How much can a flagship phone really change in one year?
That’s the big question following Samsung’s latest Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, where the new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was officially unveiled. Now it’s time to compare it with its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, to see what’s improved — and what hasn’t.
Both are premium Android powerhouses. But does the S26 Ultra deliver meaningful upgrades, or is it more of a refinement year?
Let’s break it down by price, specs, design, cameras, and AI features.
Price: No Surprises
Samsung kept pricing consistent year over year.
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Galaxy S25 Ultra (2025): $1,299.99
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Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026): $1,299.99
While the standard S26 and S26+ saw price increases, the Ultra model remains unchanged. That makes the value comparison straightforward.
Specs & Display: Subtle but Not Revolutionary
Galaxy S25 Ultra
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6.9-inch AMOLED display
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Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
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3120 x 1440 resolution
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Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
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12GB RAM
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256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage
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5,000mAh battery
Galaxy S26 Ultra
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6.9-inch AMOLED display
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Adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rate
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3120 x 1440 resolution
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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
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12GB or 16GB RAM (1TB model gets 16GB)
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256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage
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5,000mAh battery
On paper, the displays and battery sizes are nearly identical.
The key differences:
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A newer Gen 5 Snapdragon chip
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Increased RAM (up to 16GB on the 1TB model)
In theory, that means smoother multitasking and improved long-term performance — though real-world gains will need testing to quantify.
Design: Refinement Over Reinvention
Samsung didn’t radically redesign the Ultra, but there are noticeable tweaks.
The S26 Ultra is:
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Slightly thinner
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Slightly lighter
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Less boxy in overall shape
The rear camera modules also protrude more prominently this year — a design choice that adds visual distinction, even if it raises questions about why the change was necessary.
S25 Ultra Colors
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Titanium Grey
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Titanium Whitesilver
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Titanium Silverblue
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Titanium Black
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Titanium Pinkgold
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Titanium Jadegreen
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Titanium Jetblack
S26 Ultra Colors
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Cobalt Violet
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Sky Blue
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Black
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White
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Silver Shadow
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Pink Gold
The S26 lineup feels slightly fresher and less industrial compared to last year’s titanium-heavy palette.
New Headline Features
Privacy Display
The standout addition to the S26 Ultra is Privacy Display.
This built-in feature limits screen visibility from side angles, helping protect sensitive content in public spaces.
It’s a meaningful upgrade for commuters, travelers, and professionals — assuming it performs well in real-world testing.
The S25 Ultra does not offer this feature.
60W Fast Charging
The S26 Ultra now supports 60-watt fast charging, a welcome boost for users tired of long charging sessions.
If you have a compatible charger, expect noticeably faster top-ups compared to last year’s model.
Cameras: Same Hardware, Smarter Execution
Both phones feature identical camera hardware:
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200MP wide
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50MP ultrawide
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50MP telephoto (5x optical zoom)
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10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom)
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12MP front-facing camera
However, Samsung made improvements in:
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Wider camera apertures (allowing more light)
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Enhanced Super Steady 4K video
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Upgraded Nightography video performance
While the megapixel count hasn’t changed, image quality — especially in low light — should improve thanks to optical and software enhancements.
AI: The “Agentic” Evolution
AI remains a central focus for Samsung.
The S26 Ultra expands on the AI features introduced in the S25 Ultra, positioning itself as an “agentic” device with unified AI integration across apps and services.
New highlights include:
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AI call screening (answers calls and takes notes automatically)
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Expanded assistant choices: Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity
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Creative Studio for AI-powered photo and video editing
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In-camera AI editor that executes text-based edit requests
The S26 doesn’t just process AI features — it integrates them deeper into daily workflows.
So, Should You Upgrade?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t a dramatic reinvention. It’s a refinement.
You get:
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A newer, faster processor
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Optional 16GB RAM
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Faster charging
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Privacy Display
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Camera software improvements
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Expanded AI tools
If you already own the S25 Ultra, the upgrade may feel incremental unless Privacy Display or faster charging are must-haves.
But for buyers choosing between the two — especially at the same launch price — the S26 Ultra clearly edges ahead.
It’s not a revolution.
But it’s a smarter, more polished flagship — and sometimes, that’s exactly what a one-year upgrade should be.
