Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Marques Brownlee praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s innovative Privacy Display and strong overall performance, highlighting its clever trade-offs like improved AI features and camera upgrades. However, he notes compromises in display resolution, design quirks, and the lack of cutting-edge battery tech, concluding it’s a solid but pricey flagship with some missed opportunities.

GSMArena Official praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s innovative Privacy Display and improved battery life with faster 60W charging, highlighting its powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. While camera upgrades are modest and thermal throttling noted, the review finds the phone a worthwhile, slimmer successor with useful AI features and solid overall performance.

Mrwhosetheboss delivers a measured yet engaged review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, praising its balanced design, impressive battery life, and world-first Privacy Display. He highlights the phone’s extensive AI features as innovative but often underused, while critiquing the lack of major camera and hardware upgrades compared to competitors.

Aaron from Zollotech praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for its refined design, bright QHD+ display with effective Privacy Display modes, smooth 120Hz performance, and efficient battery life. He highlights useful AI camera features like generative AI editing and horizontal video lock but notes the camera sensors lag behind top competitors. Overall, he finds it a solid, fast, and fluid flagship, especially for users upgrading from older models.

Android Authority praises the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s improved low-light cameras, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and new video features like log recording, but views upgrades over the S23 Ultra as modest. Battery life and selfie camera remain unchanged, and the Privacy Display feels gimmicky. Overall, it’s a solid but incremental update.

Hayls World praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s standout features like the innovative Privacy Display, impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and creative tools such as horizontal lock video stabilization and AI-powered photo editing. However, she notes disappointments with the unchanged 5,000mAh battery, lack of magnetic wireless charging, and modest selfie camera upgrades.

Created by Ella praises the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s impressive new privacy display and AI features, highlighting thoughtful software integrations and improved camera lenses for low-light shots. She notes some compromises, like dimmer viewing angles, a less distinctive design, and a weaker 3x telephoto camera, but appreciates the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and enhanced cooling for sustained performance.

In Depth Tech Reviews praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for its significantly improved camera hardware and AI-driven image processing, innovative privacy display, and powerful new video features like on-device LUT editing and APV codec support. The reviewer highlights thoughtful UI refinements and productivity tools, while noting minor trade-offs in display viewing angles and some feature quirks.

Flossy Carter praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for its snappy Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, excellent biometrics, innovative privacy display, and smooth multitasking. He highlights the horizon lock video feature and rich AI tools but criticizes the smaller battery, lack of MagSafe, and a problematic new S Pen design. Despite some build and camera critiques, he enthusiastically recommends upgrading for the unique privacy display and overall performance.

MinimalisTech praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s stunning 6.9-inch display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, and impressively bright 200MP f/1.4 camera, especially for low-light and video work. While initially wary of its large size and bloatware, the reviewer grew to appreciate its smooth performance, fast 60W charging, and practical S Pen, though they find some AI features gimmicky and miss stronger magnets for accessories.

Thao Huynh praises the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s refined software, improved video features like Horizon Lock stabilization, and the innovative Privacy Display, but notes trade-offs such as the switch from titanium to aluminum, a thinner less ergonomic S Pen, and modest battery upgrades. Overall, it’s a solid flagship with few bold leaps.

Joshua Vergara praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for its thoughtful refinements like the innovative Privacy Display and advanced APV video codec, which enhance real-world privacy and professional video capture. While he notes some AI features feel underused and misses certain S Pen functions, he finds the phone excels in quality improvements that benefit specific users.

TechTalkTV praises the Galaxy S26 Ultra for refining an already strong flagship formula with excellent performance, improved battery life, enhanced speakers, and advanced AI-driven camera features like larger apertures and professional video tools. While noting trade-offs such as the switch to aluminum, a more reflective display, and longer 5x telephoto focus, the reviewer finds many online criticisms exaggerated after real-world use.

SuperSaf praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s innovative Privacy Display and powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, highlighting excellent performance and versatile AI features. While impressed by the camera improvements and thermal management, he notes communication issues about the display’s bit depth, modest battery life, and subtle design changes, offering a balanced yet optimistic view.

TechOdyssey praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as the most complete flagship of 2026, highlighting its excellent battery life, fast 60W charging, improved camera shutter speed, and effective thermal management. While noting minor heating during extended 4K video and some wireless charging quirks, the reviewer appreciates the privacy display and overall performance.

David A. Velez praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for tangible upgrades over the S25 Ultra, including improved video stabilization, better battery life thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, faster 60W charging, and a refined display with enhanced color gradients and privacy mode. He notes the aluminum frame is less durable than titanium but appreciates the lighter, thinner design. While differences aren’t revolutionary, the S26 Ultra’s camera improvements, AI features, and overall smoother experience make it a compelling upgrade for power users.

Andrew Clare praises the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for its refined design, vibrant 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, impressive battery life, and standout camera features like built-in log video recording and advanced zoom. While noting minor drawbacks such as the lack of MagSafe and a less comfortable feel than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, he highlights the device’s AI-powered Gemini assistant and fast charging as compelling reasons for iPhone users to consider switching.

Milesabovetech highlights the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s impressive Expert Raw camera app, especially the Virtual Reflector feature that lets users virtually relight photos with professional-quality lighting from any angle. This unique on-device tool enhances photo editing without extra equipment, showcasing Samsung’s innovation in mobile photography. Overall, milesabovetech conveys genuine enthusiasm for the S26 Ultra’s advanced camera capabilities, recommending it for users who value creative control and high-quality imaging. The review’s tone is excited and positive, emphasizing standout features without mentioning drawbacks, suggesting strong confidence in the phone’s photographic strengths.

RjeyTech highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s subtle yet impactful design refinements, praising its more comfortable rounded edges that eliminate the S24 Ultra’s palm discomfort. He notes the switch to armor aluminum makes the phone lighter and better at heat dissipation, while the striking cobalt violet color and improved haptics add to its premium feel. Overall, RjeyTech finds the S26 Ultra a meaningful upgrade in ergonomics and aesthetics, delivering a refined user experience without drastic changes. He recommends it especially for those who valued comfort and style, presenting it as a polished evolution rather than a complete overhaul.

Saif | Tech + Lifestyle highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s sleek, lightweight design and impressive battery life, noting 27% remaining after 5 hours of screen time with heavy outdoor use and hotspotting. However, he raises concerns about the privacy display’s visible resolution loss when tilted and questions the larger hole punch size. Overall, Saif finds the S26 Ultra to be a “pretty good phone” with solid daily performance, though he remains cautiously optimistic pending a full review. His balanced take suggests it’s worth considering, especially for users valuing battery endurance and design, despite some display quirks.

Versus.com highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s standout privacy display and impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, praising its improved low-light camera apertures despite no sensor size upgrades. However, they criticize the downgrade from titanium to aluminum, the unchanged battery size after six years, and a smaller telephoto sensor, signaling mixed feelings. Overall, Versus.com views the S26 Ultra as a device with notable screen and speed innovations but largely incremental improvements elsewhere, leaving the upgrade appeal uncertain. They present a balanced take, suggesting it’s worth considering for some but not an unequivocal must-have.

Cedric Pham highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s standout privacy display, which smartly customizes notification visibility and password protection. He also praises the horizontal lock feature for stable video viewing, the vibrant 10-bit display, improved low-light cameras, and faster 60W charging. While intrigued by AI features, he remains cautiously optimistic pending further testing. Overall, Cedric finds the S26 Ultra a solid, thoughtfully designed flagship with meaningful upgrades, especially in privacy and media experience. Though he balances enthusiasm with a need for more AI trials, he recommends it as a strong Android daily driver alongside his iPhone.

แดนดิไลออนรีวิว highlights the recent OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, focusing on claims of improved screen brightness and color vibrancy. While some users expected a noticeable enhancement, the reviewer finds the display changes subtle—slightly brighter but largely unchanged in detail, reflecting a familiar viewing experience. Overall, the reviewer offers a cautiously positive take, encouraging users to update but tempering expectations about dramatic improvements. The recommendation is practical and measured, emphasizing that the update is worth installing but doesn’t transform the device’s display quality.

johnnyytech highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s standout privacy display feature, which effectively blocks side views of the screen, and praises its improved, more comfortable design compared to the S25 Ultra. They also note the larger camera apertures aimed at better low-light performance and appreciate the included Buds 4 Pro earbuds. Overall, johnnyytech is clearly impressed and excited about the S26 Ultra’s innovations and comfort upgrades, recommending it especially for users valuing privacy and camera improvements, while subtly acknowledging past model shortcomings without major criticism.

imparkerburton highlights the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s superior video quality compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, emphasizing its clearer, less overexposed footage. While acknowledging the S26 Ultra’s slight underexposure, Parker challenges common perceptions shaped by familiarity with iPhone videos, offering a fresh perspective on smartphone camera performance. Overall, Parker confidently recommends the Galaxy S26 Ultra for its more balanced and visually appealing video output, encouraging viewers to reconsider their biases toward iPhone footage. The review is enthusiastic yet fair, providing a nuanced comparison that favors Samsung’s latest flagship.

Rina | happydownloads highlights the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s fresh pink gold color, built-in S Pen, and useful new features like privacy screen mode and camera horizontal lock. She shares clear, practical insights on how these updates enhance everyday use without overstating their impact. Overall, she presents a balanced, mildly positive view, appreciating the thoughtful improvements while keeping enthusiasm measured and genuine.

Spen✌️ highlights the impressive photo quality of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, especially as seen at the Unpacked event where media pros captured stunning, professional-level shots using the phone. While primarily a video enthusiast, Spen is excited to explore the Expert and Pro camera settings to unlock its full potential. Overall, Spen✌️ expresses genuine enthusiasm for the S26 Ultra’s camera capabilities but admits to not yet mastering its advanced features. The review conveys a positive, curious tone with a clear intention to dive deeper, suggesting the phone is highly capable but may require some user effort to maximize its photographic power.