The switch from Titanium alloy to aluminum on the Galaxy S26 Ultra makes the flagship on par with the iPhone 17 Pro Max when comparing the materials used, but it should be noted that this move will alter the smartphone’s durability in the latest drop test. The last time one YouTuber conducted the exact test against the same Apple flagship, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s Titanium chassis aided the latter when it made contact from the corners. Now, it’s a different tale, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max manages to secure the win against its rival, thanks to a subtle design tweak.
After several drops, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s fingerprint sensor stops working, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s Face ID functionality remains undeterred
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has returned to PhoneBuff’s drop tests, with one of its biggest strengths being that Apple didn’t cover the device’s entire back with Ceramic Shield, leaving metal on the Camera Plateau, resulting in better durability and what ultimately gave it the edge against the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A total of 6 drops were performed on both handsets, with the results of each drop summarized below.
1 meter back drop - Both flagships had their rear glass shattered, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra took the brunt of the impact, with the telephoto glass receiving the most serious damage. Fortunately, the Samsung flagship’s camera system is functional, but there’s a bit of lens flare showing up. As for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the top metal area is practically unscathed, with the bottom portion made up of glass absorbing the force.
1 meter corner drop - The corners of both smartphones have been scuffed, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s marks appear more prominent, likely due to the Cosmic Orange paint job. There’s also a visible dent on the iPhone, whereas the Galaxy S26 Ultra looks to be in significantly better shape.
1 meter front drop - Regardless of the kind of protection incorporated on the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the iPhone 17 Pro Max, both displays have been cracked, but the damage has been somewhat contained on Samsung’s flagship smartphone as compared to its rival. Thanks to the extent of the damage on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the front-facing shooter is now showing the same lens flare problem as the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Fortunately, the fingerprint reader and Face ID are both working fine on each device, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s privacy screen also unaffected.
1.5 meter back drop - Cosmetically, the damage doesn’t appear to be extreme, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s fingerprint reader is no longer working. The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s Face ID is working completely fine.
1.5 meter corner drop - Some paint was chipped off from the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but other than that, the extent of the damage isn’t too noticeable.
1.5 meter front drop - There’s a lot of ‘spider-webbing’ on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with the display cracked even more, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s telephoto lens is spreading small chunks of glass from the housing because of the drop. In short, there are even more lens flaring issues, and the glass can potentially injure the user if they whip it out of their pocket.
Coming to the scores, the iPhone 17 Pro Max obtains 56 points to Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 54, making Apple’s latest and greatest smartphone offering the winner again. If you were impressed with how well-made the Galaxy S26 Ultra is, you have a rare opportunity to get a $200 gift card from Amazon when you place an order for the flagship, but this is a limited-time offer that could expire without any warning, so you’d best hurry.
News Source: PhoneBuff
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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