Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Expected differences
Slight design changes, faster charging, and an improved main image sensor could make the Galaxy S26 Ultra feel surprisingly different.
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The Galaxy S26 Ultra is now expected to be unveiled at a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, with retail availability likely following in early March. This places the S26 series slightly later than recent Galaxy S launches but still earlier than the March delay some earlier rumors had suggested. With the announcement window now clearer, we also have a fairly solid picture of what Samsung’s next Ultra flagship will bring.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra is still one of the most complete Android phones you can buy right now. It delivers excellent performance, arguably the best display on the market, strong battery life, and a very versatile camera system. In other words, it already does most things extremely well, which naturally raises the question of how much room there really is for improvement.
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This preliminary comparison looks at what the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to change and refine compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Based on current leaks, the focus appears to be on a smarter and more efficient OLED display, camera hardware tweaks, faster charging, and some incremental design changes.
Are these changes enough to make you wait for the S26 Ultra? Well, that depends. Let's take a deep dive and see just how different the new model will be.
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra expected differences:
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Larger 200MP sensor or wider f/1.4 lens for the main camera | 200MP main on a ~1/1.3" sensor (still very good) |
| Brighter, more efficient OLED display | Excellent 6.9" OLED |
| ~3,000-nits maximum brightness | ~2,600-nits |
| Display anti-reflection improvements | Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) with bigger GPU/NPU gains | Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) already very fast; can throttle under extreme load |
| Faster 60W wired charging | 45W wired |
| Slightly larger battery with 5,200 mAh battery capacity | 5,000 mAh battery capacity |
| Potential Qi2 magnetic wireless charging | 15W wireless; “Qi2-ready” without magnets |
| One UI 8/Android 16 with expanded Galaxy AI and 7-year support | One UI 7/Android 15; 7-year support already promised |
| Slimmer body and possible return of a camera island | Flat-sided design with “floating” lens rings that collect lint |
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Design and Size
The Ultra may get slimmer and get a new look for the camera system
Samsung has been carefully sculpting the Ultra’s design over the years. The Galaxy S25 Ultra brought back the flat sides, but with subtly rounded corners.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t expected to deviate far from that, though there are whispers of a slightly slimmer frame, around 0.4 mm thinner than before. Apart from that, though, the body will stay mostly the same in terms of shape and materials.
One important change that has now become clear is Samsung's choice of material for the frame. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to drop titanium and return to Armor Aluminum 2.0. Leaked color names no longer include the word “Titanium,” and multiple reports point to aluminum being used to keep the price down, improve thermal behavior, and slightly lower weight.
The general layout of buttons, ports, and the S Pen silo should remain identical. Early rumors suggesting the stylus might disappear have since been debunked, and leaked CADs confirm it’s still there, though Samsung reportedly had to rework its internal layout to maintain Qi2 wireless charging readiness without magnetic interference from the pen’s digitizer.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Thickness 7.9 mm | Thickness 8.2 mm |
| Dimensions Around 162.8 x 77.6 mm | Dimensions 162.8 x 77.6 mm |
| Weight Around 217 grams | Weight 218 grams |
We might, however, see some tweaks on the back side of the S26 Ultra. The S25 Ultra’s “floating camera rings” design wasn’t exactly universally loved, as the protruding lenses tend to gather pocket lint.
The S26 Ultra is expected to move away from the “floating lens ring” design and adopt a pill-shaped camera bar with metal camera rings. This should reduce lint buildup, improve structural rigidity, and help accommodate thicker optics for the updated camera system.
Color options are likely to stay within Samsung’s familiar palette of restrained, professional hues, so we can safely expect a black, silver, gray, and blue variants, alongside Samsung.com exclusives for those who want something a bit different.
One thing to keep note of when getting one of those Samsung.com exclusive colors is that they often take longer to repair if you have Samsung Care Plus. That's because spare parts for those special models are not as mass-produced, which means some regions might have limited quantities, if at all.
Display Differences
Samsung’s displays have long been an industry benchmark, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is already quite impressive with its excellent visibility and color accuracy.
This approach lowers power consumption and helps deliver higher peak brightness—up to 3,000 nits, compared to the S25 Ultra’s 2,600-nit ceiling. Moreover, the next Gorilla Armor layer is rumored to be even less reflective, improving outdoor visibility further.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Size 6.9" | Size 6.9" |
| Brightness 3000 nits (peak) | Brightness 2600 nits (peak) |
*Rumored/expected
Another interesting feature floating around the rumor mill is “Flex Magic Pixel,” an AI-assisted privacy display mode that limits viewing angles without dimming the image. However, newer leaks suggest this feature will not be exclusive to the Ultra and is expected to appear across the entire Galaxy S26 lineup. As a result, it improves usability but no longer serves as a unique Ultra differentiator.
Performance and Software
A new Snapdragon era, more AI smarts on board
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will almost certainly make the jump to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) chip.
Built on a refined 3 nm process, it promises significant GPU and NPU gains (around 30% and 40%, respectively), along with slightly faster CPU clocks compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite powering the S25 Ultra. Additionally, a new Adreno 840 GPU should bring better energy efficiency during graphic-intensive tasks.
One report claims the Galaxy S26 Ultra could mark Exynos’ return to Samsung’s top-tier flagship for the first time since the S22 Ultra. In some regions, the phone may use the new 2 nm Exynos 2600 instead of a Snapdragon chip.
Early leaked benchmarks sound surprisingly optimistic. The Exynos 2600 is rumored to outperform Apple’s A19 Pro in multi-core, graphics, and especially AI workloads, while also beating Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in AI and GPU performance.
New FCC documents strongly contradict those Exynos rumors, though. The documents reference Qualcomm-specific features like Smart Transmit Plus and list Snapdragon-only connectivity, pointing clearly toward a Snapdragon-based Ultra.
As a result, the Galaxy S26 Ultra now appears almost certain to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 worldwide. Other S26 models may still split chips by region, but the Ultra looks locked to Qualcomm once again.
As a result, the Galaxy S26 Ultra now appears almost certain to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 worldwide. Other S26 models may still split chips by region, but the Ultra looks locked to Qualcomm once again.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) | Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB 16/1TB nLPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage | RAM, Storage 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB 16/1TB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 4.0 storage |
Samsung is also expected to stick with 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, though this year’s memory modules are rumored to be an improved, faster version that should use slightly less power while boosting speeds.
Storage options will likely remain the same—256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB—and we can again expect Samsung to offer a “free storage upgrade” during the launch period for early adopters.
On the software front, the S26 Ultra will debut with Android 16 and One UI 8, extending Samsung’s seven-year update promise all the way to 2033.
We can also expect deeper integration with Google’s Gemini AI, as well as Samsung’s own generative tools like Live Translate, Note Assist, and AI-enhanced photo editing. Some rumors point to Samsung exploring partnerships with Perplexity AI, though Gemini remains the backbone of Galaxy AI for now.
Interestingly, reports suggest Samsung may temporarily gate new Galaxy AI features to the S26 Ultra at launch, with older flagships receiving them months later, which might not be received very well by users.
Some reports claim that Samsung will be adding a new 5G modem, the Qualcomm X85. If so, we expect it to bring faster data transfers, better battery efficiency, and AI tuning to top it off. The exact specs in the reports state peak download speeds of 12.5 Gbps and upload speeds of 3.7 Gbps.
Certification listings in China have also confirmed emergency satellite messaging support on at least one Galaxy S26 Ultra variant, suggesting Samsung is expanding satellite features beyond last year’s limited rollout.
Camera
A familiar formula with a potentially game-changing main sensor
The Galaxy S25 Ultra brought modest camera changes, improving software tuning and toning down Samsung’s tendency to oversharpen the image. For the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the changes might finally come in the form of hardware.
According to the latest leaks, the main 200 MP sensor could be replaced by a larger 1/1.1-inch Sony sensor; or, alternatively, Samsung might retain its HP2 sensor but widen the aperture to f/1.4.
Either path would significantly improve the ability to capture more light, which would result in an increased dynamic range and a shallower depth of field, giving photos a more natural bokeh without relying on portrait mode.
The rest of the setup is expected to remain the same: a 50 MP ultra-wide camera, a telephoto camera with 5x zoom, and a secondary telephoto camera with 3x zoom. Samsung’s color tuning will likely continue the “realistic” approach introduced with the S25 Ultra, favoring balanced colors over the overly vibrant look of older generations.
The rest of the setup is expected to remain the same: a 50 MP ultra-wide camera, a telephoto camera with 5x zoom, and a secondary telephoto camera with 3x zoom. Samsung’s color tuning will likely continue the “realistic” approach introduced with the S25 Ultra, favoring balanced colors over the overly vibrant look of older generations.
The selfie camera is expected to remain 12 MP, but with a wider field of view than before. This should make group selfies and handheld video more practical, even though the long-rumored under-display camera is no longer expected this year.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Main 200 MP, f/1.7 (or f/1.4) 24 mm ~1/1.1" sensor size | Main 50 MP, f/1.7 24 mm 1/1.3" sensor size |
| Ultrawide 50 MP, f/1.9 13 mm 1/2.5" sensor size | Ultrawide 50 MP, f/1.9 13 mm 1/2.5" sensor size |
| 5x Telephoto 50 MP, f/3.4 5X zoom (111mm) 1/2.52" sensor size | 5x Telephoto 50 MP, f/3.4 5X zoom (111mm) 1/2.52" sensor size |
| 3x Telephoto 10 MP, f/2.4 3x zoom (67mm) 1/3.52" sensor size | 3x Telephoto 10 MP, f/2.4 3x zoom (67mm) 1/3.52" sensor size |
As for video, this might be where Samsung focuses most of its attention. With Apple still leading in cinematic recording and stabilization, we expect Samsung to close the gap through smarter HDR algorithms, improved mic audio, and possibly new shooting modes.
One UI 8.5 code also reveals new video-focused controls, including adjustable autofocus transition speed and a “softness” slider for video sharpening. These tools would allow more precise control over cinematic focus pulls and control of the post-process sharpening, and they may be exclusive to the Ultra at launch.
Battery Life and Charging
Same capacity, possibly faster charging at last
Despite earlier rumors, certification documents now strongly suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain a 5,000 mAh battery, with Samsung focusing on faster charging and efficiency instead of increasing capacity.
Battery life on the S25 Ultra was already solid, getting an estimated eight hours in our battery score. That's not exactly class-leading, but it is definitely reliable for a full day and then some.
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Battery size 5,000 mAh | Battery size 5,000 mAh |
Charging speeds 60W wired 15W wireless charging Possible Qi2 magnetic support USB-C 3.2 | Charging speeds 45W wired 15W wireless charging Supports Qi2 but not magnets USB-C 3.2 |
Leaks hinting at 60W wired charging are arguably more exciting than the slight increase in battery capacity, though. This would be a welcome bump from the S25 Ultra’s 45W, which most other Samsung phones now offer as well (even mid-range ones). With this upgrade, the S26 Ultra could reach 50% charge in about 25 minutes vs the 35 minutes of the S25 Ultra.
Specs Comparison
Here's a quick overview of the expected Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra specs:
| Galaxy S26 Ultra* | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|
| Size, weight 162.8 x 77.6 x 7.9mm, 217 g | Size, weight 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm, 218 g |
| Screen 6.9" OLED 120Hz | Screen 6.9" OLED 120Hz |
| Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (for Galaxy) 3nm | Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite (for Galaxy) 3nm |
| Versions: 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB 16/1TB nLPDDR5X | Versions: 12/256GB 12/512GB 12/1TB 16/1TB LPDDR5X |
| Cameras: 200MP main 50MP ultrawide 50MP 5X zoom 10MP 3X zoom 12MP front | Cameras: 200MP main 50MP ultrawide 50MP 5X zoom 10MP 3X zoom 12MP front |
| Battery: 5,200 mAh | Battery: 5,000 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 60W wired 25W wireless | Charging: USB-C 450W wired 15W wireless |
*Rumored/expected
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Summary
If the reports about the Galaxy S26 Ultra turn out to be accurate, I think Samsung is preparing several upgrades that could genuinely improve the day-to-day experience. Some of these changes could realistically be noticeable in everyday use.
A major main-camera upgrade is rumored, alongside a new display feature on an already class-leading panel. The really exciting part for me is the faster charging and potential magnetic wireless charging support. Both are upgrades that we have been waiting for years to see on Samsung's flagship phones.
The bad news is that the price remains uncertain at this stage, mainly because of all that's going on in the industry at the moment. Some leaks warn of increases due to RAM shortages and higher component costs. One scenario suggests Samsung may raise prices on cheaper S26 models while keeping the Ultra stable.
If prices remain the same, though, this might be one of the rare years I would seriously consider upgrading. For anyone coming from an older Ultra, or looking for Samsung’s most refined Android flagship yet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up very well so far.
A major main-camera upgrade is rumored, alongside a new display feature on an already class-leading panel. The really exciting part for me is the faster charging and potential magnetic wireless charging support. Both are upgrades that we have been waiting for years to see on Samsung's flagship phones.
The bad news is that the price remains uncertain at this stage, mainly because of all that's going on in the industry at the moment. Some leaks warn of increases due to RAM shortages and higher component costs. One scenario suggests Samsung may raise prices on cheaper S26 models while keeping the Ultra stable.
If prices remain the same, though, this might be one of the rare years I would seriously consider upgrading. For anyone coming from an older Ultra, or looking for Samsung’s most refined Android flagship yet, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up very well so far.
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