Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Private and performant

Samsung is nothing if not consistent.

Just as it has for many years, the company is starting the year with a new generation of Galaxy S phones.

Rumors about remixing the lineup did not pan out, so there are still three versions of the phone—the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra .

It’s the Ultra, with its whopping $1,300 price tag, that makes up the largest chunk of Samsung flagship sales, even though you can get a perfectly serviceable smartphone for a third of the price.

The S26 Ultra serves a different market than a budget phone, though.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is big, powerful, and overflowing with features.

It can be a bit too much at times, particularly if you don’t care for mobile AI.

It’s expensive, but you get long support and just about everything you could want from a smartphone in 2026.

Still, with other smartphone makers scaling back amid skyrocketing component prices , the S26 Ultra may end up looking like a good value in hindsight.

Modest changes, but still in the lead
The Galaxy S26 Ultra may not be an exciting mobile revolution, but Samsung knows how to build a flagship smartphone.

The device looks and feels monolithic, with a sturdy metal frame sandwiched between premium glass on the front and back.

The screen is covered with Gorilla Armor 2, which incorporates ceramic for added strength and a surface that reduces reflections.

The back is Gorilla Glass Victus 2, with Corning’s highest impact and scratch resistance to date.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a very big phone.

Credit:
Ryan Whitwam The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a very big phone.

Credit:
Ryan Whitwam
This phone has Samsung’s most capable camera setup, and you won’t forget it.

The camera bump on the back rises about half a centimeter from the glass panel, making the phone extremely wobbly when lying on a table.

Most people put their phones in cases, so this isn’t a major usability issue.

Still, I prefer Google’s Pixel camera bar for stability.