The Galaxy S26 Ultra is so thin. | Image by PhoneArena
Different strokes for different folks… and your photography style will make you buy a specific phone that suits your needs.
If you're crazy about street photography, you might get something with a 35mm main camera (like the new Vivo X300 Ultra). If you're a landscape master, you'll seek a 23mm main camera phone with great dynamic range. And so on.
It's true that recent Galaxy S Ultra models don't necessarily bring the largest sensors to the table (or the brightest apertures), but in the right hands, they're a mighty good tool.
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The same is valid for the Galaxy S26 Ultra as well, as it partly relies on software tricks to produce impressive images.
But here's a thing that no other serious camera flagship offers: a sleek chassis.
The thinnest of them all
This flagship is under 8 mm. | Image by PhoneArena
This is the current situation among the top five camera phones right now:
The asterisk above has to do with the fact that the Oppo Find X9 Ultra is not yet official – it's supposed to go live on April 21. However, it's expected to arrive with a ~8.7 mm thick chassis.
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Yup, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is merely 7.9 mm thick (or should I say: "thin"?) and if you're after the most slim camera god, this is the one.
Now, the rest of the gang is not much thicker than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The bulkiest of them all is the iPhone 17 Pro Max which is 8.75 mm (without the camera island), and the X300 Ultra is 8.19 mm (without its gigantic camera island).
How important is a phone's thickness to you?
Does it matter?
To me, no. I'd gladly accept a ~20mm thick phone if that meant M4/3 sensors and a 10,000 mAh battery. But not everyone is as crazy as I am.
But for many tech fans, every millimeter counts and while the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge flopped spectacularly last year, it's impressive that Samsung managed to slim down the S26 Ultra under the 8 mm mark.
Maybe that's got something to do with the fact that it hasn't moved to larger sensors or a higher-capacity battery cell (2026 is the seventh year we're getting a 5,000 mAh cell in the Ultra!)
But I want a bigger battery…
Looking ahead, Samsung could finally break the 5,000 mAh ceiling without sacrificing its slim profile by adopting silicon-carbon battery technology. This is it.
Si-C battery cells offer significantly higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion. This shift would allow a 6,000 mAh cell to occupy the same physical footprint as the current battery, potentially keeping the chassis under the 8 mm mark while extending endurance.
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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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