Apr 04, 2026
3 min read
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has some interesting new features, but overall the phone doesn't measure up to the camera-centric Android flagship.
I've been using the Galaxy S26 Ultra for three weeks - here are six things I've learned
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has some interesting new features, even if the phone generally falls short of camera-centric Android flagships.
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I'm happy to use the Galaxy S26 Ultra;I think this is the year when Samsung releases a better upgrade to hold the phone on its own against Chinese alternatives like the Vivo X300 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Pro.
Annoyingly, it doesn't.While the S26 Ultra has some great new features, the core hasn't changed much from previous years, and you're getting a phone that isn't as good as other Android flagships when it comes to cameras and battery technology.
But that doesn't mean the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bad phone. The lack of any significant camera improvements ultimately limits its potential. I've been using the Galaxy S26 Ultra as a daily driver for just over three weeks. Here's what I learned.
The story continues under The Secret Display is good, but the current AMOLED lacks some of the basics
The S26 Ultra's defining feature is Privacy Display, a hardware-assisted mode designed to prevent shoulder surfing by limiting screen visibility to side corners.This means no one can see what's on your screen while in public, and it really works — it's something I wish other Android manufacturers would "borrow" into their own devices.
Privacy Display works by changing the pixel substructure of the panel itself, and Samsung calls this technology Flex Magic Pixel.Basically, the wide pixels that emit light at a wider angle are dimmed, and this ensures that no one can see your screen at a side angle, even if you can easily make out the screen's content.There is a noticeable drop in brightness levels due to how the technology works, but I had no problems using it outdoors in harsh sunlight.
I also love the versatility;The ability to turn the mode on or off is a new feature and Samsung has done a good job overall.That said, the AMOLED panel itself is lacking in some areas;it's not as bright as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Find X9 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL or Vivo X300 Pro, and that's without the privacy screen enabled.
You lose other mainstays like high-frequency PWM dimming, and that's something Samsung really needs to address in its devices.Interestingly, the S26 Ultra also lacks Dolby Vision and only has HDR10+.
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The new design is better to hold - but it vibrates like other phones
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly taller and wider than its predecessor, but we like how it feels better in the hand.Samsung has rounded the corners and made the device a little thinner, but it's a noticeable difference.The rounded design is especially welcome, as it keeps the phone from digging into your palm when using it one-handed.
However, the biggest issue with the design is the new camera island;The modules rotate a little more than in previous years, and since they are on the left, this makes the S26 Ultra more stable when used on a table.The wobble is enough that you'll want to use a case if you want to use the phone this way.
The build quality is still among the best on Android, Samsung uses an aluminum central frame that lasts even better, and uses Gorilla Armor 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the glass back.The color options are also great this time around, and I love the Cobalt Violet model I'm using.
The cameras on the 2026 flagship are not good enough
Samsung wanted to roll out a major update to its cameras this year but failed.As a result, the Galaxy S26 Ultra lags behind its Android competitors in terms of scores.The gap is wide enough that not only Vivo X300 Pro, Find X9 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Ultra take better photos and videos, but even last year's X200 Pro and Find X8 Pro outperform the S26 Ultra to good effect.
Samsung does not want to make any changes to the cameras because there is no need.While Chinese brands dominate this space, they have no presence in North America, so all Samsung needs to do is make sure its cameras are on par with the Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 17 Pro.The S26 Ultra does slightly better in this context, but it's not good enough when you look at the broader Android ecosystem.
With Chinese manufacturers expanding global availability – both the Vivo X300 Ultra and Find X9 Ultra are launching globally – Samsung will have to address its camera shortcomings sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, this software is one of the best
UI 8.5 is not much different from what we got last year, but it has a modern design and many features that see a lot of use.If anything, it's the software that forces Samsung users to switch to other Android skins, and I totally understand that.
As someone who prefers to use Pixels a lot, I'm not a UI target audience, but I must admit that Samsung continues to do a great job with its software.The Android 16-based interface has everything you need, and the Samsung phone's access to the dialer, browser, gallery, and messages is different enough to make it look pointless compared to Google's alternatives.I'm still a little annoyed by the amount of Microsoft bloatware on these devices, but disabling or removing them is pretty easy.
Battery life doesn't compare to Chinese competitors
Samsung hasn't changed the battery size of its Ultra models in six years, so the S26 Ultra gets the same 5,000mAh battery as the S20 Ultra, which isn't great for 2026. Samsung has largely been left behind in this area, as Chinese brands have packed more space into their phones and used silicon technology.
While the S26 Ultra will last a day on average, with heavy enough use you'll have to plug the phone in before the end of the night.This is not the case with the Vivo X300 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Ultra or Find X9 Pro, and using the S26 Ultra after everyday driving with Chinese phones seems like a clear downgrade.
Another annoyance is the Qi-2 integration.While the phone supports Qi 2, it doesn't have built-in magnets, so you'll need to use a case if you want to use the S26 Ultra with a Qi 2 charger.Since Google successfully integrated Qi 2 into its Pixel 10 lineup, I thought Samsung would follow suit, but that hasn't happened yet.While this hasn't been a problem in previous years, I've started using a Qi 2 charger on my desk simply for convenience, and it's frustrating to have to use a case to use this technology.
Thankfully, Samsung has made some welcome tweaks to simple charging, with the phone going up to 60W over the USB PD protocol.Using a standard 100W USB PD charger, I was able to fully charge the S26 Ultra in just 46 minutes, a much better time than its predecessor.
You get meaningful AI features
With Galaxy AI, Samsung has one of the most powerful AI-powered utilities of any manufacturer.Whether you want to translate conversations in real time, create summaries, get real-time translations while traveling, edit photos and videos with AI, or use generative functions to create sketches, there are enough features on the S26 Ultra to meet your every need.
That said, if you don't want to use any of the AI features, you don't have to, and I like how Samsung has set up Galaxy AI in general.That's where you need it, but you're not constantly bombarded with push notifications to use AI in every app, and that's nice to see.
I understand that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is not for me;it's not enough for a 2026 flagship, and after using the Find X9 Pro, Vivo X300 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Ultra in the last six months, the S26 Ultra seems like nothing.While I won't deny that it's a good phone, it doesn't have the Vivo X300 Pro's impressive camera or multi-day battery life.Find X9 Pro.
But I know that because I have used all the other Chinese methods;Samsung isn't opposing the Galaxy S26 Ultra to those phones, but is instead aiming for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL - which is why Samsung is able to update regularly.The bottom line is that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a good choice if you're using an older Samsung phone, but it might not be as exciting as you think.
Harish Jonnalagadda is a senior editor at Android Central, overseeing mobile coverage.In his current role, he leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products and AV equipment.He has been testing phones for over a decade and has extensive experience in the mobile hardware and global semiconductor industry.Connect with him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
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