I tested the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra. Here’s why the Ultra is worth it

The Samsung Galaxy 26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra are polar opposites. Only a few things, such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and One UI 8.5, tie the two models together. I’ve long been a fan of compact and thin phones; I spent my own cash on both the Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air, and I haven’t used an “Ultra,” “XL,” or “Pro Max” model as my daily driver in years. I’m not the target audience for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but I can’t help but love it anyway.

I used both the 6.3-inch Galaxy S26 and the 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra for weeks, and spent some time using the two models side-by-side. For the first time, the bigger Galaxy S26 Ultra offers enough upgrades over the base model to justify the larger footprint and higher price.

Samsung’s high-end flagship is by no means cheap. I’m not saying everyone should shell out $1,300 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra — but I am saying it’s the only Galaxy S26 series phone actually worth the cost.

Big-screen smartphones like the Pixel 10 Pro XL or iPhone 17 Pro Max typically offer little beyond a larger display compared to their smaller counterparts. I find that larger smartphones can be more of a burden than anything else, as it’s harder to reach the display corners or fit them comfortably in a pocket.

Despite my affinity for smaller handsets, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is undersized for its class, making it easier to wield.

It has a 6.9-inch screen but measures just 7.9mm thick and weighs 214 grams. That’s thinner and lighter than the Pixel 10 Pro XL (8.5mm, 232g) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max (8.8mm, 233g). With a screen this large, a thin and light phone makes the device easier to maneuver. There were times that the Galaxy S26 Ultra felt oversized, but it was usable more often than not.

Since a larger display doesn’t automatically win me over, the Galaxy S26 Ultra needed to offer something more. It did just that with the Flex Magic Pixel OLED panel that powers the new Privacy Display feature. I know you’re probably tired of hearing about how amazing Privacy Display is, but it’s all true. I used the Galaxy S26 Ultra while riding public transit, flying, and attending large sporting events, and Privacy Display quickly became indispensable.

It’s freeing to use your phone however you’d like without worrying about prying eyes over your shoulder. Compared to using a privacy screen protector, Privacy Display can be turned off with the press of a button. It’s my favorite smartphone feature in years, and it’s a big reason why I prefer the Galaxy S26 Ultra to the Galaxy S26.

It is worth noting that there are downsides to the Flex Magic Pixel OLED panel, notably that off-angle brightness and overall sharpness are worse than traditional OLED screens. This is something I noticed while testing the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 simultaneously; the regular S26 was often brighter, even with Privacy Display disabled. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it’s worth keeping in mind. I’ll take the Privacy Display’s innovation over a slightly higher peak brightness, especially since my eyes haven’t noticed a discernible difference.

On paper, the Galaxy S26 series might appear consistent at first glance. Take a closer look, and the Galaxy S26’s downgrades compared to the Plus and Ultra variants are everywhere. The base Galaxy S26 screen doesn’t feature Privacy Display support, but it also lacks QHD+ resolution. It’s the only Galaxy S26 phone to use a FHD+ panel, which eliminates support for ProScaler, an AI feature that upscales visual content.

While the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra share the same processor in North American markets, only the Ultra model has the redesigned vapor chamber that’s larger and more efficient. The base model runs plenty cool in short bursts, even beating the Galaxy S26 Ultra in some benchmarks, but the higher-end phone can sustain that performance for longer thanks to the superior cooling system.

Of all the cost-cutting measures, the ones that bother me most affect the Galaxy S26’s connectivity. The Galaxy S26 doesn’t have a mmWave 5G antenna this year, and it’s something the Galaxy S25 had — Samsung removed it this year. The base model also lacks an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, which is important for precision finding for trackers and accessories. Finally, the Galaxy S26 misses out on Bluetooth 6 support. It’s the only Galaxy S26 model to remain on Bluetooth 5.4.

These probably aren’t pain points today, but the Galaxy S26 series is marketed as offering seven years of robust software support. I feel solid about the Galaxy S26 Ultra lasting that long. I can’t say the same about the Galaxy S26, because it lacks cutting-edge specs on day one.

The most underrated Galaxy S26 Ultra upgrades were the new 200MP primary and 50MP telephoto cameras. Since Samsung didn’t change the resolutions, the wider apertures and All Lenses on Prism (ALoP) telephoto design flew under the radar. These new cameras with larger, brighter image sensors produce better shots with more detail. They keep the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s quadruple-camera rear system in the conversation for the best Android camera phone title, at least in North America.

I’m thrilled to see camera upgrades for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but Samsung didn’t upgrade the cameras on the models that really needed it. Another year went by without any camera hardware changes for the Galaxy S and Galaxy S Plus. That means the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S22 share the same rear camera system, featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens.

To be fair, it is a bit more complicated than that. The Samsung Galaxy S26 still returns great images from the primary shooter, and it offers a new 24MP camera mode as a middle ground between 12MP and 50MP. Improvements in computational photography and image signal processing help the Galaxy S26 take better photos than older models, despite using the same hardware.

All of that is true, but it’s also true that the Galaxy S26 could have (and should have) used newer, larger sensors — like the ones Samsung added to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom feels particularly outdated. It doesn’t offer the resolution or zoom length on par with the best telephoto cameras available in 2026.

Like the outdated connectivity specs, the Galaxy S26’s older camera hardware is problematic for a phone expected to last you a half-decade or longer.

Smartphone buyers in North America, like myself, have long waited for fast wired charging to reach the latest Apple, Google, and Samsung flagships. There are certainly issues with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s battery and charging specs. The 5,000mAh capacity isn’t impressive these days, and the lack of built-in Qi2 magnets is downright disappointing. However, the 60W wired charging support is a game-changer for Galaxy S26 Ultra users.

Our testing found that the Galaxy S26 Ultra charges to full in just 42 minutes, and I’ve noticed this improvement in daily use. I’ll plug in my phone during the day for a social media scroll break, and it’ll be recharged before I know it. When I switched to the base Galaxy S26, the experience was awful by comparison; it only charges at up to 25W with a cable, and a 30-minute charge only gets you up to 55% battery.

Even more unfortunate is that you’ll need to charge the Galaxy S26 and its 4,300mAh battery more frequently than the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

I don’t love the $1,300 price point of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and I won’t dare suggest that you need to spend that much on a smartphone. That said, it’s clear that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the only 2026 model with a feature set that justifies its cost. It was the only Galaxy S26 model not to see a starting price hike, while the base Galaxy S26 and midsize Galaxy S26 Plus are both $100 more expensive this year. Somehow, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also got the most upgrades, making it the best value Ultra phone in years.

With the Galaxy S26 featuring outdated connectivity standards, older camera hardware, and slow charging, I can’t see it aging well. It’s the Galaxy S26 Ultra or bust this year. Those who need a smaller or cheaper phone are better off waiting and hoping for more substantial changes to reach the Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27 Plus next year.