Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: A First Look at the Latest Flagship and its S Pen

Launched alongside the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s most advanced phone in the S26 series, boasting the largest display, a unique Privacy Display feature, improved cameras, and the integrated S Pen stylus. This first look assesses whether the Galaxy S26 Ultra lives up to its flagship status.

Build and Design: Subtle Refinements

The Galaxy S26 Ultra succeeds the Galaxy S25 Ultra with several design changes. The new model features more rounded corners and a raised camera island protecting three of the five rear cameras, contrasting with the S25 Ultra’s sharper, squarer corners and individual camera rings.

The S26 Ultra is thinner at 7.9mm (excluding the camera island) and lighter at 214g, compared to the S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm thickness and 218g weight, making it the lightest Galaxy Ultra phone to date. The frame material has shifted from titanium to Samsung’s second-generation Armor Aluminum 2, chosen for its durability and thermal properties.

Both models maintain IP68 dust and water resistance. Despite rumors, the Galaxy S26 Ultra does not include built-in magnets for MagSafe accessories, requiring a compatible case for that functionality.

The device is available in Cobalt Violet, black, white, and Sky Blue, with online exclusives Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.

Camera System: Incremental Improvements

The rear camera setup mirrors its predecessor, featuring a 200MP main camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide angle camera. The main 200MP camera has been upgraded to a brighter f/1.4 aperture (from f/1.7 in the S25 Ultra). The 50MP telephoto camera now has a brighter f/2.9 aperture (up from f/3.4), maintaining 5x optical zoom. The other cameras remain unchanged.

S Pen: Familiar Functionality, One-Way Insertion

The S Pen returns with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but remains largely unchanged from the S25 Ultra. A key difference is that the S Pen now only fits into its slot one way, with the button facing upwards. This change is due to the S26 Ultra’s more curved edges, requiring a curved tip on the S Pen for a flush fit. The S Pen is a passive EMR stylus, lacking Bluetooth connectivity and features like remote shutter control, slide switching, or Air Actions.

Display and Performance

The phone features a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 3,120 x 1,440 resolution, a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, offering improved scratch resistance. A new Privacy Display feature allows users to obscure selected apps or the entire screen from onlookers.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, offering a 19% faster CPU, 24% improved graphics performance, and 39% faster AI performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy in the S25 Ultra. It is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (with 512GB and 1TB/16GB RAM options available). The device runs Android 16 with One UI 8.5 and is guaranteed 7 years of OS and security updates.

AI Enhancements

Samsung has focused on AI capabilities, including text-prompted image editing in Creative Studio, context-sensitive editing for object removal/restoration, and an improved Audio Eraser that now works with third-party apps like YouTube and Instagram. A new feature, Now Nudge, proactively suggests relevant information or actions based on onscreen activity.

Battery and Other Details

The Galaxy S26 Ultra retains a 5,000mAh battery with 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging. The base of the phone includes a speaker grille, USB-C port, SIM card tray, and S Pen storage. The packaging includes a USB-C cable, warranty literature, and a SIM eject pin.