Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Vivo X500 Pro Max
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not clearly ahead in any section, while the Vivo X500 Pro Max leads in battery and display; they are even on performance, camera, design & durability and connectivity & features.
The biggest difference is battery: 84 vs 99 points.
The Vivo X500 Pro Max is the newer model, announced 7 months after the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- Galaxy S26 Ultra leads in 7 fields
- X500 Pro Max leads in 11 fields
- 24 ties
42 scored fields compared
Score by section
| Section scores | Galaxy S26 Ultra | X500 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Performance | 100 | 100 |
| Camera | 96 | 95 |
| Battery | 84 | 99 |
| Display | 95 | 100 |
| Design & durability | 83 | 83 |
| Connectivity & features | 81 | 82 |
Full specifications
Performance
- Chipset performance index
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 100/100
- X500 Pro Max: 100/100
- Chipset
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- X500 Pro Max: Dimensity 9600 Pro
- RAM (max)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 16 GB
- X500 Pro Max: 16 GB
- Storage (max)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1 TB
- X500 Pro Max: 1 TB
- Process node
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 3 nm
- X500 Pro Max: 2 nm
Camera
- Main camera resolution
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 200 MP
- X500 Pro Max: 200 MP
- Main sensor size
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1/1.3″
- X500 Pro Max: 1/1.28″(Better)
- Optical stabilization (OIS)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Ultra-wide camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Telephoto camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Periscope lens
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Optical zoom
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5×(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: 3.5×
- Video recording
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 8K
- X500 Pro Max: 8K
- Front camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 12 MP
- X500 Pro Max: 50 MP(Better)
- Front camera 4K video
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
Battery
- Battery capacity
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5000 mAh
- X500 Pro Max: 6750 mAh(Better)
- Battery endurance (EU label)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 55:00 h
- X500 Pro Max: 72:05 h(Better)
- EU label cycles
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1200
- X500 Pro Max: 1200
- Wired charging
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 60 W
- X500 Pro Max: 90 W(Better)
- Wireless charging
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 25 W
- X500 Pro Max: 40 W(Better)
- Reverse charging
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Reverse charging type
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Wireless
- X500 Pro Max: Wired & wireless
Display
- Screen size
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.9″
- X500 Pro Max: 6.85″
- Panel type
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: LTPO OLED
- X500 Pro Max: LTPO OLED
- Refresh rate
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 120 Hz
- X500 Pro Max: 144 Hz(Better)
- Pixel density
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 500 ppi
- X500 Pro Max: 507 ppi
- Peak brightness
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 2600 nits
- X500 Pro Max: 4400 nits(Better)
- Resolution
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 1440x3120
- X500 Pro Max: 1440x3168
- Screen protection
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Corning Gorilla Armor 2
- X500 Pro Max: Armor Glass
Design & durability
- Weight
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 214 g(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: 225 g
- Thickness
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 7.9 mm(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: 8.1 mm
- Dust & water resistance
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: IP68
- X500 Pro Max: IP68 + IP69(Better)
- Back material
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Glass(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: Fiber
- Frame material
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Aluminum
- X500 Pro Max: Aluminum
- EU repairability class
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: C
- X500 Pro Max: C
- EU drop resistance class
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: A(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: B
- EU energy class
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: A
- X500 Pro Max: A
Connectivity & features
- 5G
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Wi-Fi
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Wi-Fi 7
- X500 Pro Max: Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.0(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: 5.4
- USB speed
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: USB 3.x
- X500 Pro Max: USB 3.x
- USB port
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: USB-C 3.2
- X500 Pro Max: USB-C 3.2
- DisplayPort output
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: No
- NFC
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- eSIM
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- Ultra-wideband (UWB)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes(Better)
- X500 Pro Max: No
- Satellite connectivity
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: Yes(Better)
- Stereo speakers
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Yes
- X500 Pro Max: Yes
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: No
- Fingerprint reader
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Under display (ultrasonic)
- X500 Pro Max: Under display (ultrasonic)
- 3D face unlock
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: No
- Infrared blaster
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: Yes(Better)
- FM radio
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: No
- microSD slot
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: No
- Card slot
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: No
- X500 Pro Max: No
General
- Operating system
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Android 16
- X500 Pro Max: Android 17
- OS updates (major versions)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 7
- X500 Pro Max: 5
- Launch price
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: $ 898.99
- X500 Pro Max: € 1,599.00
- Year
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 2026
- X500 Pro Max: 2026
Show raw spec textHide raw spec text
Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.
| — | Galaxy S26 Ultra | X500 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Network | ||
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 CDMA 800 / 1900 & TD-SCDMA | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - USA unlocked | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66, 71 - International 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - China |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA unlocked | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Launch | ||
| Announced | 2026, February 25 | 2026, September 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2026, March 06 | Available. Released 2026, September 24 |
| Body | ||
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 in) | 163.3 x 76.8 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 214 g (7.55 oz) | 225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Armor Glass), aluminum frame, glass back or glass-fiber reinforced plastic back |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus Armor Aluminum 2 | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display | ||
| Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 2000 nits (HBM), 4400 nits (peak) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 115.9 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.85 inches, 114.5 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~500 ppi density) | 1440 x 3168 pixels (~507 ppi density) |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 DX anti-reflective coating Privacy Display | Armor Glass Ultra HDR image support |
| Platform | ||
| OS | Android 16, upgradable to Android 17, One UI 9, up to 7 major OS updates | Android 17, up to 5 major OS updates, OriginOS 7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-1-AD Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9600 Pro (2 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.74 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (2x4.55 GHz & 3x4.35 GHz & 3x3.1 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 (1.3GHz) | Arm Mali G2-Ultra NX |
| Memory | ||
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM UFS 4.X | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM UFS 4.1 |
| Main Camera | ||
| Quad | 200 MP, f/1.4, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.9, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video | – |
| Features | Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, LED flash, panorama, HDR, 3D LUT import |
| Video | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 17 EV TrueDynamic Log, Dolby Vision HDR, 4K@120fps 10-bit Log, 10-bit 422 APV |
| Triple | – | 50 MP, f/1.6, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.7, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.75", 0.64µm, AF |
| Selfie camera | ||
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF | 50 MP, f/2.0, 20mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Features | HDR, HDR10+ | HDR |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack | No High-bitrate audio support | No 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio |
| Comms | ||
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band or tri-band |
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4/6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L1+L5) |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG |
| Infrared port | – | Yes |
| Features | ||
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass Satellite connectivity support (1TB 12GB RAM only; for China) |
| Battery | ||
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | · Si/C Li-Ion 6750 mAh (EU) · Si/C Li-Ion 7800 mAh (Global) · Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh (China) |
| Charging | 60W wired, PD3.0, 75% in 30 min 25W wireless (Qi2.2) 4.5W reverse wireless | 90W wired 40W wireless Reverse wireless Reverse wired |
| Misc | ||
| Colors | Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold | Black, Gray, White, Orange |
| Models | SM-S948B, SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948U, SM-S948U1, SM-S948W, SM-S948N, SM-S9480, SM-S948E, SM-S948E/DS | V2610, V2602A |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | – |
| SAR EU | 1.28 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body) | – |
| Price | $ 898.99 / € 979.00 / £ 802.99 / ₹ 139,999 | € 1,599.00 |
| EU LABEL | ||
| Energy | Class A | Class A |
| Battery | 55:00h endurance, 1200 cycles | 72:05h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | Class B (180 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |