The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has officially landed, and the brand has brought a host of upgrades with a few surprising pivots. Instead of just more of everything, the Galaxy S26 Ultra makes calculated trade-offs like swapping build material. At the same time, it also brings new features like Privacy display to the mix, making it stand out, not just from the Galaxy S25 Ultra but also from the competition.
If you are currently using or planning to purchase the Galaxy S25 Ultra, here's a breakdown of whether you should consider the Galaxy S26 Ultra instead.
Galaxy S26 Ultra is slimmer and curvier
One of the first things you will notice is the slimness and the increased corner curvature. Samsung has switched to an Aluminium chassis, which measures just 7.9mm in thickness compared to 8.2mm on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The phone is also slightly lighter at 214 grams. However, the overall durability is a downgrade as the Galaxy S26 Ultra switches to Armour Aluminium instead of Titanium on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
More importantly, the ergonomics have been improved with more curved corners. This should make the phone feel less boxy and add to the overall ease of use. For those unaware, the Galaxy S25 Ultra's corners were curvier than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the change in Galaxy S26 Ultra feels like another step at Samsung, trying to refine and perfect the design.
Lastly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra colours include Black, White, Cobalt Violet and Sky Blue. The smartphone will also be offered in Pink Gold and Silver Shadow, which will be Samsung store exclusive colourways.
- Build material: Armour Aluminium on the Galaxy S26 Ultra replaces Titanium from the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- Weight: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly lighter at 214 grams versus the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which weighs 218 grams. It is also thinner at 7.9mm vs 8.2mm on its predecessor.
- Colours and design: White, Black, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, Pink Gold and Silver Shadow. Curved edges and a camera island at the back.
Galaxy S26 Ultra display gets vibrant and more private
The screen is the largest differentiator. The Galaxy S26 Ultra moves to a larger 6.89-inch M14 OLED panel with 10-bit colour depth, meaning it offers richer gradients than the 8-bit M13 panel found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The headline feature, however, is the Privacy Display.
We've explained Galaxy S26 Ultra Privacy Display comprehensively, but for those who need a TL;DR, it's a hardware-level feature that allows you to block viewing angles. Additionally, the anti-reflective coating has been upgraded to the 3rd generation, promising better visibility in harsh sunlight.
- Display: Upgraded 6.89-inch M14 2X AMOLED 10-bit panel vs 8-bit on the S25 Ultra
- Private Display: Dims the display when looked at from an angle, protecting you from bad actors peeping into your screen.
- 3rd Generation Anti-reflective coating: for better outdoor legibility and fewer reflections
Cameras: Better optics, smaller sensors
The cameras are a mixed bag. The S26 Ultra retains the 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor, but it now sits behind a much wider f/1.4 aperture (up from f/1.7). This should drastically improve the natural bokeh and low-light performance. The 50 MP 5x Periscope also gets a brighter f/2.9 lens.
However, the 3x Telephoto sees a downgrade in sensor size from 1/3.52" to 1/3.94". Samsung might be relying on better processing to compensate, but on a pure hardware basis, the sensor is smaller. On the front, the selfie camera switches to a Sony sensor with a wider 85-degree Field of View.
Faster charging and performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is a definitive upgrade over last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite. It is paired with a faster LPDDR5X RAM operating at 10.7Gbps speeds and UFS 4.0 storage. Besides, Samsung has packed a 21% bigger VC for better thermals.
The battery capacity, however, remains stagnant at 5,000mAh. Although Samsung has broken the shackles of its 45W speed limit. The Galaxy S26 Ultra supports 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging.
- Battery and Charging: While the capacity remains the same at 5,000mAh, the Galaxy S26 Ultra can charge faster at 60W.
- Performance: The Galaxy S26 Ultra features Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 21% larger Vapour Chamber, while the S25 Ultra boasts Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Should you consider Galaxy S26 Ultra over Galaxy S25 Ultra?
Before we dig in, here's a top-down look at the specifications of both smartphones.
| Specification | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch QHD+ 10-bit LTPO 120Hz AMOLED 2X (M14) | 6.9-inch QHD+ 10-bit LTPO 120Hz AMOLED 2X (M13) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) | Snpdragon 8 Elite (3nm) |
| Cameras | 200 MP main f/1.4, 50 MP 5x Periscope f/2.9, 50 MP ultrawide and 10 MP telephoto f/2.4, 1/3.948" 12 MP selfie snapper | 200 MP main f/1.7, 50 MP 5x Periscope f/3.4, 50 MP ultrawide and 10 MP telephoto f.2.4, 1/3.52" 12 MP selfie snapper |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh with 60W fast charging, 25W wireless charging | 5,000mAh with 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging |
| Storage and RAM | 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB, 16 GB + 1 TB, UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5X | 12 GB + 256 GB, 12 GB + 512 GB UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5X |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, NFC, USB 3.2 Type-C | Wi-Fi 7, NFC, USB 3.2 Type-C |
| Software and features | One UI 8.5, Android 16. Updates till 2033 | One UI 8, Android 16. Updates till 2031 |
| Colours | White, Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue | Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Gray, Titanium Black and Titanium Whitesilver |
| Price | Rs 1,39,999 | Rs 1,29,999 (discounted) |
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a decent upgrade for those who value ergonomics and privacy. The faster charging and brighter cameras are a welcome addition, but for those who already own a Galaxy S25 Ultra, it's not worthy of being called a great upgrade. Besides, if Telephoto cameras and build quality are your main priorities, you might want to consider the Galaxy S25 Ultra over the S26 Ultra.
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