Smartphones & Tablets, News and Views

I Spent Two Weeks With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Here’s the Honest Truth

Okay, let me be real with you — when Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 Ultra back in February, I was both excited and a little skeptical. After the S25 Ultra barely moved the needle last year, I wondered if Samsung was going to play it safe again. Spoiler: kind of. But after two weeks of daily use, I’m genuinely impressed by a few things that I didn’t expect to care about — especially that Privacy Display. Let me walk you through everything you need to know.

Design — Familiar, Slightly Frustrating, But Still Premium

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra looks almost identical to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The corners are slightly more rounded this year, and all the rear camera lenses now sit inside a single shared bump rather than each protruding independently. Personally, I prefer the individual lens look of last year, but this is a minor gripe.

The bigger conversation is around the material. After two generations with a titanium frame, Samsung has returned to aluminum for 2026. The S26 Ultra measures 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9 mm and weighs 214 grams, slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

Honestly, in hand, it still feels premium — but if you loved the titanium feel of the S24 or S25 Ultra, this might sting a little. On the positive side, it’s more comfortable to hold for long sessions, which matters if you’re like me and spend way too much time scrolling.

Specifics

Display — The Privacy Display is a Game Changer

I didn’t think I’d care about the Privacy Display this much. But wow — it actually works really well in real life situations.

With the world’s first built-in Privacy Display on mobile, you decide what to hide: your whole screen, specific apps, or incoming notifications and passwords. When enabled, the screen narrows its viewing angle so anyone looking from the side sees little more than a dark screen. I tested this on the MRT and in coffee shops, and it genuinely blocked side-angle viewing. It’s not 100% foolproof if someone is directly behind you, but like a physical privacy screen protector, when you view the display at an angle, everything fades to a dull black.

Beyond that, the display itself is a joy. It’s a 6.9-inch 3,120 × 1,440 pixel AMOLED display at 120Hz with 2,500 nits of peak brightness and HDR10+ support. Colors are punchy and accurate, and outdoor visibility in the Philippine summer heat? Excellent.

Performance — Absolute Monster

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features Qualcomm’s latest top-tier chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, specifically designed for enhanced AI performance. I threw everything at this phone — multitasking between heavy apps, gaming, video editing, even running multiple Galaxy AI features simultaneously. Not a hiccup. This chip is seriously fast and the phone stays impressively cool, thanks to a redesigned Vapor Chamber that spreads heat more evenly within the device for 21% greater thermal performance.

Score Breakdown

Performance

96%

Display

94%

Camera

88%

Battery

82%

Design

80%

Value

76%

Galaxy AI

90%

Overall Score:

87%

Camera — Good, But Not Revolutionary

Here’s where honest opinions matter. The cameras are excellent, but they’re not a massive leap. Samsung is bringing upgrades in the camera department, though not in megapixel count. The company now offers a wider aperture for its main camera, which allows for the sensor to collect 47% more light for brighter photos even in low-light conditions.

The rear camera array includes a 200 MP main camera, 50 MP ultrawide, 10 MP 3x telephoto, and a 50 MP 5x periscope telephoto.

Night shots are noticeably improved over last year. Video capturing is also getting improved with a Super Steady video feature, and the selfie camera now offers improved hair textures and skin tones that look more realistic in any lighting condition.

The AI camera tools though? That’s where things get fun. Photo Assist can now add objects to images, not just remove them. You can completely transform a scene, including from a day scene to a night scene. Creative Studio is a new platform that accepts all sorts of prompts — images, sketches, text — to create stickers, wallpaper, and invitations.

Galaxy AI Features — The Real Star of the Show

Photo Assist with Galaxy AI enhances any shot in seconds. Add objects, restore details, reframe your photo or apply new styles — everything blends naturally. I used it to add a sunset behind a flat daytime shot, and the result looked genuinely convincing.

Now Nudge with Galaxy AI is your behind-the-scenes assistant — when you need to reply to a text, search for info, or fill out an online form, Now Nudge uses your screen cues to pull up information saved on your phone right when you need it. It’s the kind of feature that sounds gimmicky until it saves you five minutes at the exact moment you needed it.

Pros

World's first built-in Privacy Display.
Fastest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.
47% brighter main camera aperture.
Upgraded 60W Super Fast Charging 3.0.
Galaxy AI features are genuinely useful.
Slimmer & lighter than S25 Ultra.
7 years of OS & security update.
S Pen still included at no extra cost.

Cons

Aluminum frame — titanium feels more premium.
Camera hardware barely changed vs S25 Ultra.
S Pen lost Bluetooth again this year.
Design nearly identical to last gen.
No price drop from S25 Ultra starting price.
Privacy Display not foolproof over-shoulder.
Galaxy AI features need internet + Samsung account.

Battery & Charging

The S26 Ultra packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 60W fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

The upgrade to 60W (from 45W on the S25 Ultra) is genuinely noticeable — I went from 0 to 70% in about 35 minutes. All-day battery life is solid for my use, though heavy gaming and AI features will drain it faster.

What's Next? Predicting the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra & Beyond

Samsung’s playing the long game, and based on what’s already leaking, the S27 Ultra could be the phone the S26 should’ve been.

According to leaks, the main, ultra-wide, and front cameras may all be upgraded on the S27 Ultra. The telephoto camera may stay the same, while the periscope camera is also said to be getting an upgrade with a potentially wider lens aperture.

On the sensor front, Samsung is reportedly working on a new main camera sensor called the ISOCELL HPA — a 200 MP sensor featuring LOFIC technology designed to capture a wider dynamic range than normal sensors. It’s also said to be larger at 1/1.12 inches, meaning more space for the pixels and the potential to capture more light.

Security is also getting a major upgrade. A new authentication option tentatively named “Polar ID” is in the works for the S27 Ultra. It would work like Apple’s Face ID but without requiring a larger display cutout, and it should also work flawlessly in the dark thanks to a special sensor.

Battery-wise, there’s an indication that Samsung may move to a 5,500 mAh battery with the Galaxy S27 Ultra, a positive move compared to the 5,000 mAh found in the S26 Ultra.

On connectivity, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to feature the Qualcomm X105 modem with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, delivering peak download speeds of 14.8 Gbps, 30% improved energy efficiency, and satellite communication for reliable connectivity in remote areas.

My prediction? The S27 Ultra will be the hardware refresh Samsung fans have been waiting for, while the S26 Ultra was really about perfecting the software and AI experience. If you’re already on an S25 Ultra, wait. If you’re on anything older — the S26 Ultra is a seriously capable daily driver.

To Buy If:

To Skip If:

Listen

Look, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t the revolutionary leap some people were hoping for. But it’s an incredibly well-rounded phone that does almost everything right. The Privacy Display alone is worth talking about — it’s a genuinely useful real-world feature that I now miss when I pick up other devices. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 keeps it future-proof for years, and Galaxy AI continues to grow into something that actually integrates into your daily routine in meaningful ways.

If you’re due for an upgrade and can stretch to ₱86,990 ($1,299.99), this is easily one of the best phones you can buy in 2026. And if you’re waiting for the S27 Ultra? That might just be the one that finally breaks the mold. Either way, Samsung isn’t slowing down — and neither should your phone.