The cycle of “incremental updates” is finally hitting a breaking point. For years, Samsung fans have begged for two things: faster charging and a design that doesn’t feel like a repeat of 2022. With the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the leaks suggest we are getting exactly that—but with a heavy “Ultra” tax.
Expected to launch around February 2026 with a starting price of approximately ₹1,59,999, the S26 Ultra isn’t just a phone; it’s a statement. But the real truth is, while the 60W charging and the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 sound like massive wins, some “old habits” like the 12MP selfie camera might still haunt us.
QUICK SPECS TABLE
| Feature | Specifications (Expected) |
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 3000 Nits Peak |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.0) |
| Rear Camera | 200MP (Main) + 50MP (UW) + 50MP (5x Periscope) + 12MP (3x Tele) |
| Front Camera | 12MP Dual Pixel AF |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh (Lithium-ion) |
| Charging | 60W Wired, 25W Wireless (Qi2 Supported) |
| Software | Android 16 with One UI 8.5 |
| Build | Grade 5 Titanium Frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 |
DESIGN & BUILD (Deep Dive)
Samsung is finally moving away from the “floating lens” look. Leaks from One UI 8.5 renders suggest a pill-shaped camera island that gives the S26 Ultra a more distinct identity compared to its predecessors.
The in-hand feel is expected to be more ergonomic. We are looking at a 7.9mm thickness and a weight reduction to under 218g, making it noticeably lighter than the bulky S24 Ultra. The use of Grade 5 Titanium ensures it’s tough, but the real talk of the town is the Privacy Display. This hardware-level tech can limit viewing angles with a toggle, meaning the person sitting next to you in the Metro won’t be able to read your WhatsApp chats.
DISPLAY & VISUALS: Brighter Than Your Future?
Samsung’s displays have always been the gold standard, and the S26 Ultra pushes this to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about brightness. The new Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 is rumored to reduce reflections by 80%, making the screen look like printed paper even under direct sunlight.
Read More: Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The screen size has bumped up to 6.9 inches, but thanks to the ultra-thin bezels, the overall footprint of the phone hasn’t increased. If you love binging Netflix or editing reels on the go, this is the best canvas money can buy.
PERFORMANCE & GAMING: The 3nm Beast
Under the hood lies the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Built on TSMC’s 3nm process, this chip is a monster. In initial Geekbench leaks, it’s outperforming the Apple A19 Pro in multi-core tasks by nearly 15%.
Gaming Performance:
- Ray Tracing: 50% improvement over the S25 series.
- Thermal Management: A 36% larger vapor chamber means you can play Genshin Impact at 60FPS for hours without your palms feeling like they’re on a tandoor.
- Multitasking: With 16GB of RAM as standard in higher variants, you can keep 20+ apps open without a single reload.
CAMERA: 200MP is Just the Beginning
The real truth is that Samsung isn’t just chasing megapixels anymore. While the main sensor remains 200MP (ISOCELL HP2), the aperture has been widened to f/1.4. This means the low-light performance will be significantly better, capturing more light without the “digital noise” that usually ruins night shots.
The Camera Setup:
- 200MP Main: Best-in-class detail and f/1.4 light intake.
- 50MP Periscope: 5x optical zoom that stays sharp even at 10x digital crop.
- 12MP Telephoto: Upgraded from the old 10MP sensor for better 3x portraits.
- Video: 8K at 60FPS is finally stable, thanks to the new ISP.
BATTERY & ENDURANCE: The 60W Miracle
For years, Samsung was stuck at 45W while Chinese competitors reached 120W. The S26 Ultra finally breaks the curse with 60W Wired Charging.
- 0-50% Charge: 22 minutes.
- Full Charge: Approximately 52 minutes.
- Battery Life: The 5,000mAh cell combined with the 3nm chip efficiency easily delivers 8-9 hours of Screen-On Time (SOT). Even with heavy 5G usage, you won’t be reaching for a charger before dinner.
THE COMPETITION: Flagship War 2026
The S26 Ultra doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Its primary rivals are the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.
| Feature | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max | Pixel 10 Pro XL |
| Price (Est.) | ₹1,59,999 | ₹1,69,900 | ₹1,39,999 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite G5 | A19 Pro | Tensor G5 |
| Zoom | 100x Space Zoom | 25x Digital | 30x Super Res |
| Charging | 60W | 40W | 45W |
| AI Features | Galaxy AI (Advanced) | Apple Intelligence | Google Gemini (Deep) |
The Winner: If you want the best hardware and zoom, the S26 Ultra wins. If you want the smoothest AI experience, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is a strong contender. However, for pro-users who need the S-Pen and desktop-level multitasking (DeX), Samsung remains undefeated.
FINAL VERDICT
Don’t waste your money if you already own an S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra; the upgrades, while nice, aren’t life-changing. But if you are coming from an S21 or S22, this is a massive jump.
Buy it if:
- You are a power user who needs the S-Pen for productivity.
- You want the best display for outdoor usage and media.
- You have been waiting for faster charging in a Samsung flagship.
Skip it if:
- You hate large phones; 6.9 inches is a two-handed job for most.
- You are on a budget; ₹1.6 Lakh is a lot of money for a smartphone.
- You want a revolutionary selfie camera (it’s still 12MP).
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
