Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Privacy Display, Insane Camera Zoom, and a Chip That Could Power a Laptop

I wasn’t always Team iPhone. Before I finally caved to peer pressure and bought my first iPhone, I was a die-hard Android user. But after spending two weeks with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, I’m seriously questioning my loyalty.

Here’s the thing—opening a flagship Samsung review by name-dropping Apple kind of gives away the plot. In January, Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s top smartphone brand, despite still not having a foldable phone (yes, I’m still dreaming about the Galaxy Z Trifold).

I took 1,461 photos, shot 93 videos, and even used this beast to report live from an Apple event. The more I used it, the harder it became to go back to my iPhone.

What’s Actually New in 2026?

In this era of barely-there upgrades, the S26 Ultra brings legitimate improvements. The camera system finally gets meaningful upgrades (keep scrolling for unedited test shots), and Samsung’s new custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor is a beast—capable of powering a laptop, as Apple recently proved with the MacBook Neo.

But the real star? Privacy Display, a hardware innovation we rarely see anymore.

Apple’s recent “innovation” was the iPhone Air, which has largely underwhelmed. Meanwhile, Samsung keeps pushing boundaries with foldables and features like Privacy Display.

Key Specs:

• 6.9-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
• 5000 mAh battery (31 hours video playback)
• IP68 rating with Gorilla Armor 2
• 200MP main camera with improved low-light capabilities

Privacy Display: The Coolest Trick in Mobile

Privacy Display lets you hide your screen from prying eyes at the pixel level. You can black out specific sections—perfect for notifications or sensitive apps. I’ve activated it specifically for banking apps and drama-filled group chats.

The first time you see a notification black out as you tilt the screen, it feels like magic. As someone who scrolls social media on the subway daily, I appreciate not having to worry about NSFW content popping up unexpectedly.

Important caveat: It’s not 100% foolproof. The effect is noticeable and should deter casual snoopers, but it’s not a complete blackout. Some tech journalists (myself included) are geeking out over this feature, though non-techies have sometimes been underwhelmed.

Still, I think it’s really frickin’ cool, FWIW.

Performance That Rivals Gaming Laptops

The Geekbench 6 scores are staggering: 10,827 multi-core (10.7% higher than iPhone 17 Pro Max) and 3,524 single-core. For context, that single-core score is higher than some elite gaming laptops.

I pushed this phone to the limit—4K video at 120fps while running dozens of apps—and it never slowed down. The improved vapor chamber kept overheating at bay.

So why am I not convinced this will be my daily driver? Because it’s just too damn big. I have large hands, but this is a two-hander phone. It’s slim enough to fit in pockets, but the feel never quite felt right.

I’m not sure I need this much phone, literally and figuratively. That said, it’s incredibly future-proofed for hardcore techies.

The Display: Gorgeous, But Not Quite 10-bit

Samsung initially claimed a 10-bit display, then clarified it’s actually 8-bit that simulates 10-bit using software. You probably won’t notice the difference. What matters: the 6.9-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED is gorgeous, with HDR10 support and 2,400 nits peak brightness.

AI Features Galore

Samsung is calling these “AI smartphones” for good reason. Gemini, Perplexity, and Bixby all come preloaded. You can long-press the side button for instant Gemini access, use Circle to Search, or go live with screen sharing.

The AI image features are genuinely useful—generate images, edit photos, erase background details. Crucially, Samsung labels AI-generated content, which is refreshing given the deepfake problem.

In the Camera and Gallery apps, you can circle details to edit or remove (the S Pen makes this incredibly easy). In my testing, these features work intuitively and consistently impress.

Camera Test: The Real Star of the Show

Both the S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra have identical camera arrays:

• 200MP wide
• 50MP ultra-wide
• 50MP telephoto with 10x optical zoom
• 10MP with 3x optical zoom
• 12MP front-facing

The difference? Wider apertures for better light capture and improved Super Steady video capabilities.

All following photos are unedited unless noted.

The main camera captures color incredibly well without oversaturation and delivers exceptional detail. Even on overcast NYC winter days, the results impressed me.

The zoom capabilities are where this phone truly shines. At 2x and 3x zoom, you barely lose sharpness. The color remains consistent. When you hit 100x digital zoom, quality degrades, but the fact you can zoom that far is remarkable.

Night photography continues to impress. It’s clearly using AI to fill gaps, but the results are stunning—sometimes almost too good to be realistic.

The $1,299 Question

Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra worth it? If you’re an Android-curious iOS user, is it worth defecting?

I’m sorely tempted, even though it’s not quite for me. It’s too much phone for my needs. I’m saving myself for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 (or the mythical Z Trifold if it ever comes back in stock).

For dedicated Android users, professional creators, AI power users, or developers who can leverage that Snapdragon processor, the S26 Ultra is absolutely worth the investment.

Galaxy S26 Ultra at AT&T with trade-in and unlimited plan

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