Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra arrives as an iterative yet undeniably polished flagship, packing top-tier hardware into a sleek 7.9 mm body. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy paired with 12 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and running Android 16 with One UI 8.5, it delivers fluid performance. Its expansive 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display stands out with a 120 Hz refresh rate and an innovative pixel-level Privacy Display, making it an enticing option for tech enthusiasts who prioritize screen real estate and everyday fluidity. Connectivity features like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 ensure it is thoroughly future-proofed.

Targeting power users and mobile photography fans, the device carries forward Samsung's ambitions in imaging with a versatile rear setup headlined by a familiar 200MP main sensor paired with an ultra-wide, a 3x telephoto, and a 5x telephoto camera. However, buyers looking for a revolutionary generational leap may find it a bit too familiar.

Evaluating the S26 Ultra reveals a device that excels as a powerful daily communicator but shows mixed results under deep photographic scrutiny. The camera system earns a respectable DXOMARK score of 157, benefiting from a brighter f/1.4 aperture on the main sensor, a wider f/2.9 aperture on the 5x telephoto, and dependable primary and ultra-wide performance. Video stabilization is effective, and the phone generally delivers wide dynamic range and accurate white balance. On the other hand, the hardware makes some perplexing compromises: the 3x telephoto relies on a weaker, smaller sensor than the previous model, and the 5x telephoto's minimum focusing distance has doubled to 52cm, severely hurting close-up macro versatility. Furthermore, low-light indoor portraits suffer from background noise and a loss of fine facial detail.

With a 5,000 mAh battery capacity and charging speeds remaining unchanged—missing native Qi2 magnets in the process—coupled with an expensive launch price, the S26 Ultra is best viewed as a solid refinement for upgraders coming from much older hardware, rather than a must-buy for recent Ultra owners.