I tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max's A20 Pro performance against the Galaxy S26 Ultra

By Victor Hristov · Review Content Lead

Published: Sep 18, 2026, 4:00 PM

Apple

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I tested the iPhone 18 Pro Max's A20 Pro performance against the Galaxy S26 Ultra

A20 Pro power | Image by PhoneArena

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The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max come with Apple's latest chipset: the A20 Pro. This is Apple's first 2nm chipset, a major leap compared to previous processors made on the older 3nm process.

This jump in manufacturing technology allows Apple to imporve not only performance, but also the efficiency of its latest iPhones.

Apple even claimed a massive 40% jump in GPU speeds in just one year, which is incredibly impressive if true. Well, we have now put the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max through their paces using the industry-standard benchmarks.

Is it better than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that most Android flagships use? Let's take a closer look at the benchmarks.

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For a limited time, you can pre-order the new iPhone 18 Pro Max at Walmart. You can pre-order the high-end model in the spectacular new Burgundy color with a plan by Verizon through Walmart. For a limited time, you can save $100 on the high-end A20 Pro-powered flagship.

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CPU Performance

GeekBench 7 test shows the new iPhone firmly ahead

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Using the latest Geekbench 7, we see the iPhone 17 Pro Max scores a massive improvement in both single-core and multi-core speeds.

Compared to last year's iPhone 17 Pro Max, we are seeing a nearly 30% increase in both single and multi-core performance.

Compared to arch-rival Galaxy S26 Ultra, the iPhone 18 Pro Max also comes on top. It has a similar 30% lead in single-core performance, but only a 9% lead in multi-core speeds.

I bet the next generation Galaxy which will likely feature Qualcomm's new Snapdragon chipset will leapfrog the iPhone in multi-core speeds, but I doubt that it will be able to reach its single-core power.

So far, this is impressive showing from Apple.

GPU and Gaming Performance

The iPhone 18 Pro Max just set a new standard for mobile gaming

3DMark Steel Nomad Light(High)Higher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max3850 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max2592 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra2761
3DMark Steel Nomad Light(Low)Higher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max2443 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max1584 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra1498

Steel Nomad Light Stress Test: Measures your phone's 'gaming stamina' by comparing its peak speed (High) against its throttled speed after it heats up (Low), revealing whether your performance will stay smooth or start lagging during a long session. It loads heavier, more modern effects than Wild Life Extreme and is more in line with current games.

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Gaming, however, is where the gains get really noticeable.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max crushes the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a nearly 70% higher sustained performance in the 3D Mark Steel Nomad Light stress test. And I have to stress that this is sustained performance, meaning the numbers you get after 20 minutes of the most intense benchmark testing. This new and larger vapor chamber really gets the cooling job done well.

Compared to iPhone 17 Pro Max, this is the performance graph:

iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Images by PhoneArena

And compared to arch-rival Galaxy S26 Ultra, here is the graph:

iPhone 18 Pro Max

Galaxy S26 Ultra

Images by PhoneArena

This kind of performance is typically reserved for gaming phones with dedicated cooling systems. I will be testing the iPhone 18 Pro Max against the likes of Redmagic, a company known for making the ultimate gaming phones, so stay tuned for that article.

Ray Tracing Performance

3DMark Solar Bay Extreme(High)Higher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max3075 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max2187 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra1245
3DMark Solar Bay Extreme(Low)Higher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max1714 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max1372 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra834

Ray Tracing: The test measures Ray Tracing performance because this advanced technology creates the hyper-realistic reflections and shadows found in next-gen titles like Arena Breakout. Even if you don't play games with ray tracing, a high score here means your phone has a 'best-in-class' cooling system.

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On the ray tracing focused Solar Bay Extreme stress test the iPhone 18 Pro Max is once again exceptional, in a league of its own. It has literally double the sustained performance of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Final Words

Apple was not kidding when it promised big improvements with the A20 Pro chipset. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a beast of a smartphone, especially for gaming.

The only thing missing now is for those AAA games to arrive, I think the world is ready for that...

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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.

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Geekbench 7 Single Higher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max4047 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max3097 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra3155
Geekbench 7 MultiHigher is better	Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max11648 Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max8874 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra10733