a 17.6% lead. These figures reflect the benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s higher core count and increased clock speed, which runs at 4.74GHz on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, up from 4.61GHz in previous tests.
Interestingly, these latest scores show an improvement over earlier Geekbench 6 results for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which were previously slower than those recorded on the REDMAGIC 11 Pro using the same Snapdragon chip. The optimisation efforts appear to have enhanced performance, although real-world sustained performance remains to be evaluated, especially given the higher thermal output of the overclocked chipset. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a vapour chamber cooling system to help manage heat, but the effectiveness of this solution under heavy use will be crucial to the device’s overall performance.
Context and What to Expect
Apple has long dominated single-threaded performance in mobile processors, with its A-series chips setting the benchmark for years. The A19 and A19 Pro continue this trend, but Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy is now challenging that supremacy more closely than ever. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s near parity with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in these tests suggests that Qualcomm is making significant strides in closing the performance gap.
As Samsung prepares to launch the Galaxy S26 series, these benchmark results provide an early indication of the device’s capabilities. However, Geekbench scores represent only a fraction of real-world performance, and factors such as sustained performance, thermal management, and software optimisation will ultimately determine the user experience. Fans and industry watchers will be keen to see how the Galaxy S26 Ultra performs once it reaches consumers and how it stacks up against Apple’s latest flagship in everyday use.
For those interested in the technical details, the full Geekbench 6 results are available for review, highlighting this exciting competition between two of the biggest players in the smartphone market.
With the Galaxy S26 Ultra showing such promising results, the upcoming launch will be an important moment for Samsung and Qualcomm as they aim to challenge Apple’s longstanding dominance in mobile chip performance.