Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review – A Mature Evolution

The Samsung Galaxy S series has reached a point of maturity where radical year-over-year changes are a rarity. Instead, Samsung has pivoted toward refining the user experience through hardware-level privacy, optical precision and software features. I’ve spent the last week with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in its striking Cobalt Violet finish (12GB RAM + 256GB storage), and it’s a device that feels like a polished design that takes years in the making.

Design: A Return to Familiar Strength

One of the most talked-about changes this year is the departure from titanium. Samsung has returned to Armor Aluminum for the S26 Ultra’s frame. To be completely honest, I don’t particularly care about the switch back to aluminum; most users would just slapped a case on this phone. Whether the metal underneath is Grade 5 Titanium or reinforced aluminum becomes a moot point the moment it’s tucked away for protection.

Visually, the S26 Ultra is almost identical to the S25 Ultra, but the refinements are felt in the hand. The corners are now more rounded, which significantly improves comfort during long sessions of one-handed use.

However, the camera bump is noticeably more protruded this time around. It serves as a visual indicator of the hardware upgrades hidden within those lenses. Overall, this is a matured design that prioritizes ergonomics without sacrificing its iconic silhouette.

To achieve the slimmer 7.9mm chassis, Samsung had to redesign the S Pen, making it significantly thinner than before. I am not a fan of this new S Pen. Because it is so slim, it is much more difficult to handle and grip comfortably for writing or sketching. Furthermore, the build quality on the stylus feels like a step backward; the clicker on my unit has noticeably squeaky springs, which is disappointing for a premium flagship. While the phone itself feels matured, the S Pen feels like it was compromised to hit a thickness target.

The World’s First Privacy Display

The standout feature of the S26 Ultra is undoubtedly the Privacy Display. This isn’t just a software filter; it’s a hardware-level implementation that controls the subpixels to narrow the viewing angle.

While some netizens have argued that you could achieve the same result with a RM20 privacy screen protector, there is a fundamental difference here. Traditional screen protectors only block left and right peripheral vision. Samsung’s solution is multi-directional, applying to top and bottom angles as well.

The real utility, however, is the automation. You can customize the display to trigger privacy mode only when specific conditions are met—such as launching a banking app or when a sensitive notification pops up. For someone who frequently handles emails and documents in public spaces, having a display that “tucks itself in” automatically is a massive quality-of-life improvement that a plastic sticker simply cannot replicate.

Camera: Brighter Optics and “Action Cam” Tricks

Samsung hasn’t chased higher megapixel counts this year, choosing instead to focus on light intake.

• Main Sensor: The 200MP sensor now features a wider f/1.4 aperture (down from f/1.7).
• Telephoto: The 5x periscope lens has been bumped to f/2.9.

In practice, this leads to much cleaner low-light photography with less digital noise. Checkout the gallery for photo samples:

But the most “bizarre” yet impressive addition is the Horizontal Lock feature in video mode. Typically found on action cameras like a GoPro, this keeps the video horizon perfectly level even if the phone is rotated.

I’ve seen YouTubers strapping the phone to vehicle wheels to demonstrate the tech—and while we certainly won’t be using a phone in that way, the underlying benefit is clear: it provides an incredible level of stability for everyday handheld shots. Whether you’re walking or quickly panning, the footage remains eerily steady.

One UI 8.5: Proactive AI and “Now Nudge”

The S26 Ultra ships with One UI 8.5, which shifts Galaxy AI from a set of “tools you find” to “features that find you.”

• Now Nudge: This is the headline software feature. The OS now understands context across apps. If a friend texts you about dinner next week, a small “Nudge” pop-up appears with your calendar availability or restaurant suggestions, removing the need to jump between apps.
• Photo Assist & Creative Studio: You can now edit or create images using natural language prompts.

Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Powering the S26 Ultra is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Compared to the S25 Ultra, we are looking at a significant jump in raw power:

• CPU: ~19% improvement in multi-core tasks.
• GPU: ~24% faster, which is particularly noticeable in heavy gaming titles.
• NPU: A staggering 39% boost, which drives the local AI processing Galaxy AI and camera features.

Despite the power increase, the device runs surprisingly cool, thanks to a redesigned internal vapor chamber.

You can check out our sister site’s gaming test on the phone to learn more about the new chipset’s performance.

Battery Life

The battery remains at 5,000mAh, but the efficiency of the 3nm Gen 5 chipset is apparent. In my testing, the phone easily lasted a full working day with roughly 30~40% left by bedtime. Your mileage may vary. Samsung claims up to 31 hours of video playback, and while real-world use involves more “mixed” activities, it’s safe to say you won’t be hunting for a charger mid-afternoon. When you do need a top-up, the new 60W wired charging can hit a 75% charge in just 30 minutes.

Verdict

In Malaysia, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (12GB + 256GB) retails at RM5,999. During the launch period, Samsung is offering various “double storage” promotions and instant rebates that can bring the effective price down further, making it a competitive high-end flagship.

The S26 Ultra is not a “reinvention” of the smartphone. It is a refinement of a the existing formula. The Privacy Display is a genuine innovation for everyone, and the optical upgrades make it one of the most capable mobile cameras on the market. If you’re coming from an S24 Ultra or older, the leap in performance and display tech makes this an easy recommendation. For S25 Ultra owners, unless you really want to have the new privacy display, otherwise I would hold onto the S25 Ultra for another year.