The iPhone 17 Pro Max will increase its battery, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra will keep its slim body

Before the announcement iPhone 17 Pro Max and future release Galaxy S26 Ultra one of the key topics being discussed is —the balance between battery capacity and ergonomics. Leaks show that Apple and Samsung have chosen different strategies for their flagships.

iPhone 17 Pro Max: bigger battery, but thicker body

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to get a battery of 4823 mAh, and in the eSIM version —up to 5088 mAh. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a battery of 4685 mAh.

The increase in capacity will be reflected in the body: the thickness will increase from 8.3mm to 8.725mm. At the same time, Apple will allegedly switch to an aluminum frame, which is lighter than titanium and will partially offset the added weight.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: same battery, but thinner body

Samsung, on the other hand, plans to keep the 5000 mAh — battery for the seventh consecutive time for the Ultra series. However, the body will be thinner: expected to be just 7.9mm compared to 8.2mm for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Although the lack of battery growth may disappoint fans, the manufacturer is banking on moreenergy-efficient components and likely, accelerated charging, which should compensate for the unchanged battery capacity.

At the same time, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be slimmer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Two different approaches

• Apple is willing to increase thickness for the sake of longer battery life;
• Samsung is banking on a lightweight and comfortable body, hoping for power-efficient iron and fast charging.

For some users, compactness and ergonomics are more important — this confirms the interest in models like the Galaxy S25 EdgeiPhone 17 Air. However, many «power-users» have traditionally opted for thicker models with maximum battery life.

Which strategy will prove more successful — will only become clear once the devices are released.