The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces incremental enhancements over its predecessor, including a privacy-focused display and improved camera apertures, according to an Engadget review. Priced at $1,300, the device maintains a familiar design while boosting performance and AI capabilities. These changes position it as a refined flagship without major overhauls.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, reviewed by Engadget on March 5, 2026, retains the blocky silhouette and rear camera layout of its recent predecessors, but incorporates understated improvements that enhance its value. The phone reverts to an aluminum frame from titanium, aiding color-matching with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, and is slightly lighter at 214 grams and thinner at 7.9 millimeters compared to the S25 Ultra's 218 grams and 8.2 millimeters. The S Pen stylus remains unchanged, though its insertion now aligns with the device's more rounded corners.
A standout feature is the 6.9-inch display, which matches last year's specs—2,600 nits peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and 3,120 x 1,440 resolution—but adds a Privacy Display mode. This dims the screen when viewed from angles, using dual subpixel sets to obscure content, with options for standard, maximum protection, or automatic activation during notifications, app use, or lock screen prompts. The reviewer notes minimal impact on image quality in standard mode, making it practical for preventing shoulder-surfing.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, the S26 Ultra offers 12GB or 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. Its NPU sees a 39 percent performance boost for AI tasks, with CPU up 19 percent and GPU 24 percent, yielding Geekbench 6 scores of 11,240 multi-core and 25,403 GPU—improvements over the S25 Ultra. New AI tools include an expanded Photo Assist for editing and generation via text prompts, Creative Studio for digital art, enhanced document scanning, call screening, and contextual photo suggestions via Now Nudge. Automated App Actions, another AI feature, launches soon.
Camera hardware is unchanged, but apertures widen to f/1.4 on the 200MP main sensor and f/2.9 on the 50MP 5x telephoto, improving low-light shots alongside the 10MP 3x, 50MP ultrawide, and 12MP selfie cameras. Battery life holds at 5,000mAh, lasting 30 hours and three minutes in video tests—30 minutes more than before—supported by 60W wired and 25W wireless charging. Drawbacks include the lack of a built-in Qi2 magnetic ring and persistent high cost.
Overall, the S26 Ultra excels in performance, battery endurance, and subtle refinements like better night photography, but feels evolutionary rather than revolutionary for recent upgraders.
