Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Powerful Upgrades, But Still a Familiar Beast
Samsung’s ultra-flagship formula hasn’t changed much on paper over the last few years. Big screen, big battery, built-in S Pen, and a camera stack that claims to do everything.
I’ve been daily-driving the Galaxy S26 Ultra for a while now. It refines almost every annoyance from the previous generation, but it isn’t completely free of compromises.
Here is my honest take on where it shines—and where it falls short.
Specs Overview
| Feature | Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy S26 Ultra
Display 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Main Camera 200 MP, f/1.7 200 MP, f/1.4 (Wider Aperture)
Battery 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh
| Charging | 45W Wired | 60W Wired, 25W Wireless (Qi2)| Weight / Thickness| 219 g / 8.6 mm | 214 g / 7.9 mm
Design and Display: Thinner, Flatter, and Built-In Privacy
Holding the S26 Ultra, the first thing I noticed was the ergonomics. At 7.9 mm thin, Samsung managed to shave off significant bulk.
The sharp, boxy corners of the past are completely smoothed out. It doesn’t dig into your palm anymore during long typing sessions.
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel is bright, punchy, and flat. Outdoor visibility in direct sunlight is effortless.
Display Glare Test:
[ Standard OLED Screen ] —> Heavy reflections, washed out under bright sun
[ S26 Ultra Armor Glass ] —> Anti-reflective coating cuts glare drastically
Samsung also introduced a hardware-level Privacy Display feature. Flick the toggle in Quick Settings, and side-angle visibility drops. People sitting next to you on a plane or train can’t read your texts. It actually works, though it slightly dims overall brightness when active.
Cameras: Brighter Main Lens, Great Low-Light Performance
The rear camera layout looks familiar, but the hardware upgrades under the hood are real.
The primary 200 MP camera gets a wider f/1.4 aperture. In my testing, night shots capture significantly more light without needing long exposure times. Motion blur on low-light subjects (like moving pets or kids) is much less of an issue now.
200 MP Main (f/1.4): Sharp, excellent dynamic range, fast shutter speed.
50 MP Ultrawide: Sharp edge-to-edge details, doubles as a macro lens.
50 MP Periscope (5x) & 10 MP Telephoto (3x): Great flexibility, though 3x zoom feels slightly soft compared to the main sensor.
The bad news? Samsung still aggressively sharpens photos in bright daylight. Leafy trees and fine textures can look slightly artificial when you zoom in on a computer monitor.
Performance and Battery: Speed Monster with Quicker Top-Ups
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 powers this phone. Day-to-day app switching, heavy 3D gaming, and video rendering don’t phase it. It runs cool during normal tasks.
If you push prolonged heavy gaming sessions at max settings, the phone gets warm around the upper frame, causing mild thermal throttling after about 30 minutes.
Battery capacity stays at 5,000 mAh, which easily got me through a full day of heavy use with around 20% left by bedtime.
Charging Speed Test (0% to 75%):
[ Old 45W Wired Charging ] —-> ~45 minutes
[ New 60W Wired Charging ] —-> ~30 minutes (Measured)
The upgrade to 60W wired charging means you get to 75% in roughly 30 minutes. Wireless charging is bumped to 25W, though you’ll need a compatible Qi2 pad to hit those speeds.
Real-World Issues & Minor Grips
No phone is perfect. Here are the things that bugged me during my time with the S26 Ultra:
- Fingerprint Magnet: The back glass picks up smudges almost instantly unless you buy the lighter matte colors or use a case.
2. S Pen Position: The S Pen remains tucked on the bottom left side. If you are right-handed, pulling it out requires a quick hand adjustment.
3. Price Tag: Starting well north of $1,100, this is a massive investment if you already own an S24 or S25 Ultra.
The Verdict
The Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it fixes almost every physical issue users complained about. The thinner profile, faster 60W charging, low-light camera improvements, and glare-free privacy screen make it an unbelievable daily driver.
If you’re coming from an older phone, this is an easy recommendation. If you already have the S25 Ultra, you can safely hold onto your cash for another year.