Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Private and Performant

Samsung is nothing if not consistent. Every year, like clockwork, they drop a new Galaxy S lineup. Rumors about shaking up the naming or dropping a model didn’t materialize, so we’re back with the S26, S26 Plus, and the big daddy S26 Ultra.

The Ultra, starting at $1,300, is the cash cow. It’s absurd when you think about it — you can get a perfectly fine phone for a third of that price. But the Ultra isn’t for the budget-conscious. It’s for people who want the biggest, the baddest, and the most feature-packed slab of glass and metal Samsung can make.

And honestly? It delivers. The S26 Ultra is a beast. It’s powerful, the screen is gorgeous, and Samsung’s software support is now among the best in the Android world. You’ll get updates for years. That alone justifies some of the cost if you plan to keep the phone for a while.

But here’s the rub: Samsung has gone all-in on AI. And I mean all-in. There’s AI for photos, AI for summaries, AI for translation, AI for your calendar, AI for your notes. It’s everywhere. If you’re not into that — and I suspect many of you aren’t — the phone starts to feel cluttered. Some of these features are genuinely useful. Others feel like they exist just to check a box.

Privacy-wise, Samsung is pushing on-device processing harder than ever. That’s a good thing. Most of the AI stuff runs locally, which means your data isn’t getting shipped off to some cloud server. It’s a smart move, especially as regulators and users get more paranoid about data collection. I’d like to see more transparency about what does get sent out, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Performance is flagship-tier, as expected. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or whatever Samsung’s calling it this year) handles everything you throw at it without breaking a sweat. Battery life is solid — a full day is easy, and with the fast charging, you’re back up in no time. The camera system is still excellent, though I’d argue the gap with Google and Apple is narrowing. Samsung’s processing can be a bit heavy-handed, especially with skin tones.

Here’s the thing that sticks with me: other phone makers are scaling back. Component prices are through the roof, and companies are cutting corners. Samsung hasn’t. The S26 Ultra still has a headphone jack? No, of course not. But it has everything else. A stylus, a telephoto lens that actually works, a bright display, and that long-term support.

Is it worth $1,300? That depends. If you want the absolute best Android phone money can buy and you’re willing to tolerate Samsung’s AI obsession, yes. If you’re happy with a Pixel or an iPhone, you’re not missing much. But in a world where everyone is nickel-and-diming you, the S26 Ultra feels like a genuine flagship that doesn’t compromise. That might end up being its biggest selling point.