Samsung has released the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a $1,300 flagship smartphone with a new Privacy Display feature and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset. The device emphasizes performance, camera capabilities, and on-device AI tools while retaining support for physical SIM cards and the S Pen stylus. Ars Technica's review praises its speed and screen but notes its high price and uneven AI features.
Samsung began 2026 with its Galaxy S lineup, including the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. The Ultra model, priced at $1,300, targets premium users with its large feature set. It features a sturdy metal frame of Armor Aluminum alloy sandwiched between Gorilla Armor 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back. The display includes an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a new Privacy Display that dims visibility from off-angles, with a maximum privacy mode for added obscurity, though it reduces brightness and contrast noticeably at 45 degrees off-center or more. The phone supports physical SIM cards, unlike some competitors, and houses an S Pen with precise input but no Bluetooth functionality this year. It runs Android 16 with One UI 8.5, offering expanded Quick Settings customization. Galaxy AI enhancements include Now Nudge for contextual app actions, Ask AI via Perplexity, beta task automation for apps like DoorDash and Uber, and Now Brief for recommendations, though the review finds many features unreliable or unimpressive, echoing past Google Now capabilities. Powered by the customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, it leads benchmarks for productivity and gaming, aided by a large vapor chamber, though it throttles 40 percent under max stress. The 5,000 mAh battery lasts a full day, with 60 W wired and 25 W wireless charging improvements. Cameras comprise a 200 MP main (f/1.4 aperture), 50 MP 5x telephoto (f/2.9), 10 MP 3x, and 50 MP ultrawide, delivering strong photos and 8K video with horizon lock. Samsung promises seven years of updates through 2033, and preorders are up despite steady pricing amid rising costs. Reviewer notes: 'If you want to spend $1,300 on a phone, it might as well be this one.' Pros include class-leading performance and local AI processing toggle; cons are expense and bloatware.
