Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S26 series. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra received meaningful upgrades, including the new Privacy Display feature, the base Galaxy S26 and saw no hardware improvements beyond a faster processor and a slightly larger battery. As a result, the iPhone 17 appears to offer more features and better overall value.
Here is what the iPhone 17 offers that the Galaxy S26 does not.
What makes the iPhone 17 better than the Galaxy S26?
1. Brighter, anti-reflective display
The base iPhone 17 features a 6.3-inch OLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits, and an anti-reflective coating.
In comparison, the Galaxy S26 has a 6.3-inch OLED panel with Full HD+ resolution, a 1 to 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 2,600 nits. It does not include an anti-reflective coating or the Privacy Display feature found on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The iPhone 17 also uses a 10-bit panel with Dolby Vision support, which is not available on the Galaxy S26.
2. A more advanced front-facing camera
The iPhone 17 uses an 18MP square-format front-facing camera with autofocus. The square sensor allows users to capture both portrait and landscape images without physically rotating the phone. It also supports 4K video recording at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision HDR.
The Galaxy S26, by comparison, has a 12MP front-facing camera with autofocus. It supports 4K video at 60 frames per second with HDR10+, but its traditional rectangular sensor requires users to rotate the phone when switching between portrait and landscape compositions.
3. A higher-resolution ultrawide camera
Apple has equipped the iPhone 17 with a 48MP ultrawide camera using a 1/2.55-inch sensor and autofocus. The Galaxy S26 features a 12MP ultrawide camera with a fixed-focus lens. While both phones support up to 4K 60fps video recording with HDR, the iPhone offers greater detail and the ability to adjust focus.
4. Faster wired and wireless charging
The iPhone 17 has a smaller battery, estimated at around 3,700mAh, compared to the Galaxy S26’s 4,300mAh battery. However, it supports faster charging. Wired charging reaches up to 40W, allowing the battery to charge to 50% in about 20 minutes.
Wireless charging supports up to 25W, reaching 50% in around 30 minutes. The iPhone 17 basically charges at the same speed wirelessly as the S26 does with a wired charger.
Also, despite the smaller battery, overall battery life of the iPhone 17 is generally competitive and can be longer in certain use cases.
5. Stronger water resistance
Both phones carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. However, the iPhone 17 is rated to withstand submersion in water up to 6 meters for 30 minutes. The Galaxy S26 is rated for fresh water submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. That's a pretty huge difference.
6. Bluetooth 6.0 and Ultra Wideband (UWB)
Both devices support 5G, eSIM, and Wi-Fi 7. However, the iPhone 17 features Bluetooth 6.0, while the Galaxy S26 uses Bluetooth 5.4. The iPhone 17 also includes Ultra Wideband (UWB), which enables more precise location tracking and improved smart lock functionality.
The Galaxy S26 does offer a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, which is faster than the iPhone 17’s USB 2.0 Type-C port. This allows support for Samsung DeX, enabling a desktop-style experience when connected to an external display.
Given these differences, the Galaxy S26 appears less competitive in terms of value, especially considering its higher price. In the United States, the iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage is priced at $799, while the Galaxy S26 with the same storage costs $899. The 512GB Galaxy S26 is also priced $100 higher than the equivalent iPhone 17 model.
Samsung will need to deliver more substantial upgrades with the Galaxy S27 series, particularly in areas such as camera hardware and charging speeds, to remain competitive.
The post Everything the iPhone 17 has that the Galaxy S26 doesn’t appeared first on SamMobile.
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