A Look at the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has sparked a lot of controversy since its release. Some say it’s a step backward, while others think Samsung has refined what already worked well. Having used the device for over a week, here's an in-depth review of its performance, features, and improvements. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
- Initial Impressions: Is the Phone Overheating?
- Display: What’s New with the Screen?
- Battery Life: How Long Does It Last?
- Performance: How Does the S26 Ultra Perform in Daily Use?
- Camera: Is the Camera Upgrade Worth It?
- AI Features and S Pen Improvements
- Durability: How Does the S26 Ultra Hold Up Over Time?
- Final Verdict: Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra Worth It?
Initial Impressions: Is the Phone Overheating?
In the first few days of use, I noticed that the phone occasionally heated up during basic activities like charging or messaging. This can be alarming for first-time users, but it's normal for many Samsung phones in the initial stages. The device is doing a lot of background tasks such as indexing data, syncing files, and optimizing apps. Once this process completes after a few days, the phone settles down and runs much more efficiently.
What to Expect:
Temporary Heating: During initial setup, the device may get warm.
Battery Management: Samsung's adaptive battery feature learns your usage pattern and optimizes energy consumption, eliminating this issue within 5 days.
Display: What’s New with the Screen?
The display of the S26 Ultra has been one of the most debated aspects of the phone. Let’s break it down:
Key Features of the Display:
Privacy Mode: This is one of my favorite features. The phone hides parts of the screen from side angles, providing privacy when using your device in public or even in bed without disturbing others.
Resolution & Brightness: The resolution remains excellent at Quad HD, though the brightness drops by about 10% when privacy mode is activated. The difference isn’t noticeable unless you're extremely close to the screen.
Display Quality: The screen still delivers over 1 billion colors, simulating 10-bit color for smoother gradients and fewer color bands.
Concerns About the Display:
Reflection Issues: The screen is slightly more reflective than its predecessor. This is noticeable only in certain lighting conditions.
Viewing Angles: Some users report slightly worse viewing angles when the privacy feature is off, but it’s only a minor issue.
Battery Life: How Long Does It Last?
With a 5000 mAh battery, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s battery life has exceeded expectations.
Battery Performance:
Heavy Usage: The phone easily lasts a full day with heavy usage, including music streaming and social media browsing.
Improved Endurance: Even with the same battery capacity, the S26 Ultra performs better than the S25 Ultra, showing improvements in power efficiency.
Charging Speed: While the phone now supports faster charging speeds (up to 45W), it doesn’t fully utilize the 65W charger you might have bought. Still, it charges from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes, which is significantly faster than its predecessor.
Performance: How Does the S26 Ultra Perform in Daily Use?
Samsung’s flagship phones have always been fast, and the S26 Ultra is no exception. The Snapdragon chipset ensures smooth performance across all tasks, from gaming to multitasking.
Key Performance Highlights:
Lag-Free Multitasking: Apps open instantly, and the device runs seamlessly even with multiple apps open.
Stable Performance: There’s minimal slowdown even with extensive app usage, making it a reliable daily driver.
Minor Performance Gains: Compared to the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra performs similarly, but with enhanced stability and efficiency.
Camera: Is the Camera Upgrade Worth It?
The camera system on the Galaxy S26 Ultra has seen some notable changes.
What’s New with the Camera:
Larger Aperture Sizes: This allows for better natural depth of field without relying on artificial blur.
24 MP Mode: A new mode allows for better details and more manageable file sizes than the previous 12 MP and 200 MP settings.
5x Telephoto: Samsung has replaced the periscope lens with Alo technology, making the camera module smaller. However, the focus distance is longer, meaning it’s harder to shoot close-up subjects with the 5x lens.
Camera Features:
Improved Low-Light Performance: Thanks to the new apertures, the camera performs better in low-light conditions.
Video Recording: The S26 Ultra supports APV codec for professional-grade video recording, similar to Apple's ProRes. Additionally, it includes a horizon lock feature, ensuring your video footage remains stable even with phone movements.
AI Features and S Pen Improvements
The Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with new AI features designed to make your experience smoother.
AI Enhancements:
Photo Editing with Text Prompts: Edit photos directly using text commands, which provides a surprising level of detail.
Audio Eraser: Works wonders in isolating voices and removing background noise, even in YouTube videos.
Notch & Call Screening: AI also suggests actions based on your activity and helps with spam calls.
S Pen Improvements:
The S Pen has been made slightly slimmer, and it feels more natural to use. Although the phone now features a larger camera bump, making the phone slightly unstable on flat surfaces, writing remains accurate.
Durability: How Does the S26 Ultra Hold Up Over Time?
Samsung’s decision to switch back to aluminum from titanium for the frame has raised some concerns about durability. However, early drop tests show that the phone still holds up well.
Long-Term Wear:
Aluminum Frame: Although it’s a downgrade in terms of materials, the phone holds up well in initial tests.
Comfort: The phone feels comfortable in hand due to its rounded corners, and the softened edges make it easier to grip.
Final Verdict: Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra Worth It?
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After a week of use, my verdict is simple: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it refined everything that already worked well.
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- Great battery life
- Stunning camera system
- AI features that genuinely enhance the user experience
Cons:
- Minor downgrade in materials (titanium to aluminum)
- Slightly reflective display
- Longer focus distance for 5x telephoto
If you're looking for a reliable flagship phone that continues to deliver excellent performance and great camera capabilities, the S26 Ultra is worth considering.
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