The transition from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to the S26 Ultra brings a range of software and feature enhancements that refine the user experience, performance, and privacy aspects without drastic design changes.
The S26 Ultra continues to build on the powerful foundation of the S25 Ultra but introduces a more rounded design for its S Pen to complement the phone's curved aesthetics, moving away from the somewhat boxier style of its predecessor. This cosmetic evolution aligns with smoother handling and a more cohesive look with the device's design lines.
Performance-wise, the S26 Ultra is set to equip the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Exynos 2600 chipset depending on the region, both built on an advanced 3nm manufacturing process. This upgrade delivers a notable leap in raw processing power and efficiency. Enhanced AI capabilities integrated into these chipsets promise smarter on-device AI features that elevate user interaction, photography processing, and gaming experiences with console-level graphics. Compared to the S25 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite, the new chipset generation in the S26 will provide noticeable improvements mainly in AI performance and efficiency.
Camera software and hardware improvements are significant but iterative. The S26 Ultra retains the iconic 200-megapixel main sensor, now with a wider f/1.4 aperture lens that enhances low-light photography by allowing more light into the sensor. The telephoto lens upgrades from a 10 MP to a 12 MP sensor, supported by newer sensor technologies and improved AI-powered image processing to produce richer detail, more natural bokeh effects, and substantially better night shots. There are rumors of potential camera module changes to accommodate a stacked battery design, which may lead to the removal of certain sensors, but the core photographic performance is enhanced by software AI processing.
Battery improvements include adopting a new stacked battery design that allows higher density without increasing package size. The S26 Ultra reportedly increases battery capacity by about 10% to approximately 5500 mAh compared to the S25 Ultra's smaller battery, offering longer usage times. This battery enhancement is accompanied by faster charging capabilities, with increased charging speed possibly reaching 60W fast charging, a step up from previous generations.
On the software side, the S26 Ultra introduces new privacy features significantly enhancing user security. A smart privacy mode powered by Samsung's Flex Magic Pixel technology prevents onlookers from viewing the screen from oblique angles. This antivirus-like feature is aimed at improving data privacy in public or crowded settings. Furthermore, two major privacy-focused software features are reportedly integrated, though detailed descriptions remain sparse, they likely involve enhanced control over data access and app permissions.
Memory configurations see an upgrade as well. The S26 Ultra is expected to come with up to 16GB of RAM, a considerable increase over the S25 Ultra's configurations, making it the highest RAM offering in a Galaxy S series model in recent years. Storage options remain similar to the previous generation, with a base of 256GB typically offered for the Ultra model.
Connectivity features include upgrades to Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 5.4, and enhanced satellite connectivity options. These upgrades reflect a focus on future-proofing the device for emerging wireless technologies allowing faster, more stable connections and better coverage. Anti-reflective coating advancements on the display using DX glass technology enhance screen visibility under direct sunlight, improving outdoor usability.
Regarding user interface and software experience, the S26 Ultra benefits from tighter integration with generative AI capabilities, possibly in collaboration with AI companies like Perplexity AI. This integration aims to add smarter AI assistants, improved voice and text recognition, and more personalized user experiences. While specific feature sets are not fully detailed, the emphasis on generative AI suggests enhanced productivity, creativity, and interaction tools built into the device's software.
The S Pen experience also gets software tweaks to complement its new physical designâ with improved latency and new writing or drawing functionalities likely added to the overall S Pen ecosystem within Samsung's One UI.
In summary, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra does not radically depart from the S25 Ultra in terms of physical design, its software and feature upgrades are substantial and focused on enhancing performance, AI capabilities, camera quality, privacy, battery life, and connectivity. These changes make the S26 Ultra a more refined and powerful flagship device.