Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: First Hands-On Impressions
Samsung introduces a thinner design, improved AI features, and a 200MP camera in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Samsung has done it again. The Galaxy S26 Ultra arrives with a radical redesign — thinner, lighter, and more refined than any Ultra before it.
Design: Thinner Than Ever
At just 7.9mm, the S26 Ultra is the thinnest Ultra Samsung has ever built. The titanium frame now features a brushed matte finish that resists fingerprints beautifully. The flat display returns with even slimmer bezels.
The weight drops to 218g, down from 234g on the S25 Ultra. In the hand, the difference is immediately noticeable.
Camera: 200MP Gets Smarter
The 200MP primary sensor returns with Samsung's new ProVisual Engine 3.0. Low-light performance takes a massive leap — Nightography now uses multi-frame AI fusion that's genuinely impressive.
New AI Photography Features
Samsung's Galaxy AI now offers real-time object removal, intelligent composition suggestions, and a "Pro Mode" that uses AI to suggest optimal manual settings.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 brings a 30% GPU improvement and 20% better power efficiency. This is comfortably the fastest Android phone we've tested.
Battery & Charging
Samsung bumps the battery to 5,500mAh and introduces 65W wired charging. A full charge from zero takes approximately 35 minutes.
First Impressions Verdict
The Galaxy S26 Ultra feels like Samsung listened to every piece of feedback. It's thinner, lighter, faster, and smarter.