Samsung is positioning this device as an AI phone, and while many of the AI features build on capabilities we have already seen across the industry, the real story might actually be the hardware. Underneath the familiar design, Samsung appears to have evolved the hardware layer to better support these AI experiences, making the phone feel like it has been built for an AI-first future rather than just adding software features on top. But does it justify the cost, and who should In India, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at ₹1,39,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. The 512GB model is priced at ₹1,59,999, while the top-end 16GB RAM and 1TB storage configuration goes up to ₹1,89,999.
Design and Display
At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t radically change Samsung’s flagship formula. It retains the familiar Ultra design language, a large slab of glass and metal with squared edges and the integrated S Pen.
That said, Samsung is in a slightly tight spot with the Ultra lineup. The device already feels over-engineered in many ways, and making it dramatically different would likely require fundamental hardware changes, such as a new silicon battery that could make the phone thinner. That is clearly not the direction Samsung is chasing right now. As a result, we did not expect a drastically redesigned Ultra this year.
There are, of course, a few cosmetic updates. The new camera module design aligns more closely with the rest of Samsung’s current lineup, particularly devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7. The overall build, however, still feels unmistakably Ultra.
Despite its size, the phone continues to have excellent weight distribution, which makes it easier to hold than you might expect from a device this large. The flat edges, introduced a couple of generations ago, also grow on you over time and make the device easier to grip.
The flat display up front is another practical advantage. Since Samsung moved away from the aggressive curved panels, finding and applying a screen protector has become much easier, which is something many users will appreciate.
Durability is another strong point. Like previous Ultra devices, the phone carries an IP68 rating, and in our annual tests, it can handle direct water exposure without issues. This is something Samsung users should keep in mind: Ultra devices are not just premium, they are built to last.
Durability is another strong point of the phone.
But the display is where the biggest change arrives this year.
Up front is a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution. It is bright, sharp, and easily among the best displays on any smartphone right now.
The display supports every possible format across every possible app, hence watching content is a truly immersive experience here as far as smartphones go. Gaming is also fun, because of the big canvas, allowing you to customise your controls.
We also found ourselves using the S-Pen, mostly to take immediate production notes for our videos. Though not a Bluetooth unit, it still works for the people who use it extensively for note-taking or scribbling data.
Samsung also continues to offer an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, which remains extremely quick and reliable for unlocking the device.
The standout feature this year, however, is something Samsung calls Privacy Display.
This feature limits the viewing angle of the screen, making it harder for people sitting next to you to see what is on your phone. It works almost like a built-in privacy filter but can be controlled through software and configured for specific apps.
In practice, this turns out to be quite intelligent. For example, we set it up primarily for emails, and every time the app opened, the screen automatically restricted viewing angles. It is a good example of hardware and AI working together to solve a very real problem, especially in crowded environments like public transport or offices.
An argument can be made that screen guards are available in the market doing the same job, however a screenguard can’t be customised as per use case. Hence, we have to give credits to Samsung for innovating something new here.
Software
On the software side, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra runs One UI 8.5 based on Android 16, and at this point Samsung’s software experience feels extremely mature. Everything from animations to app launches feels tight and responsive, and throughout our time with the device, we did not encounter any noticeable stutters while navigating the interface.
One UI itself feels refined rather than experimental. Samsung has clearly spent years polishing the experience, and that shows in small things like the settings menu, which now supports natural language search, making it easier to find controls without digging through endless menus.
Samsung is also promising seven years of OS and security updates, which continues to make the Ultra lineup one of the safest long-term bets if you plan to keep your phone for several years.
Samsung is also promising seven years of OS and security updates,
Of course, the bigger story this year is AI. Samsung is positioning the S26 Ultra as an AI-first phone, and the software reflects that. You get a wide range of AI-powered tools across the system, from advanced photo and video editing features like object removal and scene transformations to tools like Circle to Search, along with deeper system integration with Google Gemini.
For creators, Samsung has also added some interesting video-focused capabilities. Features like Horizon Lock help stabilise shots more intelligently, while support for APV (Advanced Professional Video) with real-time LUT previews gives creators more control directly from the phone.
Under the hood, Samsung claims a 39 percent faster NPU, which helps power many of these AI-driven tasks. In practice, features like real-time image processing and photo assist feel quick and responsive.
At the same time, One UI continues to offer some of the best customization options on any Android phone, with deep control over the home screen, lock screen, and widgets. Samsung has also refreshed parts of the interface, including the quick panel and app icons, giving the software a slightly more modern look.
That said, the sheer number of AI features can feel a bit overwhelming at first. But Samsung has done a decent job of labeling and explaining most of them, so once you spend some time with the device, the experience remains familiar and easy to navigate rather than confusing.
Bixby, Samsung’s own AI assistant is also now smarter. Users can toggle Bixby to either use Gemini or Perplexity.
In our experience we preferred Gemini since it made using other integrations easier. Like opening up Google apps like YouTube with voice command.
Performance
Powering the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, paired with up to 16GB of RAM. As you would expect from a flagship at this level, the device delivers on performance across the board. In day-to-day use the phone feels consistently fast and fluid, whether you are multitasking, editing photos, or running demanding apps.
With this top-of-the-line processor, the Ultra performs well in both peak and sustained workloads. Apps launch instantly, heavy tasks run smoothly, and the device rarely feels like it is being pushed too hard.
Samsung has also leaned heavily into AI-powered computing this year. Many of the features across the system, from photography tools to system-level assistance, rely on on-device AI processing. The phone runs Android 16 with One UI, and Samsung is continuing its strong update commitment with seven years of software and security updates.
Thermal management has also been improved with a larger vapor chamber, which helps the device maintain performance during extended workloads. During our testing, however, we did notice the phone getting slightly warm during long gaming sessions in the first few days. Interestingly, this largely went away after about five days of use, once the device seemed to optimize itself around our usage patterns.
Battery life remains consistent with previous Ultra devices. The phone packs a 5000mAh battery, but this year Samsung has improved charging speeds with 65W wired charging. While that still is not the fastest in the industry, it is a welcome upgrade, especially since charging speeds were one of our complaints last year.
The device also supports wireless charging, which continues to be convenient for users who prefer charging pads or wireless stands.
Cameras
The camera system on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is more about refinement than reinvention. On paper, the setup may look familiar, but Samsung has made a few meaningful changes that improve the overall shooting experience, particularly in low light and video.
The headline upgrade is the 200MP primary sensor, which now features a wider f/1.4 aperture compared to the previous generation. This allows the sensor to capture significantly more light, which directly improves low-light photography and adds a slightly more natural depth of field in certain scenarios.
The rest of the camera system remains largely similar to before. You still get Samsung’s versatile quad-camera setup, including a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 3x telephoto camera, and the company’s well-known 5x periscope telephoto lens. The 5x lens now features a slightly wider f/2.9 aperture, which helps improve light intake when zooming in, especially in evening conditions.
In practice, the camera system continues to be one of the most versatile setups on any smartphone. The main camera captures highly detailed images with Samsung’s signature punchy colours, while the ultra-wide lens remains reliable for landscape shots and group photos.
Zoom is still one of Samsung’s biggest strengths. The 5x optical zoom remains extremely usable, and even shots at 10x and 30x zoom hold up surprisingly well. The 100x “Space Zoom” feature still exists, although realistically it remains more of a technological showcase rather than something most people will use regularly.
Samsung has also leaned heavily into AI-powered image processing this year. The upgraded image signal processor works with scene recognition and lens-specific noise reduction to better handle different lighting conditions. In low light, this results in cleaner images with less noise, especially when switching between lenses.
Video is another area where Samsung has introduced new tools aimed at creators. The phone now supports APV (Advanced Professional Video) recording, which is a more efficient log-style format designed for editing and colour grading. There is also a new Horizon Lock feature that helps maintain stable framing even when the phone moves, alongside improvements to Samsung’s Super Steady stabilisation.
Overall, the camera system may not be a dramatic departure from the previous generation, but it still places the S26 Ultra firmly among the best camera phones available today. The improvements are subtle but meaningful, particularly if you care about low-light photography, zoom flexibility, and advanced video capabilities.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not a radical upgrade, but it is a smart refinement of an already excellent flagship. Samsung has focused less on redesigning the Ultra and more on making it smarter with AI and more polished overall.
The fundamentals remain extremely strong. You get one of the best displays on any smartphone, excellent performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a versatile camera system, and Samsung’s promise of seven years of software updates. Features like the new Privacy Display and deeper AI integration show Samsung trying to combine hardware and AI in more practical ways.
At the same time, the Ultra lineup has clearly reached a point where big changes require major hardware shifts, which is why this generation feels more like a refined evolution rather than a dramatic leap.
If you are upgrading from a phone that is two or three generations old, the S26 Ultra is an easy recommendation. But if you already own last year’s Ultra, the improvements may feel incremental.
In short, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a smarter Ultra that continues to perfect Samsung’s flagship formula rather than reinvent it.
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