iPhone 18 Pro Max leak touts an unexpected win over Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Bigger batteries don't always win. Apple's rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max upgrade could expose a key weakness in Samsung's next Ultra flagship strategy.

By Shikhar Mehrotra Published February 6, 2026

Apple iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue — Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

Even though we’re months away from its anticipated launch, a new leak about Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max raises serious concerns about Samsung’s purported Galaxy S26 Ultra.

According to renowned tipster Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. While the Chinese version of the handset could feature a 5,000 mAh battery, international variants could offer an even bigger upgrade.

Early iPhone 18 Pro Max put battery life back in the spotlight

The iPhone 18 Pro Max version sold outside China could have a battery capacity between 5,100 and 5,200 mAh. The exact battery size could depend on whether the version has a physical SIM or supports eSIM only. Why do I say that?

Recommended Videos

The iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 4,823 mAh battery on variants with a physical SIM slot, and a slightly larger 5,088 mAh battery on units without one. So, there’s a chance that the iPhone 18 Pro Max with and without a SIM slot could come with different batteries in the range.

These numbers might not impress you on paper, especially when compared to the 6,000 or 7,000 mAh battery cells on modern Android flagships (like the OnePlus 15), but when it comes to real-world use, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is among the longest-lasting phones on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra suddenly looks vulnerable

Given that Samsung’s purported Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to ship with a 5,000 mAh battery (the same as the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which debuted six years ago) and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset based on 3nm fabrication technology, the iPhone 18 Pro Max should easily outlast it.

With a battery that can hold more charge, a chipset that consumes less power (likely the 2nm A20 Pro chip), and the highly-optimized iOS operating system, the iPhone 18 Pro Max might offer more screen-on time between charges than the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

If the leak holds true, the iPhone 18 Pro Max could hold well not just against the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but the Android flagships of 2026 that feature gargantuan batteries, proving that efficiency, not just raw capacity, is what truly matters.

Shikhar Mehrotra

News Writer

For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified developments in the field of consumer tech and presented them…

Topics

Phones

Spotify meets Snap Map in Snapchat’s latest update

The new Now Playing feature adds real-time music sharing with customizable privacy controls.

Now Playing on Snap Map Spotify Snapchat featured

Snapchat is giving Snap Map a musical makeover. The company has announced Now Playing, a new feature that lets users share the music they're listening to in real time directly on Snap Map. Launching first with Spotify, the integration allows friends to discover each other's favorite tracks, save songs, and jump straight into Spotify without leaving Snapchat. The feature is rolling out now in regions where both Snapchat and Spotify are available, with Canada set to receive it soon.

How Now Playing works

Phones

OnePlus is building another flagship monster for a shrinking audience, and its expected to launch in October

OnePlus 16 could launch in October, but it may not leave China

Rear shell of OnePlus 15.

While OnePlus may have exited the US and Europe, the brand is still alive in its home market and is already working on its next flagship smartphone. A fresh leak from Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station has now revealed more details about the OnePlus 16, including its design and a revised launch timeline.

The tipster previously claimed that the phone would arrive in September 2026, but the latest information points to an October launch in China (via Gizmochina). The global picture is far less clear, and there is now even some doubt over whether the OnePlus 16 will make it to India, which remains the company’s biggest market.

Phones

Samsung has another wild foldable phone lined up for 2027 and it will excite screen connoisseurs

Samsung wants another giant OLED folding inside your pocket

Samsung Galaxy TriFold unfolded

Samsung just gave foldable fans a wider 4:3 canvas with the Galaxy Z Fold 8. But that still isn't enough screen for the company. Samsung has reportedly begun early development of a successor to the Galaxy Z TriFold, its dual-hinged phone that unfolds into something much closer to a proper tablet.

According to Korean publication ETNews, Samsung has already shared information about the next-generation project with suppliers, but its final specifications have yet to be decided. One detail should immediately grab the attention of anyone who buys a foldable primarily for its display. A source familiar with the project told ETNews that Samsung is currently targeting a screen size similar to the original TriFold.