Honor Magic 9 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Verdict
Honor Magic 9 Pro Max scores higher on the OH Rank (86 vs 82), winning 2 of 10 categories including Performance and Battery. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is 1.1mm wider than Honor Magic 9 Pro Max. Honor Magic 9 Pro Max is the more recent release, from Oct 8, 2026.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
86
82
Honor Magic 9 Pro Max
77mm (3.03in) · Oct 8, 2026 · Rank #1
15+13+13+12+15+4+4+0+5+5 = 86
SUPERIOR* TOP Performance* TOP Battery Endurance* TOP Camera* TOP Selfie* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement
EDITORIAL: (this is a pre-test listing based on reasonable expectation of charging, screen and imaging performance) Following last year's Xiaomi lead, Honor jumped on the iPhone-copy-naming-trend and made 9 Pro Max. It is 2mm wider then previous top model and packs upgrades: chip, 1700mAh bigger battery(!), brighter screen, new 200MP main and 55MP selfie cameras - all for less then $1000.
PROs
unique camera island design with optional external 200mm zoom lens, top SD 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (2nm) with UFS 4.1 performance, 48hr endurance from a huge 8800mAh Si-C battery with sub-90min 100W (80W wireless) charging, >1800nits bright 460ppi 120Hz LTPO OLED screen with Dolby Vision, IP69 protection, excellent 200MP 23mm OIS main + 200MP 80mm OIS periscope telephoto + 50MP 12mm ultrawide (all with PDAF) setup, very good new 55MP selfie, very good video recording, AI and other features loaded MagicOS with 7 years of OS updates iOS integration, mature desktop replacement feature, fast USB-C 3.2 port with OTG and Display Port 1.2 tech
CONs
big and 230g heavy, at 8800mAh - battery size could be an overkill, no AF on selfie for the second year, no expandable memory slot, lacks Apple's and Samsung's global distribution
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
78.1mm (3.07in) · Mar 4, 2026 · Rank #8
13+8+15+12+15+5+4+0+5+5 = 82
SUPERIOR* TOP Screen* TOP Camera* TOP Selfie* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement
EDITORIAL: Samsung is sticking to same choices they did last year: top processor, top screen and a tried and true camera setup. Battery remains the same – a disappointing 5000mAh Lithium unit that provides for (barely) a full day of heavy use. Like Apple, Samsung believes that it is better to fully deplete and fully charge the battery every single day (excellent sales numbers confirm that their customers feel the same). The S26U is still a great phone: top performance and screen (albeit with gimmicky "first phone with a privacy screen" tagline), great main and selfie cameras, industry leading OS update policy, extensive AI integration, DeX and a powerful stylus.
PROs
flagship build, excellent SD 8 Elite Gen 5 with UFS 4.1 performance, outstanding >1300nits >490ppi LTPO AMOLED screen with HDR10+ and DX antireflective coating, great 200MP 24mm main + 10MP 67mm tele + 50MP 111mm periscope telephoto + 50MP ~13mm ultrawide (all with PDAF, only ultrawide lacks OIS), (Feb 2023 old) 12MP 26mm dual-Pixel PDAF selfie that still delivers great pics, above average video recording, stable and feature packed OS with 7 years of updates, rich AI offerings, industry best desktop replacement functionality, fast USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort and OTG and powerful integration of build in stylus
CONs
disappointing lack of innovation Samsung used to be known for, wider then last year, same 5000mAh battery with 24hr endurance (but slightly faster) sub-60min 60W (25W wireless) charging, no expandable storage and Apple-like effort to limit access to best (wearables, peripherals) features to users fully committed to Samsung ecosystem
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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