The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the company‘s top‑of‑the‑line phone for 2026. It has a 6.9‑inch AMOLED display, a 200‑megapixel main camera, a 5,000 mAh battery and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The standout new hardware feature is Privacy Display, which prevents someone next to you from seeing what is on your screen without a blackout screen protector. The phone is slimmer (7.9mm) and lighter (214 grams) than last year‘s model, with an aluminum frame instead of titanium. It supports 60W wired charging (fastest in CNET‘s test) and 25W wireless charging. The cameras are similar to the S25 Ultra but add Horizontal Lock for gimbal‑like video stabilization, Document Scan for cleaning up receipts and Audio Eraser for third‑party videos. The S Pen is still included. The phone starts at 1,300 USD for 256GB of storage. CNET gave it a score of 9.3 out of 10 and a CNET Editors‘ Choice Award. This review covers the design, Privacy Display, camera features, battery life, performance and how it compares to the S25 Ultra and the base S26 models.

Design: Slimmer, Lighter And Privacy Display

The S26 Ultra is 7.9mm thick (down from 8.2mm) and weighs 214 grams (down from 218 grams). Samsung swapped the titanium frame for aluminum to achieve the weight reduction while maintaining durability. The phone comes in Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White and online‑exclusive Silver Shadow and Pink Gold.

Privacy Display
Privacy Display is the most innovative hardware feature. When enabled, the screen becomes unreadable from side angles. You can toggle it on for everything, for specific apps (banking, email) or only for incoming notifications. When Privacy Display is active, the screen is slightly less vivid when viewed head‑on, but the trade‑off is minimal. The feature works in both portrait and landscape orientations.

S Pen
The S Pen is still included. It is thinner than last year‘s model, and the bottom is slanted on one side to align with the phone‘s curvature. You must insert it the correct way; otherwise, it will protrude slightly.

Display And Durability

The 6.9‑inch AMOLED display has a resolution of 3120 by 1440 pixels and a 1‑120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It uses Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. The reviewer went caseless for two weeks without scratches, but a screen protector is still recommended for a 1,300 USD phone.

Camera: 200MP Main, Horizontal Lock And AI Features

The camera hardware is unchanged from the S25 Ultra:

• 200MP wide‑angle (main)
• 50MP ultrawide‑angle
• 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
• 50MP telephoto (5x optical zoom)
• 12MP selfie camera

Larger apertures on the wide‑angle and telephoto lenses allow more light capture for better low‑light photos.

Horizontal Lock (video stabilization)
Horizontal Lock is the standout new camera feature. When enabled, you can tilt the phone as much as you want, and the horizon stays level. Even rotating the phone 360 degrees produces mostly even footage. This provides gimbal‑like stabilization for walking videos.

Document Scan
When you take a photo of a document or receipt, Document Scan removes shadows and creases and exports a cleaner image as a PDF. It removes obstructive fingers but may give them a washed‑out appearance. The feature is good for professional‑looking scans of receipts or paperwork.

AI camera features

• Audio Eraser now works on third‑party videos (YouTube, Instagram). You can reduce background noise in any video, not just ones you recorded.
• Photo Assist lets you type prompts in the Gallery to alter images (change backgrounds, fill in missing parts of an image, change clothing).
• Screenshots are automatically grouped into eight categories, including boarding passes, chats and QR codes, making them easier to find.

Battery Life And Charging

The S26 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery. In CNET‘s testing:

• The phone lasted over 1.5 days on a single charge with typical use (YouTube, texting, Instagram).
• In a 45‑minute endurance test, the battery went from 100% to 95% (S25 Ultra reached 92%, iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 99%).
• In a 3‑hour streaming test (YouTube, full brightness), the battery dropped from 100% to 87% (S25 Ultra reached 81%, iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 91%).

Charging speeds

• 60W wired charging: 0% to 76% in 30 minutes, full charge in 52 minutes. This earned a CNET Lab Award for fastest wired charging.
• 25W wireless charging: 0% to 39% in 30 minutes.

The phone does not have embedded magnets for Qi2 magnetic charging. You need a compatible case to use magnetic accessories. Samsung says the trade‑off was necessary to keep the phone slim and light.

Performance And AI Features

The S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. Samsung redesigned the vapor chamber to sustain high performance while reducing thickness. Thermal interface material along the sides of the processor allows for more efficient heat dissipation, so the phone should not overheat or lag during gaming or streaming.

AI features

• Now Nudge: Surfaces real‑time suggestions based on what is on your screen. For example, if someone texts you asking for photos from Barcelona, a prompt will lead you to all photos from that location. If they ask if you are free for dinner, a link to your calendar appears. The feature was inconsistent during testing and did not work on third‑party apps like WhatsApp.
• Circle to Search: Can now look up multiple objects on the screen at once. Find the Look links out to each piece of an ensemble (outfit, accessories) when you circle a person.
• Audio Eraser on third‑party videos: Works on YouTube and Instagram videos, not just your own recordings.
• The phone runs Android 16 with One UI 8.5 out of the box, with 7 years of software and security updates.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Vs S25 Ultra Vs S26 Vs S26 Plus

Aspect	S26 Ultra	S25 Ultra	S26	S26 Plus
Display Size	6.9 inches	6.8 inches	6.3 inches	6.7 inches
Thickness	7.9mm	8.2mm	7.2mm	7.3mm
Weight	214g	218g	167g	190g
Frame Material	Aluminum	Titanium	Aluminum	Aluminum
Privacy Display	Yes	No	No	No
Main Camera	200MP	200MP	50MP	50MP
Telephoto	10MP (3x), 50MP (5x)	10MP (3x), 50MP (5x)	10MP (3x)	10MP (3x)
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,300 mAh	4,900 mAh
Wired Charging	60W	45W	25W	45W
Wireless Charging	25W	15W	15W	20W
S Pen	Yes	Yes	No	No
Starting Price	1,300 USD	1,300 USD	900 USD	1,100 USD

The S26 Ultra shares the same camera hardware as the S25 Ultra but adds Horizontal Lock, Document Scan and Audio Eraser on third‑party videos. The base S26 and S26 Plus have 50MP main cameras and lack the S Pen and Privacy Display.

Pros And Cons Of The Galaxy S26 Ultra

Pros

• Privacy Display is a unique hardware feature that blocks side viewing without a screen protector.
• Horizontal Lock provides gimbal‑like video stabilization even when the phone is tilted 360 degrees.
• 60W wired charging is the fastest CNET has tested (0‑76% in 30 minutes).
• The 5,000 mAh battery lasts over 1.5 days on a single charge.
• The phone is slimmer (7.9mm) and lighter (214g) than the S25 Ultra.
• Audio Eraser now works on third‑party videos (YouTube, Instagram).
• Document Scan cleans up receipts and documents for professional exports.
• Screenshots are automatically categorized (boarding passes, chats, QR codes).
• The S Pen is still included.
• 7 years of software and security updates.

Cons

• Privacy Display slightly mutes screen vividness when enabled.
• No embedded magnets for Qi2 wireless charging (requires a compatible case).
• Many of the same camera specs as the S25 Ultra (200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP/50MP telephoto).
• Now Nudge AI feature is inconsistent and does not work on third‑party apps like WhatsApp.
• No expandable storage (no microSD card slot).
• No headphone jack.
• The phone is still large for users who prefer smaller devices.
• The S Pen is thinner and must be inserted correctly or it will protrude.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The S26 Ultra starts at 1,300 USD for 256GB of storage. Higher storage options (512GB, 1TB) cost more.

Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra have a headphone jack?
No. The S26 Ultra, like most modern flagship phones, does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. You must use USB‑C headphones or Bluetooth earbuds.