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Upgrading to Galaxy S26 Ultra might not be worth it for flagship owners

Most Galaxy S25 Ultra owners might not feel the need to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

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By Anam Hamid

Published: Dec 04, 2025, 3:46 PM

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Galaxy S26 Ultra dummy units. | Image Credit - Ice Universe

Samsung may struggle to convince Galaxy S25 Ultra owners to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the results of a survey we conducted suggest.

Few upgrades expected

According to reputable leaker Ice Universe, the only upgraded specs that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will get over the Galaxy S25 Ultra are the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, faster 60W charging, a thinner 7.9-mm profile, and a slightly lighter 214-grams body.

We asked our readers if they would consider getting the Galaxy S26 Ultra if they owned the S25 Ultra. 824 (76%) of the 1,090 readers who responded didn't think there would be enough reasons to upgrade.

150 (14%) of the respondents said they would only upgrade if the price remained the same.

Only 116 (10%) of the readers indicated they would switch from the Galaxy S25 Ultra even if the price went up.

If you owned the Galaxy S25 Ultra, would you upgrade to the S26 Ultra?

Samsung may still focus on practical improvements

Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Galaxy S26 Ultra specs. | Image Credit - Ice Universe

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best Android phones of the year, which is perhaps why Samsung feels it can make a few refinements to the phone and call it a day. Besides, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature changes that will improve how it feels in day-to-day use, even if the specs sheet suggests otherwise.

For instance, the device is rumored to incorporate the 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X RAM tech, which should theoretically improve both response times and camera performance.

Similarly, while the battery capacity may remain the same, the use of the M14 display material could stretch battery life.

After all, a phone is more than its spec sheet. As long as it proves itself in the daily grind, it might be alluring enough for many flagship owners to take the plunge.

Is it that simple?

Not really. After all, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will likely hold up well for years to come, and with a price increase likely incoming, Samsung will need to give users solid reasons to upgrade.

Maybe Samsung still has a few secrets up its sleeve that will convince Galaxy S25 Ultra users that the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn't just a slightly better version of the phone they already own.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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