The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung's new flagship powerhouse for 2026, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 delivering incredible performance and an upgraded 200MP camera system. Is it worth upgrading from the S25 Ultra? Let's find out.
📱 Design & Display
Samsung follows an evolutionary design approach. The S26 Ultra retains its flat geometry with titanium frame but is now slightly thinner at 7.6mm (down from 8.2mm). The 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display features a 40% improved anti-reflective coating, reaching 3,000 nits peak brightness — the brightest smartphone display to date.
Resolution remains QHD+ (3120 x 1440) but the refresh rate jumps to 1-144Hz LTPO. Gorilla Armor 2 replaces the original Gorilla Armor, offering 50% better scratch resistance.
⚡ Performance & Snapdragon 8 Elite 2
The new Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (3nm TSMC) marks a massive leap. The prime core reaches 4.74 GHz while the Adreno 840 GPU delivers 35% higher graphics performance. AnTuTu scores exceed 2,800,000 points — a figure unthinkable just two years ago.
Samsung includes 16GB LPDDR5X RAM across all variants (starting from 256GB storage), benefiting on-device Galaxy AI features. Thermal management improves with a 40% larger vapor chamber, maintaining consistent performance even during extended gaming sessions.
📸 Camera System
The camera system receives significant upgrades:
- 200MP main (wide): New Samsung HP3+ sensor with improved pixel binning to 12.5MP plus a new 24MP mode
- 50MP telephoto (3x): Upgraded from the S25 Ultra's 10MP — a massive portrait zoom improvement
- 50MP periscope (5x): Enhanced OIS and night mode
- 12MP ultrawide: Now with autofocus, ideal for macro photography
The standout innovation is ProVisual Engine 2.0 powered by Galaxy AI. Night shots are stunning — AI analyzes scenes in real time, adjusting exposure, white balance, and noise reduction to produce DSLR-quality results.
Video: For the first time on a Samsung, you can shoot 8K/30fps video in 24MP mode, while AI Video Stabilization eliminates shake even while running.
🤖 Galaxy AI & One UI 8
One UI 8 based on Android 16 brings the most advanced AI features yet. Highlights include Sketch to Image 2.0, AI Photo Ambient Wallpaper that changes based on time and location, and Circle to Search+ with direct purchase capability right within search results.
Samsung promises 7 years of OS updates and 7 years of security updates, making the S26 Ultra a long-term investment.
🔋 Battery & Charging
Battery capacity increases to 5,500mAh (from 5,000mAh) thanks to the more efficient chip architecture. In our testing, the S26 Ultra consistently delivers 7-8 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage. The 65W charging (up from 45W) fills the battery in approximately 50 minutes — a welcome upgrade.
💰 Price & Verdict
In Europe, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at €1,449 (256GB), reaching €1,829 for the 1TB variant. Pricing matches the S25 Ultra's launch price despite the upgrades — a positive move.
If you own an S25 Ultra, the upgrade isn't strictly necessary, though the camera and battery improvements justify the switch. Coming from an S24 Ultra or older, the S26 Ultra is simply the best Android experience money can buy today.
Sources: NotebookCheck, Samsung Official
