Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review — testing the Android flagship of 2026

Last updated: April 2026 — by the Productvraag Editorial Team.

Verdict in short: 9.2 / 10

After two weeks of intensive use, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best Android phone we have compared in 2026. Camera, screen (3,000 nits peak), battery (5,500 mAh, ~1.5 days at average use), performance and ecosystem integration all sit at the very top. The device is not a revolution over the S25 Ultra, but each generation Samsung polishes parts until they cannot get better.

In summary: choose the S26 Ultra if you are upgrading from an S22 Ultra or older, switching from iOS, or want to extract the maximum from camera and S Pen. Skip it if you own an S25 Ultra.

Who is it for? Power users who want the maximum, with a large screen and S Pen use. Anyone able and willing to spend €1,449+ gets a device that will remain relevant for six to seven years thanks to Samsung's update promise (guaranteed through 2033).

Who is it not for? People who want a compact phone (233 g is heavy), gamers who rely on >50 W charging, or S25 Ultra owners.

View Galaxy S26 Ultra on Amazon

Test setup: how we compared

We compared one device (256 GB, Titanium Gray) for two weeks as the primary phone of two editors. Daily use consisted of:

• 4–6 hours screen-on time per day (social media, mail, navigation, photos)
• 30 minutes of gaming per day (Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9 on high settings)
• 50+ photos per day in mixed lighting conditions
• 2 full charge cycles per week (measured with an external USB-C wattmeter)

Comparison shots were taken right next to an iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro on identical locations, with manually locked exposure. Benchmarks via Geekbench 7 and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, averaged over five runs.

Design and build quality

The S26 Ultra refines the titanium frame Samsung introduced with the S24 Ultra. Corners are slightly rounder, edges slightly flatter. In the hand the device feels premium and — notably — less heavy than the 233 grams would suggest. The 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED is brighter than ever (3,000 nits peak) and remains perfectly readable even in full midday sun.

The S Pen lives in the side of the device as always. Bluetooth features (remote shutter for the camera, presentation clicker) work as before, and writing latency is down to ~10 ms — barely perceptible anymore.

Pros

• Titanium frame, premium feel
• 6.9-inch AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3,000 nits peak brightness
• IP68 dust and water resistant
• Integrated S Pen, ~10 ms latency

Cons

• 233 g is heavy for prolonged one-handed use
• Camera bump protrudes significantly; phone does not lie flat

Camera: the biggest leap since the S22 Ultra

The camera setup is the biggest change this year. Samsung redesigned the main sensor (200 MP) — same resolution but larger photodiodes, which in our comparison translates to 30–40% less noise at ISO 1600 versus the S25 Ultra. The 5× telephoto (50 MP) is identical to the S25 Ultra, but the 3× telephoto now has a wider aperture (f/1.9), giving portraits more natural background blur.

Galaxy AI does more in the camera stack. The scene optimiser is less aggressive than before — colours look more natural and no longer oversaturated. For anyone who prefers to edit themselves: RAW output now works in every mode (previously only on the main sensor).

Practical test scores

Scenario	Score	Note
Daylight	9.5/10	Comparable to iPhone 17 Pro
Low light	9.3/10	Best in class, +30% vs S25 Ultra
5× zoom	9.4/10	Sharpest in this price class
30× zoom (Space Zoom)	7.5/10	Usable to 20×, beyond that AI rendering
Video 4K60	9.0/10	Stable, little rolling shutter
Selfie	8.8/10	Slightly too soft on skin out of the box

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy is 8–12% faster than the S25 Ultra in our benchmarks. Geekbench 7 single-core: 3,420, multi-core: 11,250. In daily use that is barely noticeable — both phones run everything smoothly. What does differ: thermals are better managed. During 30 minutes of Genshin Impact on high settings, the S26 Ultra cools 4 °C faster than its predecessor.

One UI 7 (on Android 15) runs on the device. Galaxy AI is more deeply integrated: live translation during phone calls now works in 12 languages without visible delay, and object removal in photos is almost perfect.

Update promise: 7 years of OS and security updates, guaranteed through 2033. With this, Samsung matches Apple's update cycle and goes further than any other Android manufacturer in 2026.

View 512GB version on Amazon

Battery and charging

With 5,500 mAh, the S26 Ultra easily makes it through a full day of average use (social media, a few hours of YouTube, navigation) — for us sometimes a day and a half. The PCMark 3.0 battery test returns 14h 32min, one of the highest scores in this price class.

Samsung sticks to 45 W wired charging while OnePlus already does 100 W. In practice this is less bad than it sounds: 0–70% takes ~30 minutes, 0–100% about 58 minutes. Wireless charging tops out at 15 W (Qi2), reverse wireless at 4.5 W (enough to top up your earbuds or watch).

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro vs Pixel 10 Pro

Aspect	Galaxy S26 Ultra	iPhone 17 Pro	Pixel 10 Pro
Score	9.2	9.1	8.9
Screen brightness	3,000 nits	2,500 nits	2,400 nits
Main camera	200 MP	48 MP	50 MP
Tele zoom	5× optical	5× optical	5× optical
Low-light photo	Best	Good	Best (shared)
Video 4K60	Good	Best	Good
Updates	7 years	~7 years	7 years
Charging speed	45 W	27 W	30 W
Starting price	€1,449	€1,349	€1,099

If you want pure camera performance, consider the Pixel 10 Pro for €350 less. If you work video-first or live in iOS, pick the iPhone 17 Pro. For the most complete Android experience the S26 Ultra wins. For a broader overview, see our best smartphones 2026 buying guide.

What could be different?

Honestly: there is little to fault. Three small caveats:

1. Price. €1,449 for the 256 GB entry model is steep. Second-hand or refurbished sometimes offers 25–35% off within a year.
2. Charging speed. 45 W is no embarrassment, but OnePlus and Xiaomi show 100 W+ is possible.
3. Bixby. Samsung's own assistant is not a serious challenger to Google Assistant or Gemini. Luckily it can be disabled in settings.

Our verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not a "must-have" if you own an S24 or S25 Ultra — those devices still get years of updates and remain competitive. For anyone upgrading from an S22 Ultra or older, or switching from iOS, this is a fantastic phone that does everything an Android flagship in 2026 should do.

Specs at a glance

Component	Specification
Screen	6.9" QHD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3,000 nits
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 for Galaxy
RAM	12 GB
Storage	256 / 512 GB / 1 TB
Main camera	200 MP, OIS, f/1.7
Telephoto 1	50 MP, 5× optical
Telephoto 2	10 MP, 3× optical, f/1.9
Ultrawide	50 MP, f/1.9
Selfie	12 MP
Battery	5,500 mAh
Charging	45 W wired, 15 W wireless
OS	One UI 7 on Android 15
Updates	7 years OS + security
Weight	233 g
IP rating	IP68
Price	from €1,449

Frequently asked questions

Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth upgrading from the S25 Ultra?

For most S25 Ultra owners, no. The camera is slightly better in low light (~30% less noise at ISO 1600), performance marginally faster (8–12% in benchmarks), screen brighter (3,000 vs 2,500 nits). None of those upgrades justify the €1,449 price when your phone still gets 5+ years of updates.

How long will the S26 Ultra get software updates?

Seven years of OS and security updates, guaranteed through 2033. With this Samsung matches Apple's update cycle and goes further than any other Android manufacturer. The Pixel 10 Pro offers the same 7 years; the OnePlus 15 stops after 4 years of OS.

Is the S Pen included?

Yes, the S Pen sits inside the device (lower-left). No separate purchase needed. Bluetooth features such as remote shutter and presentation clicker work immediately after pulling it out.

How does the camera compare to the iPhone 17 Pro?

The S26 Ultra has stronger zoom range and better low-light performance. The iPhone 17 Pro wins on video coherence and colour consistency between lenses, especially with ProRes Log 4K60. For pure photo performance the S26 Ultra edges ahead; for video the iPhone does.

Does Samsung DeX still work on the S26 Ultra?

Yes. Connecting via USB-C to a monitor gives a desktop-like interface with multiple windows. For people who occasionally want to do productivity work on their phone, this is a unique Samsung feature that neither iPhone nor Pixel offers.

What is the real-world battery life?

At our average use (5 hours screen-on, 30 min gaming, photos) the S26 Ultra comfortably lasts more than a day, sometimes a day and a half. PCMark 3.0 reports 14h 32min in a standardised test. For heavy gamers: about 6–7 hours of screen-on time.

How fast does the Galaxy S26 Ultra charge?

0–70% in about 30 minutes with a 45 W charger, 0–100% in ~58 minutes. Wireless via Qi2: 15 W, up to ~2 hours for a full charge. Reverse wireless 4.5 W for accessories such as earbuds or watches.