The Galaxy S27 Ultra remains months away from launch, yet early details are already emerging about how Samsung’s next flagship might compare with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which is now available. One feature in particular could give the device a distinct advantage that Apple is unlikely to match.
A recent reader survey explored the main reasons buyers might upgrade to the upcoming Samsung flagship, and the results suggest that raw speed alone is no longer enough to define a top-tier handset.
Why the S Pen matters most
Just over 28% of respondents named speed as their primary reason to upgrade, which is unsurprising for a premium device. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is rumoured to reach a 5GHz clock speed, so Samsung supporters have little cause for concern on performance. However, Apple’s A20 Pro chip also brought notable performance gains, meaning the iPhone 18 Pro and S27 Ultra may prove closely matched in terms of raw speed.
A further 27% pointed to the S Pen as their main reason for choosing the S27 Ultra, placing it almost level with speed. What makes the S Pen arguably more significant is that it is the only genuinely unique feature Samsung offers against its main rivals. Neither the iPhone 18 Pro Max nor the Pixel 11 Pro XL supports anything comparable.
The importance of the full package
Just under 25% of respondents selected the display as their main draw, while 20% chose Android. Both of these are features widely available across other devices. The advanced M16 displays expected on the Galaxy S27 Ultra, offering improved colours, brightness, efficiency and durability, are already found on the latest iPhone and Pixel 11 models.
While One UI 9 is exclusive to Samsung phones, Android powers practically every smartphone not made by Apple. Neither of these traits helps Samsung stand apart from competitors in the way the S Pen does.
What Samsung needs to deliver
The relatively even split in the votes indicates that no single feature is enough to make a flagship compelling on its own, even from the leading Android manufacturer. To capture attention, Samsung would need to combine an excellent display, the fastest possible performance, a polished software experience and something as distinctive as the S Pen.
Nearly every serious manufacturer already produces a fast handset with a strong display and capable software. The S Pen remains one of the few elements that sets the Galaxy S27 Ultra genuinely apart, and Samsung is expected to equip the model with its most advanced M16 display panels.
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Image: phonearena.com
