Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Vs. S25 Ultra: What Worries Me After Years With Galaxy

3 weeks ago

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was 1 of nan astir reliable phones launched past year. It had a big, crisp surface pinch a unsocial anti-reflective coating, powerful performance, and versatile cameras. However, I couldn't usage it full-time because of an ergonomically mediocre creation and an aging telephoto camera.

Also: Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 preorder woody for $900 disconnected up of February Unpacked

There person been rumors pointing toward akin downsides for nan Galaxy S26 Ultra. I'm concerned astir Samsung's upcoming flagship phone.

1. Where's nan telephoto camera upgrade?

According to ETNews, nan Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will person a 200MP superior camera, accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, and different 50MP 5x telephoto sensor. The 200MP camera is afloat tin of shooting high-resolution images, but nan 3x zoom camera is owed for a large upgrade.

Also: I changed 10 settings connected my Samsung telephone to importantly amended nan personification experience

Samsung has relied connected nan aforesaid sensor for 3x zoom capabilities for a mates of years now. It was anemic past year, erstwhile Apple pushed nan limits successful videography pinch its 4x telephoto camera, and Chinese manufacturers had perfected portraits and macro shots pinch improved processing. If it is nan aforesaid telephoto camera successful 2026, it doesn't guidelines a chance against competitors.

I dream Samsung updates nan post-processing to amended nan output from its 10MP sensor, but I'm not ace optimistic. If nan Galaxy S26 Ultra sticks pinch nan aforesaid 3x telephoto camera, I'd counsel much group to usage nan 200MP camera mode and harvest photos later alternatively of zooming successful connected nan viewfinder.

2. Please, conscionable attraction connected nan ergonomics

Last year, Samsung slashed nan weight of its Galaxy S25 Ultra to 218 grams -- a large feat for a mainstream flagship phone, particularly since nary of nan $1,000-plus phones from Apple aliases Google measurement little than 230 grams. Despite a lighter design, it was harder to usage than nan heavier Galaxy S24 Ultra, which wasn't excessively comfortable owed to its crisp corners, and nan Galaxy S23 Ultra earlier that.

The on-paper weight tin beryllium misleading because an unergonomic creation tin render a telephone difficult to usage successful day-to-day life. That is precisely what happened pinch nan Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Also: Why nan Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's biggest upgrade won't beryllium its camera aliases processor for me

Samsung gave its flagship telephone a boxy design, which looks good, and I for illustration it, but it forgot to taper nan edges connected each side. As a result, erstwhile you clasp nan phone, its sides excavation into your palm. Both nan Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL do amended successful this regard. If nan latest leaks are immoderate indication, nan Galaxy S26 Ultra could characteristic nan aforesaid sharp, level sides arsenic before.

According to a now-removed video shared by leaker Evan Blass, nan upcoming Samsung telephone could clasp nan boxy look pinch level sides. It looks akin to nan Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I cannot opportunity for judge whether nan edges connected some sides person been tapered. If not, I will beryllium disappointed because I request my phones to beryllium comfortable to clasp without adding a case.

3. I dream nan S26 Ultra isn't much expensive

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not guaranteed to get a value hike, but rumors are divided connected whether it is going to costs nan aforesaid arsenic its predecessor aliases beryllium much expensive. Samsung could beryllium facing unit from constituent value hikes, but nan Galaxy S25 Ultra already costs $1,300 astatine launch.

To put things into perspective, $1,300 for nan guidelines type is much than Apple and Google's large flagship phones. While Samsung has doubled nan retention to 512GB for nan aforesaid value arsenic portion of motorboat offers, it is still successful a reliable spot.

Modest upgrades, but caller tech is promising

Samsung precocious teased a caller show privateness characteristic debuting pinch nan Galaxy S26 Ultra. There is nary charismatic sanction for nan characteristic yet, but it is expected to beryllium called Privacy Display -- and it could beryllium a large woody for some regular consumers and business users. It could activity likewise to a privateness surface protector, which prevents strangers from snooping connected your backstage information successful public.

Also: Samsung Unpacked 2026: 5 biggest rumors I'm seeing connected Galaxy S26 Ultra, Buds 4 Pro, more

The Korean institution is said to execute this done pixel-level ray control, adjusting its OLED emanation truthful that ray only shines toward nan personification erstwhile nan show is viewed consecutive on. It won't trim nan phone's wide brightness aliases colour depth, dissimilar a physical privateness surface protector.

I americium looking guardant to it nan most. If Samsung tin make a comfortable-to-hold phone, nan Galaxy S26 Ultra has a batch going for it, contempt immoderate humble upgrades connected paper.