The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra represents Samsung’s latest take on a premium Android smartphone. If you’re considering an upgrade, you have plenty to evaluate beyond its familiar Galaxy design.
From its built-in Privacy Display and upgraded cameras to new AI features and performance improvements, the S26 Ultra focuses on making everyday smartphone tasks more capable and convenient.
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra on Feb. 25, 2026, alongside the Galaxy S26 and S26+. The phone began shipping on March 11, 2026
The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 in the U.S., matching the previous-generation Galaxy S25 Ultra’s starting price. You can choose from 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage, while the 1TB configuration comes with 16GB of RAM compared with 12GB on the lower-storage models. The 1TB model costs $1,799.99 in the U.S.
One of the biggest changes to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is something you won’t find on most competing phones — a built-in Privacy Display.
The feature lets you restrict the visibility of your screen at a pixel level from people viewing it from the side. You can use it to hide the entire display or specific information, including notifications, PINs and passwords. Dubbed as the phone’s standout new feature, it is particularly for people who frequently use their phones in public places.
That could be useful when you’re checking private messages on public transportation, reviewing work information in a coffee shop or entering sensitive details while someone is nearby.
Samsung hasn’t completely redesigned the Ultra, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. TechRadar highlights the slimmer body as one of the phone’s physical improvements.
The camera area has also been redesigned, with the rear lenses integrated into a more cohesive camera island. The overall design remains recognizable as a Galaxy Ultra, but the changes give it a cleaner appearance.
Photography remains one of the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s biggest selling points. The phone uses a 200MP main camera alongside a 50MP ultrawide camera, a 50MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.
Samsung has also improved low-light photography. The main camera uses a wider aperture, while Nightography enhancements are designed to produce brighter images while retaining detail. For you, the advantage is flexibility. You can move between wide shots, portraits and distant subjects without relying entirely on digital cropping.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra gives you two tools for keeping handheld video smooth and level — Super Steady and Horizontal Lock. Super Steady helps reduce shaking while you’re moving, while Horizontal Lock uses real-time motion analysis to keep the horizon straight when you tilt or rotate the phone.
You can access both features from the Video mode toolbar, making them easy to use when you’re walking, hiking, cycling or recording action. You can also turn them off when you want the standard Video mode view.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a customized version of Qualcomm’s flagship processor. Its central processing unit (CPU) handles general tasks, its graphics processing unit (GPU) manages visuals and gaming, and its neural processing unit (NPU) is designed for AI workloads. Android Central reports a 19% CPU boost, 24% graphics improvement and 39% increase in NPU performance.
That can mean smoother gaming, faster multitasking and more responsive AI features. The stronger NPU is especially useful as Samsung adds more AI capabilities, helping the phone process certain AI tasks efficiently without relying entirely on cloud services.
AI is another major part of the Galaxy S26 Ultra experience. Samsung has expanded its AI tools to handle tasks such as photo editing, content creation and contextual assistance. Samsung reported that AI usage among Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 users in Southeast Asia and Oceania rose from 84% in August 2025 to 96% in June 2026, showing how quickly AI features are becoming part of the Galaxy experience.
One example is Creative Studio, which lets you create and modify images using text or voice instructions. The phone also introduces more proactive AI features designed to understand what you’re doing and suggest useful actions. You don’t have to use every AI feature, but they can reduce the number of steps involved in everyday tasks such as editing an image or finding information.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra keeps its built-in S Pen, giving you more precise control when writing, editing and navigating your phone. You can use the stylus with Circle to Search to select specific objects on your screen, while Screen Off Memo lets you pull out the S Pen and start writing a note without unlocking the phone.
The S Pen can also convert handwriting into typed text in text fields, including search boxes and web address bars. Its Air Command menu provides quick access to tools for note-taking, translation, screen writing and creative tasks. For you, that makes the S Pen useful for quick notes, precise selections and everyday productivity, not just drawing.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra retains a 5,000mAh battery while upgrading its wired charging capabilities. It supports 60W wired charging, allowing the phone to reach a substantial charge in a short period when paired with a compatible charger.
The larger charging upgrade can be especially useful during busy days when there isn’t much time to leave the phone plugged in. Wireless charging is also supported, giving users another convenient way to top up the battery throughout the day.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra builds on Samsung’s established Ultra formula with meaningful upgrades across its cameras, display, performance and AI features. Its built-in Privacy Display and S Pen also give it capabilities that stand out among premium Android phones.
If you want a flagship that can handle photography, gaming, productivity, creative work and AI-assisted tasks in one device, the S26 Ultra has plenty to offer. You may not use every feature, but its combination of powerful hardware and versatile tools gives you plenty of room to get more from the phone over time. For anyone upgrading from an older Galaxy model, the new features could make the transition worthwhile.
