The Apple iPhone 18 Pro series doesn’t look too different from its predecessor. There are upgraded internals, obviously, and new color options. But the overall design and choice of materials appear to be identical. So what does that mean for durability? Well, in a new video by the folks at PhoneBuff, they put the phone to the test in an iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S26 Ultra drop test.
iPhone 18 Pro Max drop test, how does it fare?
If you don’t have time to watch the whole video, the short story is that it was a close race. In the drop test, the iPhone 18 Pro Max fared slightly better in some areas. In the first test, which was a backdrop from a height of 1 meter, the iPhone 18 Pro Max was in better overall shape. The glass on the back of both phones cracked, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra was worse for wear.
The second round involved a corner drop. In this instance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra was the clear winner with no visible damage, whereas the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s frame was dented. However, the third round was the main decider. This was a face drop in which the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s display remained fully intact. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, on the other hand, shattered. Its fingerprint scanner also lost functionality.
The subsequent remaining rounds went back and forth between the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. But because of the third round, the iPhone 18 Pro Max was declared the overall winner with a score of 56, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra scored 53. Like we said, it was a close race.
Was it a fair test?
That being said, this is hardly the most scientific of tests. But it should still give you a rough idea of what to expect from day-to-day use and accidental drops. We imagine that if you stuck both phones in protective cases they would probably hold up a lot better. However, if you’re the type that prefers to use their phone “nude,” then these tests are something to take into consideration.
