NEW YORK, Jan 19, 2026, 06:34 (EST)
- SlashGear’s latest head-to-head picked Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max over Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL
- The same outlet earlier leaned toward Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra when stacked against Apple’s top iPhone
- Leaks and early previews are already shifting attention to Samsung’s next Galaxy S26 Ultra
Tech site SlashGear’s newest head-to-head on Monday put Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead of Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL, extending a burst of side-by-side comparisons that are turning spec sheets into an early proxy battle for the premium phone market. Slashgear
The comparisons are landing as the U.S. smartphone market keeps narrowing around a few big brands and buyers decide whether to upgrade now or wait. Canalys data cited in a Filmogaz roundup put Apple and Samsung at 49% and 31% of the U.S. market as of mid-2025, leaving limited space for smaller players to break through. Filmogaz
It matters now because $1,000-plus phones carry much of the industry’s profit, and the selling points are shifting again — this time toward on-device artificial intelligence, camera zoom and charging speed. “Apple and Samsung posted strong results as their latest devices encouraged consumers to upgrade in the premium segment,” said Francisco Jeronimo, a vice president at IDC. Idc
In a Jan. 17 comparison, SlashGear said Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S25 Ultra starts at $1,049.99, below the iPhone 17 Pro Max at $1,199, and argued Samsung’s built-in stylus and broader camera kit make it the better buy for many users. Both models start at 256GB of storage and 12GB of memory, it wrote. Slashgear
That earlier piece also leaned on the practical details buyers notice after the first week. Samsung keeps a physical SIM slot, while Apple in the U.S. relies on eSIM — a built-in digital SIM — and the iPhone uses Face ID instead of a fingerprint reader, SlashGear wrote.
On cameras, SlashGear described Samsung’s setup as more flexible: a 200-megapixel main camera plus two telephoto options. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, it said, uses three 48-megapixel rear cameras and leans on software features like portrait effects and a dedicated Camera Control button.
In Monday’s iPhone-versus-Pixel matchup, SlashGear called the Pixel 10 Pro XL a niche choice that is “steadily gaining market share” but still trails Apple and Samsung, with Motorola sitting behind them in the midrange. It also said Apple’s A19 Pro chip “almost” doubled Google’s Tensor G5 on Geekbench 6, a benchmark test often used to compare processor performance.
The same article framed AI as the real dividing line. It said Apple is rolling out features under the Apple Intelligence name, while Google has pushed Gemini deeper into the Pixel’s software and camera tools — including an “Add me” feature that combines two group photos to include the person taking the picture.
Apple, for its part, says the iPhone 17 Pro models use an A19 Pro chip with a vapor chamber — a heat spreader designed to move heat away from the chip under heavy use — and come with 48-megapixel rear cameras and an 18-megapixel front camera. Apple also says the phones can shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second, a high frame rate used for smoother motion and slow-motion effects. Apple
The next round is already creeping into the conversation. Samsung-focused site SammyFans urged some buyers to wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, saying leaks point to 60-watt wired charging and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, with Samsung’s next Unpacked event “reportedly” set for Feb. 25 in San Francisco. Sammyfans
PhoneArena, also citing leaks, said Samsung’s base Galaxy S26 may stick with 25W charging, while the S26 Ultra could move to 60W wired and 25W wireless charging. Watts measure charging power — higher numbers usually mean faster top-ups — but the site said reports on the Ultra’s battery size remain conflicting. Phonearena
Still, the downside case is straightforward: leaks are messy and pricing can move against consumers even if the hardware improves. Counterpoint Research said global smartphone shipments rose 2% in 2025, led by Apple with a 20% share, ahead of Samsung at 19% and Xiaomi at 13%, but Counterpoint research director Tarun Pathak warned the market could “soften in 2026 amid chip shortages and rising component costs.” Reuters
For now, the comparison pieces show where the fight is headed: cameras, AI features and charging, not just screen size or brand loyalty. The harder part will be convincing customers that the next upgrade is worth paying for — again.
