iPhone 18 Pro vs Galaxy S26 camera: 6 real photos side by side
In bright daylight the iPhone 18 Pro and the Galaxy S26 framed our six scenes almost identically, and the photos are close. The 18 Pro looks a touch darker and more contrasty, the S26 a little brighter in the shadows. The 18 Pro saved 24 MP files, the S26 12 MP, which shows in the centre crops.
24 October 2026, Palmengarten, Frankfurt am Main, sunny with clouds, between 14:28 and 15:27. Each scene was shot with all 11 of our test phones within a few minutes, each on the same tripod, each on its default auto camera settings. The main camera at 1x, the roses at 2x. Location data removed, people blurred, no other edits. How we test · Compare these two in the Camera Lab
What the photo files show
| iPhone 18 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Saved file at 1x | 5712 × 4284 (24.5 MP) | 4000 × 3000 (12 MP) |
| Main lens (35 mm equivalent) | 24 mm | 23 mm |
| 2x photo | 48 mm equivalent, 4032 × 3024 (12.2 MP) | 46 mm equivalent, digital zoom 2x, 4000 × 3000 (12 MP) |
| Software in the files | 27.0.1 | S942NKSS4BZIG |
| Rear cameras used here | Main camera only | Main camera only |
Read from the original photo files. A bigger file is not automatically a better photo: it means more pixels to crop into.
Fountain and pond
Bright sky, moving water and autumn trees in one wide view.
Centre crop
What we see: Nearly the same framing. The 18 Pro water is darker with stronger reflections; the S26 is brighter overall with a lighter sky.
Taken 14:28:38 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:39:30 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
Red sculpture
A strong red in sun and shade, against grass.
Centre crop
What we see: The red is very close on both. The 18 Pro shows deeper shadows on the grass and under the tree; the S26 lifts them.
Taken 14:45:32 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:47:56 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
Statue under ivy
White stone in shade with bright sky behind it.
Centre crop
What we see: Almost the same picture. The S26 is slightly brighter on the stone floor; detail in the statue looks alike.
Taken 14:58:50 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 14:57:19 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
Roses at 2x
Every phone set to its 2x zoom.
Centre crop
What we see: Both used 2x. The 18 Pro roses are a slightly deeper red; leaf colour is close.
Taken 15:04:14 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:05:32 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
Bench and asters
Bright white paint next to purple flowers and deep shade.
Centre crop
What we see: Very similar. The 18 Pro is a little warmer in the sunlit trees; both keep the white bench clean.
Taken 15:14:31 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:12:47 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
Pansy bed
Hundreds of small flowers: fine detail and many colours.
Centre crop
What we see: The S26 makes the red tree behind the bed more orange; the 18 Pro keeps it a darker red. The pansy colours are close.
Taken 15:24:44 (iPhone 18 Pro) and 15:24:06 (Samsung Galaxy S26).
What this comparison does not show
- Night, indoor and portrait photos: not shot yet.
- Ultra-wide and telephoto lenses beyond 2x, and video.
- Other light: this is one sunny afternoon. Colours can change in cloud or at dusk.
- Other copies of the same phone: we have one of each.
More from the Camera Lab
- All 11 phones, all 6 scenes
- iPhone 17e vs Samsung Galaxy A57
- iPhone 14 Pro vs iPhone 17e
- iPhone 17e vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Google Pixel 10a
- Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Google Pixel 10a
- iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17e
- Nothing Phone (4a) Pro vs Google Pixel 10a
- How we test
- Our Apple guides
- Our Samsung guides