Ask iDevice

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Apple iPhone Air (1st gen): which should you buy?

Answer worked out Oct. 11, 2026. Prices and the answer are worked out again every few minutes.

The answer

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

NO RUSH

No need to rush.

$1,099.99 at Samsung is $150 above its lowest price in the last 90 days. At about $964 or less, the answer turns to Buy now.

$1,099.99 at Samsung

Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

NO RUSH

No need to rush.

$1,099 at Apple is $100 above its lowest price in the last 90 days.

$1,099 at Apple

Better purchase today: neither. Both read NO RUSH. Apple iPhone Air (1st gen) costs $0.99 less today ($1,099 against $1,099.99), but that is not enough on its own to change the answer.

Better product: No clear winner. Pick by what each one is best for.

What reviewers say

ReportedOnly Engadget published a separate scored review of both, and one outlet is not enough to break the tie.

Engadget: 90 out of 100 for Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, 86 out of 100 for Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

Reviewers on the Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)

Sound: criticised by 2 outletsReported by Engadget, PhoneArena
Battery life: praised by 3 outletsReported by Engadget, PhoneArena, WIRED
Design: praised by 3 outletsReported by Engadget, PhoneArena, WIRED
Display: praised by 3 outletsReported by Engadget, PhoneArena, WIRED
Value for money: criticised by 2 outletsReported by Engadget, WIRED

A pick needs at least 2 independent outlets that published a separate scored review of each product on the same scale, all of them favouring the same one, and an average lead of at least 5 points out of 100. Outlets with one owner count once. Scores are the outlets' own; iDevice did not test these products for them.

Key differences

Zoom: up to 100x vs up to 10xSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: up to 100x ConfirmedSourceApple iPhone Air (1st gen): up to 10x ConfirmedSource
Front camera: 12MP vs 18MPSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: 12MP (12MP wide AF) ConfirmedSourceApple iPhone Air (1st gen): 18MP (18MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/1.9, autofocus) ConfirmedSource

From each maker's own specifications. A point is listed only when both makers state a figure and the two differ; a point either maker does not state is left out, never guessed.

Who should buy which

Pick the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for gaming and work.Gaming: It plays on a 6.9-inch 120Hz screen. ConfirmedSourceWork: It gives you up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. Our read
Pick the Apple iPhone Air (1st gen) for travel and everyday use.Travel: It is 5.64mm thick and weighs 165 grams. ConfirmedSourceEveryday use: It has a 6.5-inch screen and plays up to 27 hours of video. Our read

From what each Guide names the product best for. Both Guides also name photos and video. This does not rank the two.

Side by side

What is compared	Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra	Apple iPhone Air (1st gen)
Best price today	$1,099.99 at SamsungPrice checked Oct. 11, 2026	$1,099 at ApplePrice checked Oct. 11, 2026
Lowest in 90 days	$949.99Seen Oct. 8, 2026	$999Seen Aug. 17, 2026
Launch price	$1,299.99	$999
Timing	Our read No newer model is expected in the next 90 days.Source: iDevice Guide	Reported Apple iPhone Air 2 is reported, with no date given.Source: iDevice Guide
Price	Our read Nothing's forcing the decision right now, so there's no need to rush. The lowest price checked in the last 90 days is $949.99 (Oct 8, 2026).Source: iDevice Guide	Our read Full price, and a newer version is reported, so no rush. The lowest price checked in the last 90 days is $999 (Aug 17, 2026).Source: iDevice Guide
What could change it	If the price falls to about $964 or less, iDevice's price verdict turns to Buy now, as long as a replacement is not close.	Nothing listed

Make it personal: your phone and budget