Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: 7 Key Upgrades Worth Knowing in 2026
Samsung's Galaxy Ultra lineup has always been the gold standard for Android flagship smartphones. But with the Galaxy S26 Ultra now officially here, the burning question on every tech enthusiast's mind is: just how much better is it than last year's S25 Ultra? Whether you're upgrading from the S25 Ultra or still rocking the S24 Ultra, this deep dive breaks down every meaningful change — and helps you decide if 2026 is finally the year to make the leap.
Photo by Moisés Fattel on Unsplash | Source
1. Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite
The single biggest performance upgrade in the S26 Ultra is the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (also marketed as the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy). Built on TSMC's next-generation node, this chip delivers meaningful CPU and GPU gains over the already-excellent Snapdragon 8 Elite found in the S25 Ultra.
What does that mean in practice?
- Faster on-device AI processing — more tasks run locally without needing cloud connectivity
- Improved thermal efficiency, meaning sustained performance during gaming or heavy workloads
- Enhanced ray tracing for mobile gaming at console-like quality
For everyday use, you won't notice a massive difference from the S25 Ultra. But if you push your phone hard — 4K video editing, prolonged gaming sessions, or heavy multitasking — the S26 Ultra handles thermal throttling noticeably better.
2. Camera System: What's Actually New
Samsung made significant refinements to the camera array, though the headline numbers look similar at first glance.
Key camera changes in the S26 Ultra:
- 200MP main sensor — same resolution as S25 Ultra, but Samsung has upgraded the sensor binning algorithm for better low-light performance
- 50MP 5x telephoto — improved stabilization with an updated optical image stabilization (OIS) system
- Video upgrades — the S26 Ultra supports higher bitrate ProVideo recording modes, giving videographers more flexibility in post-production
- AI-powered zoom: Samsung's Zoom Anyplace feature gets smarter with the new chip, tracking subjects more reliably during video capture
If you're coming from the S24 Ultra, the camera improvement is significant. From the S25 Ultra? The gains are more incremental — but real, especially in video.
Photo by Obi Onyeador on Pexels | Source
3. Design: Subtle but Meaningful Refinements
The Galaxy S25 Ultra already moved away from the boxy, angular aesthetic of the S24 Ultra toward a more rounded, comfortable-in-hand design. The S26 Ultra continues this philosophy with a few notable tweaks:
- Slightly thinner profile — Samsung has shaved a fraction of a millimeter, making it feel more premium in hand
- New titanium frame finish options — including a new matte colorway that resists fingerprints better than previous generations
- Repositioned S Pen silo — marginally smoother ejection mechanism for one-handed access
The display remains a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, though Samsung has bumped peak brightness to keep it competitive with Apple's ProMotion display technology. Reading outdoors in direct sunlight is noticeably better.
4. S Pen: Still Here, Still Unique
In a market where stylus support is increasingly rare, Samsung continues to differentiate the Ultra line with the built-in S Pen. The S26 Ultra's S Pen experience benefits from:
- Lower latency writing thanks to the faster processor
- AI Sketch to Image — draw a rough sketch, and the Galaxy AI system generates polished artwork or diagrams from it
- Improved pressure sensitivity for artists and note-takers
If the S Pen is a key part of your workflow, the S26 Ultra's refinements here are genuinely useful, particularly for professionals who use their phone as a portable creative studio.
5. Battery and Charging
Both phones carry a 5,000mAh battery, so raw capacity hasn't changed. However, thanks to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, real-world battery life on the S26 Ultra should see modest improvements — expect an additional 30-60 minutes of screen-on time under typical mixed use, based on early benchmark data and manufacturer claims.
Charging speeds remain:
- 45W wired charging
- 15W wireless charging
- 4.5W reverse wireless charging
This is one area where Samsung continues to lag behind competitors like OnePlus or even certain Chinese flagship brands that offer 100W+ wired charging. If fast charging is a priority, this remains a frustration point for both the S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra.
Photo by Saliem Moeslan on Pexels | Source
6. Galaxy AI Features: What's New in 2026
Perhaps the most exciting additions to the S26 Ultra aren't hardware at all — they're AI-driven software features built on top of the One UI 8 platform:
- Now Nudge 2.0 — Samsung's proactive AI assistant now integrates with third-party apps more seamlessly, anticipating your next action based on context
- Live Translate enhancements — real-time translation now supports more dialects and works offline for 20+ languages
- AI Photo Remaster — automatically restores and upscales older photos in your gallery
- Note Assist Pro — summarizes lengthy PDFs and documents directly within Samsung Notes
Many of these features are also being pushed via software update to the S25 Ultra, so if you're on last year's model, don't assume you're completely missing out.
7. Price and Value Proposition
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at approximately $1,299 in the US — in line with where the S25 Ultra launched. Here's a quick value breakdown:
| Feature | S24 Ultra | S25 Ultra | S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 |
| Main Camera | 200MP | 200MP | 200MP (improved) |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Starting Price | ~$1,299 | ~$1,299 | ~$1,299 |
Should you upgrade?
- From S24 Ultra: Yes — the chip, camera video improvements, and AI features represent a meaningful generational leap.
- From S25 Ultra: Probably not — the incremental gains don't justify the cost unless you're eligible for a strong trade-in deal.
- New buyer in 2026: The S26 Ultra is the best Samsung has ever made, and it's the right choice if you want the absolute best Android experience.
Final Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is an outstanding flagship smartphone that refines nearly every element of its predecessor. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it tightens every spoke. The combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, enhanced camera video capabilities, brighter display, and expanded Galaxy AI features makes it the most complete Android flagship you can buy in early 2026.
If you're shopping for a new Ultra-tier device — or upgrading from the S24 Ultra or older — the S26 Ultra deserves serious consideration. S25 Ultra owners, however, can comfortably sit this one out and wait to see what Samsung has in store for 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth upgrading from the S25 Ultra?
For most S25 Ultra owners, the upgrade is hard to justify unless you have a strong trade-in offer. The improvements — while real — are incremental rather than transformative. If you're coming from the S24 Ultra or older, the upgrade is much more compelling.
What is the biggest improvement in the Galaxy S26 Ultra over the S25 Ultra?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset is the headline hardware upgrade, delivering better thermal management and on-device AI performance. Alongside this, the improved video recording capabilities and enhanced Galaxy AI features round out the most meaningful changes.
How much does the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra cost in 2026?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at approximately $1,299 in the United States, consistent with the launch price of the S25 Ultra. Samsung frequently offers trade-in promotions and pre-order bundles that can significantly reduce the effective cost.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra still have the S Pen?
Yes, the S Pen remains a defining feature of the Ultra lineup and is built directly into the S26 Ultra. Samsung has enhanced it with lower latency writing, improved pressure sensitivity, and new AI-powered features like Sketch to Image.
What are the new Galaxy AI features on the S26 Ultra?
The S26 Ultra introduces Now Nudge 2.0 for smarter proactive suggestions, enhanced Live Translate with offline support for 20+ languages, AI Photo Remaster for restoring older images, and Note Assist Pro for summarizing documents. Some features are also being rolled out to the S25 Ultra via software updates.
