Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Just Got Better… And Worse. Here's How
The "Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Just Got Better… And Worse. Here's How" clip is basically a love–hate letter to Samsung's upcoming flagship. On the positive side, the phone looks like it's becoming easier to hold, with smarter screens and enhanced camera gimmicks. On the other hand, Samsung seems to be pulling the classic “two steps forward, one step back.” If you’ve ever bought something fancy and then realized the company cut corners in weird places, camera and all that. Let’s get into it.
Video Summary
- Design tweaks: Say goodbye to the S25 Ultra's harsh edges that could likely serve as a cheese cutter. The S26 Ultra boasts gentler edges and softer corners, making it easier to hold. Not everyone will adore the appearance, but it appears rather elegant to me.
- Processor: It has a very nice fresh chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. It's powerful, yes, in terms of snappy performance. Most laptops even use this as their processors these days.
- Display upgrades: For some clever things like "Flex Magic Pixel," which adjusts viewing angles without anyone noticing so the nosy person behind you on the bus can't view your bank details. And COE display technology translates to blacks as deep as coal, better outdoor readability, and sunny screens without draining the battery. Really, your Netflix binge will remain crisp even in Nigerian sun or iPhone flashlight level of brightness. (cool!)
- Physical upgrades: Samsung put magnets inside the phone. Translation: no more need for a special case for accessories. And despite the magnets, the phone is actually lighter by one gram. One gram doesn't sound like much, The phone is thinner now, too. The tradeoff? The camera bump roughly doubled in size.
- Lens improvements: The main and 5× telephoto lenses are receiving wider apertures. Translated, it means better photos, especially at night. Less shaky party selfies at 11 p.m. without asking someone to turn on their flashlight or ring light.
- Lens downer: Now here's where things get weird.The 3× telephoto lens was promised an improvement. Rather than use a 12 MP sensor, Samsung decided to use it but only turn on 10 MP of it. That's the same as buying a 12-slice pizza and having someone say you can only eat 10 slices. And as icing on the cake, it's actually a step behind last year's phone. While iPhones just keep boasting about their camera consistency, no surprise iPhone users never let us hear word. (new iPhone release each year)
- Charging: We all hoped Samsung would finally catch up on faster charging, but apparently we're stuck at 45W. Even Samsung's entry-level phones are leaving this behind, and the Pro and Edge versions are limping with just 25W. iPhones, on the other hand, which once used to be slowpokes, are already at 40W.
My Thoughts
This is just another Samsung story: they manage to get some things perfect and then you're scratching your head over the things that they absolutely would have done right. I love the comfort enhancements and the more clever display features, but not having 3× zoom built in is just puzzling. And don't even ask me about charging speeds. At this point, it's like Samsung is playing a game: "How sparse can we get with these features while still charging Ultra prices?"
Final Thoughts
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is already well on its way to being equal parts exciting and maddening. If fabulous low-light photos, clean design, and comfort are your thing, you'll probably be happy. But if you were expecting everything to improve all at once, be warned: there will be disappointments. The truth? You will be impressed on the surface with this phone, but behind the surface, occasionally you have the feeling that Samsung is holding back.
The question is: are you okay with "just enough," or do you want "Ultra" to truly be Ultra?
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