Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:

REVIEW: Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with privacy screen and maintains excellent cameras.

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The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features groundbreaking screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other innovations. Check out what we think of it:

O Galaxy s26 ultra It was launched in Brazil at the end of February with an exclusive privacy screen and, until the closing of this review, was the only device in the world with this technology. The smartphone is set to change the game in the world of Android phones and features a lot of AI, even if it doesn't stray too far from what we've seen in previous years. See the full review:

Design

Galaxy s26 ultra variants
(Photo edited using artificial intelligence)

The first design change across the entire line. Galaxy S26 The difference is that all variants will now have the same color. So, regardless of whether you choose the base, plus, or Ultra variant, the colors will be the same. Violet, White, Black and Blue, beyond the colors Golden e SilverThe available options, exclusively for online purchase through the Samsung Official Store app or website, are the ones we received. The company sent us the violet variant, which is very elegant and features a matte back.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra It distances itself even further from the appearance seen in the last three generations, inherited from the (may it rest in peace) line. Galaxy Note.

Galay s26 ultra purple
Galay S26 Ultra has even more rectangular bezels (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

A Samsung They stopped using titanium on the edges and now use aluminum again, which prevents the device from slipping as much, but also reduces its long-term durability. Compared to the weight of the Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams), the Galaxy S26 Ultra is also lighter (214 grams). It may seem like a minimal difference, but it helps with everyday use for longer periods.

galaxy s26 ultra
Samsung stopped using titanium and returned to aluminum (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The model retains its IP68 certification (resistance to dust and immersion in fresh water up to 1,5m), but Samsung warns: the seal is for accidents, not for underwater recording.

Galaxy S26 Ultra screen
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

In this way, the Galaxy s26 ultra It aligns more closely with the visual identity of the rest of the Galaxy S line, adopting a shape with more rounded corners. This geometric change not only unifies the family's design but also significantly improves ergonomics.

The straight, pointed edges are a thing of the past generation, and the new design is very welcome, ensuring much more comfort during extended use, especially for those who spend hours holding their smartphone to watch videos, play games, or use social media.

S Pen pen

Galaxy S26 es Pen
S Pen remains without Bluetooth (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The AS Pen remains available and built into the device, but without any new features. Just as with the transition to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra's pen hasn't changed and continues without Bluetooth connectivity. This means it has lost those extra uses we had before, such as remotely activating the camera or opening specific apps. It basically serves only as an item for writing and interacting with the screen.

Galaxy S26 Ultra ES Pen
The S Pen remains solely as a drawing tool (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Despite being a simpler tool without wireless connectivity, the accessory is still very interesting for those who like to draw on the screen. It's also excellent for daily productivity, allowing you to take quick notes with the screen locked, save them, and use them later in the day. It fulfills the basics, but without the technological tricks of the past.

Fabric

Galaxy S26 Ultra screen
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The Galaxy S26Ultra It also retains the same 6,9-inch screen size as last year. And the screen technology used in all of them is... 2X Dynamic AMOLEDAlso without generational changes. This display also has a 6,9″ QHD+ (3120×1440) resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. What was already good in the Galaxy S25 Ultra continues to work here.

The big news of Galaxy s26 ultra it's for the privacy screenBasically, by unifying software and hardware, the pixels are "closed" so that only those looking at the center of the screen see the content. It has three "stages":

  • Protection for app notifications at the top of the screen.
  • Partial screen protection
  • Full screen protection

The privacy screen is, by far, one of the best features ever seen, but you only understand it when you use it daily. There are still privacy films available online, but it's important to note that here the technology of... Samsung It is literally integrated into the hardware and software.

Galaxy S26 Ultra screen
The privacy screen is integrated into the hardware (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The feature that hides app notifications is very interesting and useful: imagine you're on the subway, in an elevator, or anywhere else surrounded by strangers, and suddenly information about a money transfer is exposed. Or, imagine a confidential message being read by people peeking at the corners of your screen. Simply activate the privacy screen and that's it, nothing will be seen by snoopers anymore.

Galaxy S26 Ultra privacy screen
Pop-up notifications remain hidden (Photo: Press Release/Samsung)

Partial screen protection affects the entire screen, but instead of completely hiding the content, it makes the images more "blurred" (out of focus). It's a very useful feature when making payments in banking apps. You can even schedule automatic activation when opening specific apps like WhatsApp, banking apps, gallery, and others of your choice, directly in the device settings.

Galaxy S26 Ultra privacy screen
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's privacy screen uses a thin, whitish layer to hide everything (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Maximum screen privacy protection drastically restricts the viewing angle. The screen pixels are adjusted so that only those looking directly at the center of the device can see the content. This is ideal when very private information needs to be accessed with people nearby, such as checking bank balances, viewing credit cards, signing documents, etc.

It's important to point out, however, that in dark mode the screen gains a kind of whitish layer that may seem strange at first glance. It's not a major problem; in fact, it's a trade-off: your privacy will be protected, but you'll have to sacrifice some of the screen's visual quality for it to work. This doesn't happen in light mode, but if you, like me, prefer to use dark mode, you'll need to get used to it. It's a double-edged sword.

Galaxy S26 Ultra privacy screen
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's native privacy screen comes as an ace up its sleeve that seems obvious, but which no other company had tried to integrate directly into its devices. Samsung managed to implement it successfully and, although the technology isn't completely innovative or the deciding factor in buying the smartphone, it's a very interesting feature to have.

Processor

Snapdragon 8th Gen 5 Elite
(Photo: Reproduction/Qualcomm)

Moving on to the hardware, the processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy It delivers the power to keep you from freezing and runs everything smoothly. The physical highlight is the vapor chamber that provides cooling. 20% higher compared to the previous generation. In practice, this manages heat much better in more demanding games, such as Asphalt 9, Destiny: Rising and others.

Editing high-quality videos on the device flows so smoothly that it doesn't even seem to demand much from the system. Working with projects full of layers on the device is a breeze. CapCut or abuse the editing tools themselves Instagram Creating Reels in Edits was a quick and seamless experience.

System and interface

Galaxy S26 Ultra One UI 8.5
The entire Galaxy S26 line will receive seven years of updates (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

A Samsung took advantage of the launch of the new line Galaxy S26 to also launch its new interface, the One UI 8.5but still under the Android 16It should become available for other devices throughout the year and can be considered a more subtle update compared to One UI 8 in terms of design, but it does bring some improvements in terms of fluidity. The major design change should be reserved for One UI 9, which is expected to arrive in July, along with the brand's new foldable devices.

It is worth remembering that Samsung Following the seven-year operating system update pattern, the Galaxy S26 Ultra (and also the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+) will receive Android 23 as soon as it becomes available. The same applies to security patches. This ensures you'll have the most up-to-date system even after years of use.

New Galaxy AI features

A Galaxy A.I. It gained a series of new features with the launch of One UI 8.5, improving what was good, but also leaving something to be desired in other aspects. It's still possible to use instant translation, have access to Now Brief, and... all features We already know what's new, so let's focus on what's new.

The new Bixby

Bixby
Bixby is better than last year, but still needs some improvements (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Samsung announced a highly anticipated update for Bixby during the Galaxy S26 launch eventThe proposal is to integrate a new language model that allows the assistant to go beyond simple answers, making it much more autonomous.

The idea works in parts. It can already perform actions within apps at the user's request, such as ordering an Uber, but it struggles to go further, such as searching for dishes on iFood. However, it still stumbles in understanding some voice commands, which means that when it performs the correct action, it sends incorrect information to the apps.

Bixby ordering an Uber on a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung's AI has errors, but it can operate autonomously (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

One positive aspect is that answers are now supplemented by quick internet searches, saving the trouble of opening a browser, typing, and searching for the information.

The coming months and years for Bixby look promising. Samsung I needed an alternative that was up to par. Google Gemini, which has evolved considerably over time. Although the Bixby it still doesn't have a continuous conversation mode like the Gemini LiveNothing prevents this feature from arriving in the future. Ultimately, the progress compared to a year ago is remarkable, which is already an excellent advancement.

Personal assistant Perplexity

Hey plex from Samsung
The Perplexity Assistant is natively integrated into the Galaxy S26 (Photo: Reproduction/Samsung)

A Samsung closed a partnership with Perplexity to boost the BixbyWith that, the assistant of Perplexity It can be quickly activated by the voice command “Hey Plex”. It understands complex commands and performs end-to-end tasks without you having to type anything.

The app itself can be installed on any Android or iOS device, but the native voice activation via "Hey Plex," at least in this initial launch phase of One UI 8.5, is exclusive to the Galaxy S26 line.

O Perplexity It has a better understanding and, when I asked it to request a ride on Uber, it understood the destination and showed all the trip options, leaving only the task of confirming the ride. It's interesting to note that it is visibly more complete than Bixby and easily serves as a possible replacement for Google Gemini, which still cannot operate within third-party applications.

Samsung's Perplexity
Perplexity understands commands more accurately (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

There are still limitations, of course. The Perplexity does not control smart home devices, a task that remains exclusive to BixbyFurthermore, even with access to Spotify enabled, it still makes some mistakes when playing music. The tool works very well 90% of the time, but it lacks that 10% to be perfect.

The ideal combination I found for everyday wear was: Perplexity to handle external tasks and Bixby for controlling devices connected to the SmartThings or simpler tasks (activated by the side button or by “Hey Bixby”). In the end, Samsung nailed the combination, delivering agentic AIs that do much more than answer simple questions.

Now Nudge

Now nudge da galaxy ai
(Photo: Reproduction/Samsung)

Now Nudge is a feature with great potential for short-term development. The idea is that Galaxy AI will analyze the context of sent and received messages to create smart shortcuts on the Samsung Keyboard — such as making it easier to send party photos as soon as you get home and your friends ask for pictures.

In photo sharing, it works intermittently, and in about two weeks with the device, it only correctly handled the user's request once. Samsung also prevents integration with Calendar and Google Maps, but at least here, everything seems to be under improvement. See the test below for a description of the operating system:

Now nudge da galaxy ai
Now Nudge still needs some adjustments to be more effective (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

It's a tool that still needs refinement, but it has the potential to become smarter with user feedback in this initial phase.

Creative Studio

Creative studio is the biggest success of One UI 8.5.
Creative Studio is the biggest success of One UI 8.5 (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Samsung has decided to create an app dedicated to those who enjoy editing images with AI. The idea is reminiscent of... Image Playground da Apple And it basically follows the same concept: it's possible to generate images from scratch using text commands, just like we do in... ChatGPT or GeminiThe advantage is doing this directly on the smartphone natively, without needing to download a secondary app and free from the usage limits that these platforms usually impose.

The feature offers various image generation styles, such as 3D drawing, soft illustration, pen drawing, and more. Simply use your creativity in the text prompts or upload your photos to create a wide variety of images at no additional cost. See some results:

  • Image of a man generated via Samsung's AI.
  • Image of a man generated via Samsung's AI.
  • Image of a dog generated via Samsung AI.
  • Image of a dog generated via Samsung AI.

But the best new feature of Creative Studio is the ability to edit photos already saved in the gallery using text as well. This includes the ease of removing unknown objects or people from the image background.

You can change the mood of a landscape, add new elements, and get the photo ready for social media. This addition is very welcome for those who already used Samsung's editing tools, making the process much more dynamic. See the before and after by browsing through the photos:

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Image of a building generated via Samsung AI.

You can still use the traditional Galaxy AI directly in the Gallery to tap or circle what you want to delete, but simply typing the command ends up being much more practical. And accuracy remains the same, see the before and after:

Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:

The best part is that devices receiving the One UI 8.5 update soon should also get this new feature, just like when they received Galaxy AI support. A huge improvement to a tool that was already great.

Noise removal for videos

Galaxy AI noise canceller
(Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

A great addition for those who consume a lot of content on their cell phone is the noise cancellation feature, which is compatible with... YouTube, Instagram, Netflix and othersThe feature is automatically activated on the speakers, with the audio improvement noticeable in real time. The idea is interesting, but it runs into a frustrating limitation: it only works when the headphones are disconnected.

call filter

Samsung call filter
Samsung's call filter answers and records potential spam (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

This is the end of spam and telemarketing calls. The filter goes far beyond what the name suggests: in addition to identifying the contact, the artificial intelligence answers the call like an answering machine and records the audio for you to listen to later. It's basically the... Call Screen from Google — previously restricted to the Pixel line and a few devices — but now accessible to a much larger audience.

This new feature is an excellent example of the practical use of artificial intelligence. It saves you from answering unwanted calls (even those that don't go straight to spam block) and allows you to follow the audio transcription in real time, giving you the option to take over the call at any time if it's important. Without a doubt, it's one of the biggest successes of One UI 8.5 and a very welcome integration into Samsung's Phone app.

Rear cameras

galaxy s26 ultra rear cameras
The Galaxy S26 Ultra's rear cameras have had changes to their aperture for clearer photos and videos (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Samsung maintained the same megapixel count for the cameras, but there are some changes in aperture, resulting in better light capture for brighter photos, as well as better videos even at night. The excellence of the Galaxy S line remains, improving what was already good. Let's go through the practical use of each one:

Main lens (200 MP)

Galaxy S26 Ultra taking a 200MP photo.
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The main lens of the Galaxy S26 Ultra remains the highlight of the camera setup. With a 200-megapixel sensor, it offers an incredible ability to capture detail, allowing for aggressive image cropping without losing original photo quality. This is complemented by... ProVisual Engine Algorithm, which is able to enhance images through AI to deliver even more detail.

  • Photo of a dog taken with a Galaxy S26 Ultra.
  • Photo of a dog taken with a Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The change in aperture is a great addition, delivering brighter photos for better captures during the day and especially at night. The jump from the previous generation's f/1.7 aperture to the new f/1.4 allows the sensor to absorb much more light, drastically reducing visual noise in dark environments and improving exposure time. Check out this cute little monkey captured by the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200MP lens:

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Photo of a monkey taken with a Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Another strong point for daily use is the introduction of the native 24-megapixel mode. It intelligently blends the maximum resolution with the brightness of the standard mode, ensuring superior dynamic range and saving storage space on the device.

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Photo of a trio of young people taken with a Galaxy S26 Ultra.
  • Photo of the moon taken with the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

In practice, it's an extremely reliable camera for any scenario. The autofocus is quick and the captured colors maintain a realistic profile, leaving image processing focused on delivering accurate results straight to the gallery, without requiring heavy post-processing.

Spring Wide (50MP)

Galaxy S26 Ultra's 50MP lens
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Here too, the change in apertures comes as a great addition, delivering much brighter photos for better daytime and especially nighttime shots. The evolution from f/2.2 to f/1.9 allows wide-angle photos taken in low light to avoid blur or darkness, something very common in previous generations.

Flower photo taken by galaxy s26 ultra
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The software processing does a great job of correcting distortions at the edges of the images. Even with a very wide field of view, the straight lines of buildings and horizons remain natural, without that exaggerated fisheye effect.

Flower photo taken by galaxy s26 ultra
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

It's a lens that finally gets the spotlight it deserves in the overall package. You can switch to it with the confidence that the final photo will have a very high level of detail, regardless of the ambient lighting.

Telephoto lenses (10 MP and 50 MP)

Photo taken by galaxy s26 ultra
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The telephoto lenses maintain the versatility that made the Ultra line famous, offering two optical zoom options: a 3x optical zoom with 10 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom periscope with 50 megapixels. This division allows you to cover virtually any focal length in everyday use with maximum precision. But the 10x zoom and even the 100x zoom are impressive for such a small device delivering such quality. This photo was taken with 10x zoom, from the same position as the photo above:

Photo taken by galaxy s26 ultra
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

In close-up lenses, the change in apertures is a great addition, delivering excellent, brighter photos for better daytime and especially nighttime shots. The 5x sensor went from an aperture of f/3.4 to f/2.9, solving the major challenge of low light and maintaining stability during nighttime close-ups.

galaxy s26 ultra cameras
Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The 5x lens shines when focusing on very distant objects with its 50-megapixel sensor. The level of detail captured is impressive, and post-processing only comes into play to refine textures, without leaving the image looking artificial or washed out. See this example of 15x zoom:

Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:

The 3x lens establishes itself as the best option for short portraits. It creates a natural background blur and perfectly cuts out the main subject. The combination of the two telephoto lenses delivers the best zoom experience on the market, ideal for those who need reach without sacrificing final quality.

video recording

galaxy s26 ultra cameras
Video recording continues to be amazing (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The zoom in videos, regardless of the lens chosen, will deliver good videos without any exaggeration. The device continues to record in 8K quality at 30 frames per second and does an impeccable job in 4K at 60 FPS without stuttering. The quality base remains the same as the previous generation, but there are some very interesting new features in stabilization and light capture.

Galaxy S26 Ultra video details
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Thanks to the new apertures, the image quality of the videos impresses with its clarity, an improvement that is also reflected in the audio recording with the already known noise removal. The real game-changer is the mode Super stable with horizontal locking.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Super Steady Mode
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Using the cameras in conjunction with the accelerometer and gyroscope, the stabilization is completely locked on the axis. It's the ideal function for recording concerts where you jump around a lot or simply for eliminating shaky videos while moving.

You might wonder if the result is all that great, and the answer is yes. The rear camera delivers a complete package for content creators.

Another major new feature is the arrival of the LOG format in Pro Video mode, excellent for those who like to colorize files in post-production. The native editor itself... Samsung It now supports this format, offering five ready-to-use color profiles that you can apply directly to your gallery before posting on social media.

The dual capture mode also deserves mention. It allows the simultaneous use of the rear and front cameras, making it an extremely useful tool for content creators who don't want to rely on a second high-quality device to record reactions or capture their pet for a great photo later.

Photo taken using the Galaxy S26 Ultra's dual capture mode.
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

To wrap up the topic of videos, the Galaxy s26 ultra It establishes itself as a true pocket-sized tool for audiovisual production. The combination of superior light intake, impeccable stabilization, and native professional features ensures that the user gets the best possible results right in the palm of their hand, whether capturing a casual moment on the weekend or delivering professional-quality recordings for the internet.

Frontal camera

Galaxy S26 Ultra front camera
Front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

A Samsung They opted not to change the front camera hardware in this new generation, and honestly, it wasn't necessary. The device still has a 12-megapixel lens that records 4K video at 30 frames per second and supports background blur recording.

Color capture is quite accurate, and the system also offers several filters, as well as independent color correction for photos and videos.

  • Photo taken with the front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
  • Photo taken with the front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
  • Photo taken with the front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
  • Photo taken with the front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The new horizontal lock mode isn't available here, but the smartphone still manages to deliver great recordings with the front-facing camera. An interesting feature is the ability to apply saved filters from the gallery in real time during recording. It's a camera that already worked very well and has now received specific software enhancements to improve the final result.

A problem from previous generations that has finally been solved is the washed-out effect on my skin in portrait mode. I'm not a very dark-skinned person, but I also don't have skin as white as the brand's old post-processing insisted on delivering. The skin tone is now much more true to life. The photos below were taken with portrait mode activated and without any editing, see:

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Photo taken with the front camera of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

RAW Expert

Expertraw opened on Galaxy S26 Ultra
(Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The professional capture application of SamsungThe Expert RAW app also received exclusive updates for the Galaxy S26 Ultra that deserve highlighting.

The function of Virtual Opening It remains available exclusively in the app. RAW ExpertThis allows the user to manually simulate different f-stops (such as f/1.4 to f/16). On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, this technology has been improved to also work with the 3x and 5x telephoto lenses, ensuring professional control over the blur. See some photos:

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:

Among the main new features is the arrival of ocean capture mode. This function uses advanced algorithms to correct visual distortion caused by water, recognizing the underwater environment (such as corals and fish) and restoring the true colors of the items in the photo.

However, an important warning is in order: Samsung itself strongly recommends using a professional waterproof protective case when diving with your phone, as saltwater is extremely corrosive and can damage the device, regardless of the IP68 certification.

@techradar

Ocean mode is coming to expert raw for underwater photos on Samsung phones #GalaxyUnpacked #GalaxyAI

♬ original sound – TechRadar

Another brilliant addition for those who enjoy advanced photography is the new Virtual Reflector. Basically, the feature simulates the effect of a physical light reflector directly in the Expert RAW app, helping to illuminate faces in photos taken against the light. To better understand how this works in practice, see the photos below:

  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:
  • Review: The Galaxy S26 Ultra innovates with a privacy screen while maintaining excellent cameras. The new generation of Samsung's premium smartphone features unprecedented screen privacy technology, improved cameras, and longer battery life, among other new features. See what we thought of it:

It allows you to choose and control the reflection in shades of gold and silver, as well as enabling precise adjustment of the position and direction of light on the subject's face. It's a professional-level tool in the palm of your hand, perfect for balancing shadows without needing extra equipment.

Audio

Audio features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra
(Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers an excellent sound experience with its stereo speakers. The sound is loud, crystal clear, and very well balanced between the bottom speaker and the call speaker at the top of the screen. The quality is impressive even in the bass, delivering a full-bodied audio that doesn't distort even at maximum volume. It's a perfect combination for watching videos, playing games, or listening to music without needing to resort to an external speaker.

For those who prefer to use wireless headphones, the device doesn't disappoint either. It maintains support for... Dolby Atmos It also offers compatibility with ultra-high-resolution audio (24-bit UHQ at 96 kHz) when paired with compatible headphones, such as the new Galaxy Buds4 line and also the Galaxy Buds3.

Furthermore, the voice call quality is impeccable, with the microphones isolating your voice very well and reducing background noise even on busy streets. In short, it's a complete audio system that justifies the smartphone's price.

Memory and storage

Galaxy S26 Ultra storage data
(Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

For those who enjoy taking lots of photos and recording videos, we won't have any problems here. Samsung The Galaxy S26 Ultra was launched in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB variants, with up to 16 GB of RAM in the version with more internal storage or 12 GB in the first two. File loading and system startup happen in less than 30 seconds without errors, with the device becoming an extension of your computer, capturing good moments.

Connectivity

Galaxy S26 Ultra connectivity data
(Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

In terms of wireless connectivity, the model supports the latest internet connection standard, the Wi-Fi 7  and also 5G networks, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS and NFC For contactless payments. And it's possible to insert up to 2 physical SIMs and eSIMs, with no changes compared to previous generations. The physical slot remains the same. USB-C, which is used to recharge the battery, connect microphones or wireless headphones.

Battery and charging

Galaxy S26 Ultra Battery Data
The processor uses less energy, but the lithium battery still requires at least one recharge per day (Screenshot: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The model retains the 5.000 mAh battery (lithium, instead of silicon-carbon) of the last three premium models, but the new processor delivers 30% more energy efficiency than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Under heavy use, the device lasts about 6 hours of 5G browsing or 4 hours of continuous video recording.

In practice, depending on your routine, you may still need to do a quick recharge during the day to keep your phone on until midnight, similar to what I experienced with the Galaxy S25 Ultra that I used for the last six months.

The big improvement is support for 60-watt wired fast charging, which takes the battery from 0 to 100% in an impressive 47 minutes. The problem is that... Samsung They continue to only include the 25-watt adapter in the box, which keeps the full recharge time at one and a half hours. To take advantage of the maximum speed, you need to buy the more powerful charger from [website/store name]. The brand's website for R$ 312,55.

Samsung 60W charger
60W charger needs to be purchased separately (Photo: Press Release/Samsung)

With wireless charging, the S26 Ultra supports up to 25 watts using the Qi 2.2 standard, but it falls short due to the absence of magnetic rings on the back. Samsung It claims that the magnets would cause interference with the S Pen. To mitigate the problem, the company developed official cases for the new line with magnetic rings on the back, but you'll have to shell out at least R$ 236 to get one.

galaxy s26 ultra cameras
Samsung tried to justify the lack of magnetic rings with phone cases (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The justification is unconvincing, since direct competitors like the iPhone 17 Pro and the Pixel 10 already have the technology natively. The brand tries to circumvent the situation by selling an official case with integrated rings, but it's an extra expense for the consumer for something that could be built into the device.

It's a flaw that prevents the model from being complete, leaving hope for a correction in the Galaxy S27, along with the hope that the company will finally invest in silicon-carbon, which allows for greater capacity (and more time away from the charger) without affecting thickness.

Price and availability

galaxy s26 ultra
The Galaxy S26 Ultra can now be found for around R$ 8 (Photo: Reproduction/Samsung)

O Galaxy s26 ultra It was presented on the day February 26, With deliveries starting on March 11th. So when we publish this review, it can already be found in general retail and also on various websites, with special discounts for those who pay via Pix and discount coupons. The device has an official suggested price starting from... R$11.499But we've found it for a lower price on the Samsung website. See:

Storage

RAM

Colors

Price

256 GB

12 GB

Violet, White, Black and Blue 

Gold and Silver exclusives from Samsung.com

R$8.796,73

COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

512 GB

R$8.796,73

COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

1 TB

16 GB

R$8.841,83

COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

For the launch of Galaxy S26 Series, Samsung It offers double the memory for those who make the purchase between February 25 and March 29, 2026, exclusively through participating channels, which include the Samsung Shop app and website, Samsung physical stores, and partner carriers and retailers.

What's in the box?

the box of S26Ultra It comes with basic items so you can start using the device as soon as you turn it on. Are they:

  • USB-C cable
  • Chip tray eject key
  • Instruction manual
  • 25W charger

Conclusion

galaxy s26 ultra
Samsung needs to change pending issues in the next generation; the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the last straw when it comes to making excuses (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has an official price of around R$11.000, but can already be found in retail for between R$8.000 and R$9.000. The big problem with investing in such an expensive phone is that Samsung still insists on including only the 25-watt adapter in the box. This forces the user to buy a more powerful charger separately (either through the manufacturer or via AliExpress) to access the maximum charging speed.

Another drawback is the absence of magnetic rings on the back for better coil and accessory attachment. This would be a welcome addition, considering that competing models like the iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 already have this technology natively. It's also worth remembering that the battery is still lithium-ion. It will last for about a day on a single charge, but it's not the most powerful or modern technology currently on the market.

Back of the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Cameras remain a highlight of the Galaxy S line (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Despite these stumbles, the model establishes itself as Samsung's best premium phone, especially for those who value capturing photos and videos. The artificial intelligence platform is also the most complete on the market and offers features that truly help in everyday life, such as advanced photo editing and improved system performance over time. The practical highlight is the integration of the new Bixby with the Perplexity personal assistant.

The native privacy screen is also a major advancement in security that we hope to see in more companies in the future. Ultimately, for those with the budget to invest, it's an incredibly powerful phone and a great smartphone for professional-level photography and video recording.

Galaxy S26 Ultra front camera
Content production exudes quality (Photo: Victor Pacheco/Showmetech)

Finally, it's worth mentioning that its main direct competitors are... Motorola Signature, Oppo Find X9 Pro and of course, the iPhone 17 Pro MaxThey arrive with exciting new features and interesting proposals that could shake up the premium smartphone market, forcing... Samsung delivering more profound changes in future generations. Still, this is a topic for other reviews.

Comparisons

change the Galaxy S24 or S24+ by the S26Ultrayes it's worth it
change the Galaxy S23, S23+ or S23 Ultra by the S26Ultrayes it's worth it
change the Galaxy s25 ultra by the S26UltraIt's not worth it

Technical specifications

Galaxy S26 Ultra Purple
(Photo: Disclosure/Samsung)
FeatureSpecifications
BrandSamsung
CórdobaGalaxy s26 ultra
Fabric6,9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with QHD+ resolution (3120×1440)
120Hz Adaptive Super Smooth Refresh Rate (1~120Hz)
Vision booster support
78,1 163,6 x x 7,9mm
214 grams
Back camera50 MP main ultrawide camera (F1.9, FOV 120°)
200 MP wide-angle camera (OIS F1.7, FOV 85°)
50 MP telephoto camera (5x optical zoom, F3.4 OIS, 22° FOV)
10 MP telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, F2.4 OIS, 36° FOV)
Frontal camera12 MP front camera (F2.2, FOV 80°)
Processor (AP)Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Memory and Storage16GB RAM + 1TB
12GB RAM + 512GB
12GB RAM + 256GB
Battery5.000 mAh
Wired charging up to 60W
Fast wireless charging up to 25W
Wireless PowerShare
25W power supply shipped in the box
Operating System (OS)Android 16 via OneUI 8.5
Operating system updates for up to seven years.
Network and Connectivity5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth 5.4
SafetySamsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
Water ResistanceIP68 Rating: Water resistant in up to 1,5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected against dust, dirt and sand.
Not recommended for use at the beach or pool.
ColorsViolet, Blue, Black and White
Online options: Silver and Gold
Price256GB + 12GB RAM: R$8.796,73 COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

512GB + 12GB RAM: R$8.796,73
COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

1TB + 16GB RAM: R$8.841,83
COUPON: CLUBEGALAXYS26

Watch Galaxy Unpacked

See also other features

reviewed by Tiago Rodrigues in 18 / 03 / 2026

Verdict: Galaxy S26 Ultra

Verdict: Galaxy S26 Ultra
9 10 0 1
The device delivers excellent cameras and has the best AI platform on Android, even though it still leaves something to be desired, such as a more powerful battery and magnetic rings on the back. The privacy screen is an incredible differentiator, even if it's not a decisive factor in the purchase.
The device delivers excellent cameras and has the best AI platform on Android, even though it still leaves something to be desired, such as a more powerful battery and magnetic rings on the back. The privacy screen is an incredible differentiator, even if it's not a decisive factor in the purchase.
9/10
total Score
  • Design
    10/10 Excellent
  • S Pen pen
    6/10 Normal
  • Fabric
    10/10 Excellent
  • Processor
    10/10 Excellent
  • System and interface
    10/10 Excellent
  • New AI Features
    7/10 Good
  • Rear cameras
    10/10 Excellent
  • Frontal camera
    10/10 Excellent
  • Audio
    9/10 Amazing
  • Memory and storage
    10/10 Excellent
  • Connectivity
    10/10 Excellent
  • Battery and charging
    8/10 Great

Pros

  • Great cameras
  • Privacy screen integrated into the system
  • Best AI platform among smartphones
  • The new Bixby works well with Perplexity.

Cons

  • A 60W charger must be purchased separately.
  • Lack of magnetic rings
  • Lack of silicon-carbon battery
  • Some AI features still need improvement.

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