Samsung has launched 3 new Galaxy S26 phones at this year’s first Galaxy Unpacked event:
- The S26
- The S26 Plus
- The high-end S26 Ultra
The S26 Ultra keeps up the company’s tradition of offering top features not found in other devices. This year, its prominent feature is the privacy display, which lets you control how visible your screen is to people nearby.
Aside from that, the S26 Ultra’s other improvements are marginal:
- Yes, it is now made out of aluminum, and the screen is a touch bigger.
- A 16 GB RAM option is available.
- The processor is improved.
- The charging speeds are faster.
The rest of the S26 Ultra’s features are similar to those of the S25 Ultra and the S24 Ultra. Even the price remains the same at $1,300.
Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra stacks up against the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra.
Design and Display
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s screen is a bit larger than those of the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra. The S24 Ultra and the S25 Ultra both have 6.8-inch AMOLED screens with 3120 x 1440 pixel resolution, while the S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with the same resolution. All three offer an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120.
The S26 Ultra’s most impressive feature is its pixel-level privacy display. When you turn it on, you can see the screen clearly from the front, but it’s hard or impossible to see from the side. You can choose which apps use this feature or set it to work only for notifications while leaving the rest of the screen visible.
The S26 Ultra uses Gorilla Glass Armor 2 for its screen, while the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra use the classic Gorilla Glass Armor. The newer version is supposed to be more resistant to scratches and drops.
The S26 Ultra is slightly bigger but also somewhat thinner than the earlier models, according to CNET senior reporter Abraar Al-Hiti. It feels thinner and lighter than previous Ultra models. Its dimensions are 6.4 by 7.3 by 0.31 inches, compared to 6.41 by 3.06 by 0.32 inches for the S25 Ultra and 6.4 by 3.11 by 0.34 inches for the S24 Ultra. The S26 Ultra also has an aluminum frame, unlike the titanium frames on the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra.
Battery, Processor, and RAM
All three Ultra models have a 5000 mAh battery, but their charging speeds are different.
- The S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra offer 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
- The S26 Ultra boosts this to 60W wired and 25W wireless charging, like the S25 Ultra.
- The S26 Ultra doesn’t have built-in magnets, but it can use magnetic charging accessories with a compatible case.
Each new smartphone comes with a faster and more efficient processor. The S24 Ultra uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The S25 Ultra has the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, and the S26 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
All three Ultra phones are available with 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB of storage. Only the S26 Ultra offers 16 GB of RAM, available on the 512 GB and 1 TB models. The S24 Ultra and the S24 Ultra both have 12 GB of RAM.
Now you can preorder the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB for $1,300 and get a $200 gift card. This means you save $400 and pay the same price as the 256GB version. Their phone was announced at Samsung Unpacked and will be released on March 11th, so this is a good opportunity to get a deal early.
After unpacking, many people have talked about the new privacy display. This feature lets you keep your screen private without needing a separate protector, which is helpful for people who commute often.
Our reviewer, Abraar Al-Heeti, tried out the Ultra and said: “With a slimmer, lighter build, the S26 Ultra comes across as less like a behemoth and more like a comfortable yet substantial large-screen phone.”
Source: This Galaxy S26 Ultra Deal Lets You Scroll in Peace and Saves You $400 on Preorder
