PHONES · REVIEW ROUNDUP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: what the reviews say
By S. Dahani and the RealDigitalTech editorial team
Samsung's $1,299 flagship adds a clever Privacy Display, faster charging and a slimmer body. Reviewers like it, but several call it a safe, familiar upgrade.
© Samsung
Quick Take
Key figures
Launch details
The Galaxy S26 Ultra went on sale in March 2026 as the top model of Samsung's Galaxy S26 range. In the US it costs $1,299 with 256 GB, $1,499 with 512 GB and $1,799 with 1 TB. It uses a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip tuned for Galaxy, a 6.9-inch 120 Hz screen, a 5,000 mAh battery, 60 W wired and 25 W wireless charging, and it still includes the S Pen. It weighs 214 g, according to GSMArena.
What reviewers agree on
- Privacy Display: all three outlets praise the new screen mode that blocks side views; Tom's Guide calls it "truly helpful and innovative".
- Charging: 60 W wired charging is a clear step up, with about 75–77 % in 30 minutes in tests by GSMArena and Tom's Guide.
- Design: the phone is thinner and lighter than before, but the overall look barely changes.
- Battery capacity: the cell is still 5,000 mAh, and Tom's Guide regrets the lack of a silicon-carbon battery.
- Missing extras: no Qi2 magnets, and only an IP68 rating when some rivals offer IP69.
Where opinions differ
| Topic | Favourable view | Reserved view |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Tom's Guide gives it an Editor's Choice and calls it smart, sleek and fast. | GSMArena finds it an "unexciting upgrade" that feels underwhelming for an Ultra. |
| Cameras | IT Pro sees a video powerhouse, possibly "the death of the gimbal". | GSMArena says the camera hardware lags behind rival flagships, with a smaller 3x sensor. |
| Battery life | GSMArena notes better endurance from the same cell; Tom's Guide measured 16 h 10 of web surfing. | GSMArena says capacity and battery density are still behind the curve. |
| Display | GSMArena calls the screen solid as always. | Tom's Guide finds it dimmer than the S25 Ultra, especially at an angle; GSMArena regrets the lack of high-frequency PWM dimming. |
Verdict
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a polished, well-balanced flagship, and the Privacy Display is a genuine new idea. It suits people who want the S Pen, strong video and Samsung's AI tools. Owners of an S25 Ultra have little reason to upgrade, and GSMArena notes the older model is still a solid choice. For less money, see our Galaxy S26 FE analysis; the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pixel 10 Pro XL are other rivals named by reviewers.
This article analyses reviews published by other outlets, in our own words. RealDigitalTech did not test the Galaxy S26 Ultra itself.
Sources
How this article was made: our editorial team selected and read the reviews listed above, compared their results and wrote this synthesis, with AI tools assisting the research and drafting. Every figure was checked against the sources, and the article was approved by the publication director. Our AI Disclosure · Our methodology · Report an error: editorial@realdigitaltech.com