The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s next big flagship, and recent renders from OnLeaks have already ignited conversations across the tech world. At first glance, the phone looks refined, sleeker, and more premium than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But while Samsung seems to be advertising bold progress, critics are questioning whether this device represents genuine innovation or if it’s another attempt at rebranding small tweaks as major upgrades. Let’s break down what we know so far—and what Samsung might be hiding behind its shiny new design. This information is also featured on 9to9trends’ YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out.
Design: Slimmer, Lighter, and Yet Familiar
Samsung is putting a lot of emphasis on the design shift with the S26 Ultra, and there’s no denying that the company has made visible changes. According to Ice Universe, the device will measure just 7.9mm thick compared to the S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm, while cutting its weight down to 217 grams. This makes it thinner and lighter than Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max, which comes in at 8.75mm and 233 grams. The softer, more curved corners are clearly aimed at improving comfort in the hand, and the new unified camera island on the back gives the phone a cleaner, more premium feel. Even the S Pen has been slightly reshaped to match the refined design language.
However, critics argue that these are still incremental refinements rather than breakthroughs. For a company that prides itself on leading innovation, this shift looks more like Samsung catching up with competitors than creating something truly groundbreaking. The redesign is polished, yes, but it doesn’t scream “next-generation.” Instead, it feels like Samsung is carefully avoiding risk after the S25 Ultra was slammed for playing it too safe.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Camera: Ambition Meets Compromise
Samsung’s cameras have always been a centerpiece of the Ultra series, and this time, the company is promising bigger gains—at least on paper. Ice Universe has confirmed that the 200-megapixel main sensor will now feature a wider f/1.44 aperture, which allows 47% more light intake compared to the S25 Ultra. This could finally address one of Samsung’s biggest weaknesses: low-light photography. The improved 5x telephoto lens with a brighter f/2.9 aperture also looks promising for sharper zoom shots. The 50-megapixel ultrawide camera will stay the same, which is not a bad move given its solid performance.
But here’s where the cracks begin to show. The 3x telephoto lens—the one most commonly used for portraits and everyday shots—may not receive any meaningful upgrade. Early reports suggested Samsung would bump it up to 12 megapixels, but new leaks from Ice Universe suggest it could remain stuck at 10 megapixels with an even smaller sensor. For a phone that markets itself as the ultimate photography powerhouse, leaving the most practical camera lens underwhelming feels like a major oversight. It suggests Samsung is more interested in showcasing headline numbers, like a 200-megapixel main sensor, than in delivering consistent, balanced improvements across all lenses.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Display: Brilliant as Always, But Predictable
Samsung’s displays rarely disappoint, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to maintain its dominance in this area. Reports suggest a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with the company’s latest M14 panel and COE technology. An added anti-reflection coating should make it easier to use outdoors, with Ice Universe even hinting that it could outperform Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max in visibility under bright sunlight.
While impressive, this too feels like an expected upgrade rather than a revolutionary leap. Samsung is essentially improving on something it already does better than anyone else, and while the anti-reflection coating is a nice touch, it doesn’t fundamentally change the user experience. Critics may see this as another case of Samsung sticking to its comfort zone—refining existing strengths without tackling areas where users have voiced dissatisfaction.
Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Promise
At the heart of the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, built on a 3nm process. Qualcomm claims it offers 20% faster speeds and 16% better efficiency than its predecessor, and Samsung’s custom “for Galaxy” version is expected to push performance even further. In theory, this should make the Galaxy S26 Ultra one of the fastest smartphones on the market.
Yet the real question is whether these improvements will translate into everyday use. Samsung has often been criticized for boasting about benchmarks that look impressive on paper but fail to provide noticeable real-world differences. Multitasking, gaming, and productivity apps may see gains, but if battery management and heat control aren’t optimized, users could once again be left with throttling issues—a problem that has plagued previous Galaxy flagships. The performance narrative looks strong, but it still carries a shadow of skepticism.
Battery and Charging: Long Overdue Fixes
Galaxy S26 Ultra Battery capacity is expected to remain at 5,000mAh, which many consider a missed opportunity given that competitors are experimenting with larger cells. However, Samsung has finally addressed one of the biggest criticisms of the Ultra series—slow charging. According to leaks, the S26 Ultra will support 60W wired charging, up from the S25 Ultra’s 45W. While this is a welcome improvement, it still lags behind Chinese rivals like Xiaomi and OnePlus, who have long offered 100W+ charging speeds.
More interesting is the addition of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, which brings Samsung into direct competition with Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem. On one hand, this feels overdue; Apple introduced MagSafe years ago. On the other hand, Samsung’s ability to integrate Qi2 with its broader ecosystem—watches, earbuds, tablets—could give it an advantage. Still, the fact that it took Samsung this long to match Apple’s system shows that innovation is not happening at the speed consumers expect.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Price and Release Date: The Ultra Dilemma
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch in February 2026, during Samsung’s traditional Unpacked event. Reports suggest the price will stay at $1,299, the same as its predecessor. On paper, this sounds fair given the refinements. But when viewed critically, it highlights a deeper problem: Samsung is asking for the same premium price while delivering mostly incremental upgrades.
Consumers are becoming increasingly wary of paying over a thousand dollars for devices that look more like polished revisions than true innovations. The unchanged battery size, questionable decisions around the 3x telephoto lens, and reliance on predictable display and processor upgrades suggest that Samsung is once again playing it safe rather than pushing the boundaries of what a flagship can be.
Final Thoughts: Refinement Over Revolution
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be a solid, well-rounded flagship. It’s thinner, lighter, and more refined in design. Its main camera and telephoto upgrades promise better low-light and zoom performance, and the display will no doubt be stunning. The new processor and faster charging also fix some of the pain points from the S25 Ultra. But here’s the catch: none of this feels revolutionary. Samsung appears to be doubling down on refinement rather than risk-taking.
By neglecting meaningful upgrades to the 3x telephoto lens and sticking to a 5,000mAh battery while competitors leap ahead, the company risks alienating users who want true innovation, not just polishing. In the end, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely sell well, and it will certainly be a powerhouse in many respects. Yet critics are right to ask: is this really the bold future of smartphones, or is Samsung simply packaging safe upgrades under the Ultra label and hoping the premium price tag still feels justified?
