We're in the middle of the last week of January, which means that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is less than a month away.
Expected to be unveiled on February 25, this high-end Samsung flagship is not promising any radical upgrades. That's not going well with many of our readers, who recently stated that they'd just wait for the Galaxy S27 Ultra next year.
However, its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a fine phone, so I'm sure the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be perfect for millions of people around the world.
Let's see what it's all about per current-day leaks and rumors.
The design will not surprise you
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be a large-bodied, premium-looking phone with rounded corners. The Galaxy S25 Ultra introduced those and put an end to the cutting-edge boxy shape of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
The familiar rear camera setup look is here once again: three (of the four) cameras are housed in a pill-shaped island. This camera island may look a tad more protruding than before, but that's reportedly because of the thinner S26 Ultra chassis. Yes, Samsung is still pushing the envelope with thickness.
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Overall, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be a classy, posh handset that's neither too eccentric nor too shy (like the OnePlus 15, which reminds me more of a mid-ranger than a proper high-end phone).
Initial rumors got us jumping out of joy when we first learned that the S26 Ultra might come with a battery cell that has a slightly larger capacity than 5,000 mAh. As Samsung fans know, a 5,000 mAh cell has been found on each and every Galaxy S Ultra in the past seven years, starting with the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Then, reality came in with prominent tipsters like Ice Universe who swear by their info: the Galaxy S26 Ultra would still come with a 5,000 mAh battery on board.
The good news is that Samsung recently launched a 60W brick, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra might support it, which means no more 45W charging speeds.
That's good, but nowhere near the 100W+ speeds of phones from China.
Cameras: a modest upgrade?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra can take absurdly good pictures in the right hands, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be able to do so as well, I'm sure.
So far, rumors don't claim any radical hardware changes will grace the upcoming flagship.
Some say there'll be a major shift for the main 200 MP camera, which may adopt a larger 1/1.1-inch Sony sensor to improve light intake and natural bokeh. Take that with a pinch of salt, though.
Next, the 50 MP 5x telephoto and ultra-wide sensors are currently rumored to remain unchanged from the previous generation to manage production costs. There is persistent chatter regarding the return of a mechanical variable aperture, potentially widening to f/1.4 to boost low-light performance.
Software refinements are also expected to play a key role, with a focus on "realistic" processing to reduce oversharpening and improve video stabilization to better compete with Apple. Finally, the 12 MP selfie camera may receive a wider 85-degree field of view.
The display: now we're talking!
The best upgrades are reserved for the 6.9-inch display of the S26 Ultra, as it seems.
Samsung is set to debut a specialized "privacy shield" designed to prevent "shoulder surfing" by protecting on-screen content from nearby onlookers. This solution integrates hardware and software, allowing users to customize which apps, notifications, or unlocking processes are obscured from view. After five years of development, the technology aims to balance robust data security with a seamless user experience that can be toggled or fine-tuned based on the environment.
Also, the S26 Ultra is rumored to debut a "high-strength" next-generation Gorilla Glass designed to make third-party screen protectors obsolete. This new glass likely incorporates "Color Filter on Encapsulation" (COE) technology, which improves power efficiency while significantly reducing screen reflections. Additionally, the display will serve as the foundation for Samsung's hardware-level "Privacy Display," utilizing Flex Magic Pixel technology to obscure on-screen content from side-viewers.
Finally, the latest rumors have it that the S26 Ultra's display will offer true 10-bit color depth. That's a major hardware leap from the 8-bit panels used in previous models like the S25 Ultra. While older versions used software "tricks" (FRC) to simulate a billion colors, this native panel renders them directly to eliminate color banding and reduce eye strain. This upgrade, likely paired with new M14 OLED materials, ensures smoother gradients and more accurate visuals for high-quality HDR content and professional photo editing.
Overall performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely pack the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is what any Android aficionado dreams of. This high-end silicon will ensure not just a reliable performance, but it'll turn the S26 Ultra into a true powerhouse, capable of handling just about anything you throw at it.
Chipsets that excel in raw power terms often give out an excessive amount of heat, so the Galaxy S26 Ultra engineers better have some effective thermal management system on board. As you know, heat is your gadget's enemy, so keeping things cool (literally) is essential.
Furthermore, Samsung is expected to finally introduce native Qi2 magnetic charging with the Galaxy S26 series, matching a long-standing iPhone feature. Leaked marketing materials for a new "Magnetic Wireless Charging Powerbank" suggest the phones will feature built-in magnets for perfect alignment without needing specialized cases.
Finally, the Galaxy S26 series is rumored to be the first non-Pixel lineup to adopt Google's AI-powered Scam Detection feature. Discovered in recent "Phone by Google" app code, the tool uses on-device Gemini Nano to analyze call and message patterns for potential fraud in real-time.
The price situation
The Galaxy S26 Ultra might come with a price hike, but that's not official – some reports state that Samsung will attempt to absorb the rising prices of RAM chips, others say that's not possible.
If things turn out in people's favor, we'll get the same $1,299 starting price. That's a lot of money as it is, but a $50–$100 potential price hike would be way worse.
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Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
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