As a leader in the smartphone market alongside Apple, Samsung faces higher expectations than its competitors. Each year, many question whether the latest Galaxy S26 (starting at $999 this year) offers anything genuinely new. While the South Korean tech giant has adopted a cautious approach to visual design – similar to Apple and Google, favoring subtle evolutions year after year – there are some noteworthy internal updates.
Thinner Design?
Before diving into the standout features, let’s look at the exterior and handling of the device. Compared to the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra offers a subtly refined design, becoming the thinnest Ultra model in the range at 7.9 mm thick (yet, as you can see in these photos, the camera module actually increases the overall thickness, particularly in the optics area…).
The corners have been softened to offer a more comfortable grip, finally aligning the Ultra’s design with the more classic S26 and S26+ models. In my opinion, Samsung’s typical design, even though it remains very stable over the years, is still a reference for elegance and a premium feel.
The “Privacy” Screen: A Divisive Innovation
The star of this new iteration, and the most striking difference from the S25 Ultra, is undoubtedly the “Privacy Display.” Unlike traditional screen protectors that simply darken the screen, this is a hardware control that uses new, narrow sub-pixels to direct light only forward, making the screen very dark, or even black, for anyone trying to look at your phone from the side (on the street, on the train, etc.). This is a customizable software feature: you can activate it only for specific applications (like your banking app) or even target only the area where you enter your passwords or the notification panel.
However, this technical feat comes with a real compromise. When activated, the screen disables half of its pixels, significantly reducing the overall resolution and brightness. More annoyingly, the presence of this new pixel structure degrades the natural viewing angles of the phone even when the privacy function is disabled; when tilted, a bluish tint and faster brightness drop are observed compared to the magnificent screen of the S25 Ultra.
Under the Hood: Power and Battery Life
Internally, the S26 Ultra is equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. While it delivers a performance gain of approximately 9 to 20% according to benchmark tests, the difference in fluidity in everyday use is not significant compared to the S25 Ultra, and the chip tends to heat up slightly more under stress.
In terms of battery life, it’s business as usual: we find exactly the same 5,000 mAh battery as in the previous six generations. But as you know, software optimization always prevails: in a very serious test conducted by a British YouTuber, the S26 Ultra performs very well:
Add to that a wired charge that reaches 60W, saving about 15 minutes on a full charge (0 to 100%) compared to the S25 Ultra, and you have a smartphone that is perfectly serious in terms of overall battery life. We regret, however, that Samsung has not yet integrated magnets on the back of the device to facilitate the use of magnetic accessories.
Regarding photography, I refer you to my “zoom” comparison with the Xiaomi Ultra 17.
AI “Infiltrated”?
Large electronics manufacturers don’t all have the same approach to AI. In their communication, they generally like to say that it is everywhere; but when Apple, a bit lost, remains cautious and waits for a killer app, Samsung continues to accelerate full throttle, even if it means going in all directions.
The S26 is the 3rd generation of Galaxy AI, and it must be recognized that each year, Samsung adds layers of AI. In 2026, we find AI options integrated into the smartphone, which use Gemini (Google’s AI, a partner of Samsung), Bixby (Samsung’s voice assistant, which Samsung struggles to impose) and now Perplexity (an independent AI search platform), which Samsung has associated with Bixby to finally give it a brain. In my opinion, this confuses the user instead of centralizing everything transparently: if I were Samsung, I would pay (very dearly) for Gemini and Perplexity in order to hide them in a Bixby 2.0, rather than multiplying the AI entry points on the same device. AI has incredible potential within a smartphone, but you have to take users by the hand, in my opinion, and not scare them with an avalanche of more or less useful functions.
But let’s be honest: there are new AI features that have the potential to enrich the daily experience of those who want to play the game, who are patient, and who like a little intrusive software. I note the automatic sorting of your screenshots into different categories, and the excellent “Audio Eraser” function which now allows you to attenuate the background noise of videos you watch on applications like YouTube or Netflix (it works quite well).
