Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra – What’s Really New This Year?
With the release of Galaxy S26 Ultra , one common question also arises: what’s new in the S26 Ultra than the S25 Ultra? At first, it doesn’t seem like a lot of difference, but when you dig a little deeper, there’s a lot of upgrade.
Samsung’s latest phone has stirred a lot of excitement. It comes with a new Privacy Display, a next-gen Snapdragon chip, and a refreshed camera system. But is it truly a major leap forward or just a small step from last year’s model?
The Galaxy S25 Ultra already established a high standard of display, high-end performance, and a flexible quad-camera system. On the other hand, S26 Ultra is faster, has smarter AI, and has a new display technology that alters the way you use it publicly.
So if you’re wondering whether the newer model is worth the spend, let’s dive in and find out which one truly deserves a spot in your pocket.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Design & Build
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Frame Material | Armor Aluminum | Titanium (Grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 214g (7.55 oz) | 218g (7.69 oz) |
| IP Rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| S Pen | Yes | Yes |
First impression, both phones have that well-known Samsung Ultra premium feel, but S26 Ultra impresses with a much more sophisticated appearance. Compared to the previous year, the corners are rounded and thus it is more comfortable to hold and it makes it match with the rest of the Galaxy S26 range. The rear camera housing is also redesigned – the camera now becomes a pill-shaped island that reminds us of Galaxy Z Fold 7, allowing the back to look significantly cleaner and more unified.
Alright, Galaxy S25 Ultra has a high-end titanium frame, but compared to the S26 Ultra, it looks slightly boxier. A key design update in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the frame, where Samsung replaces the previous titanium build with Armor Aluminum 2.
The durability tests of that are yet to be seen, but both phones still have the same display protection made of Gorilla Glass Armor 2. The S26 Ultra is also a little bit thinner and lighter, but this is a minor difference, which is noticeable when placed together. Both models have the S Pen.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Screen Size | 6.9 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Panel Type | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 (QHD+) | 3120 x 1440 (QHD+) |
| Refresh Rate | 1–120Hz Adaptive | 1–120Hz Adaptive |
| Peak Brightness | 2600 nits | 2600 nits |
| Privacy Display | Yes | No |
Both phones has same screen size, the same resolution, and a refresh rate, therefore, daily usage of either of the phone would feel the same. However, the S26 ultra comes with an extra features thats the Privacy Display feature.
This is a pixel based technology that makes the screen darker at the edges of the screen, so it’s almost impossible to have anybody nearby to snoop on your content. Another benefit of Privacy Display is that you can conveniently check your banking application in the middle of the MRT, messaging on the bus, or any other location and still see your information only visible to you.
You can switch it on or off in Quick Settings, enable it to run automatically when using certain apps such as banking or messaging or even simply to just your notifications. It is by far one of the most truly handy advances in a smartphone display in a long time – and as soon as you use it, you are going to wonder how every phone does not have it.
Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G
Ultimate flagship power built for performance, photography, and productivity.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for blazing-fast gaming
- Aluminum frame with IP68 water & dust resistance
- 200MP quad camera with stunning 8K video
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like productivity anywhere
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance & Internals
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB (1TB model) | 12GB |
| Storage Options | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| OS | One UI 8.5 / Android 16 | One UI 8 / Android 15 |
When it comes to raw performance, the S26 Ultra takes a meaningful step forward. With Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in Galaxy, preliminary benchmark scores have risen significantly – Geekbench Multi-core scores of around 9,829 with the S25 Ultra have risen to an estimated 12,208 with the Gen 5 chip. The performance in terms of graphics is more impressive, with initial review revealing that the S26 Ultra is beating even the iPhone 17 Pro Max in certain GPU benchmarks – something no other Snapdragon chip has ever been able to achieve.
The original Snapdragon 8 Elite provides the Galaxy S25 Ultra with a great real-world performance, and routine tasks will be responsive on either device. However, it is evident that the S26 Ultra wins on heavy multitasking, futureproofing, and gaming. The 16GB RAM (only on the 1TB S26 Ultra model) ensures as well that the new phone is capable of maintaining the heavy workloads with even more comfort.
Read More: Galaxy S26 Ultra VS iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Main Camera | 200MP, f/1.4 | 200MP, f/1.7 |
| Ultrawide | 50MP, f/1.9 | 50MP, f/1.9 |
| 3x Telephoto | 10MP, f/2.4 | 10MP, f/2.4 |
| 5x Periscope | 50MP, f/2.9 | 50MP, f/3.4 |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP |
| Horizon Lock | Yes | No |
On paper the camera specs appear nearly the same, however, the actual distinction lies in the apertures. The S26 Ultra has a wider main lens f/1.4 (an increase over f/1.7 on the S25 Ultra) and it means that a lot more light can get to the sensor. According to Samsung this makes the photos up to 47 percent brighter on the main lens and 37 percent brighter on the 5x telephoto. Practically, you should not only notice significant improvement in low-light shots, but also the increase in brightness and detail in images in general.
The cameras of the Galaxy S25 Ultra remain good, among the best on any Android phone, but the S26 Ultra has a significant advantage in difficult-to-shoot situations due to its better aperture. Both phones record 8K video, although the S26 Ultra has Horizon Lock (enabling footage to remain flat despite tilting the phone) and an improved AI image signal processor on the selfie camera and Samsung new APV (Advanced Professional Video) codec that allows better quality video records. The S26 Ultra is the upgrade of choice in case you care about capturing great content.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery & Charging
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired Charging | 60W | 45W |
| Wireless Charging | 25W (Qi 2.2) | 15W (Qi2 Ready) |
| Reverse Wireless | 4.5W | 4.5W |
| Built-in Magnets | No | No |
The phone holding capacity remains the same at 5,000 mAh on both phones. Nonetheless, the charging rates of the S26 Ultra are a great improvement. Powering up at 60W using wires, Samsung boasts of being able to recharge 75% of the battery in 30 minutes, compared to 65 on the S25 Ultra. Qi 2.2 also supports wireless charging of 25W.
The single frustration of most fans is that inbuilt Qi2 magnets are yet to be found in the S 26 Ultra – just like in the S 25 Ultra. In case you would like magnetic accessories, a compatible case will be required. And, the good news is that if you hate waiting for your phone to charge, the S26 Ultra is finally getting faster.
Galaxy S25 Ultra 5G
Titanium build, smooth AMOLED, and Snapdragon power with smarter AI productivity.
- Flat design on both sides with a sleek titanium frame
- Large AMOLED with high refresh rate, easy on the eyes
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers lightning-fast performance
- Personalized AI-driven insights for daily productivity
- Quad camera setup with powerful lenses to capture beyond
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: AI Features
Like the S25 Ultra, the S26 Ultra comes loaded with Galaxy AI features, but Samsung has taken things further in 2026. The S26 Ultra is being positioned as an “agentic” phone meaning its AI can take actions on your behalf across apps and services.
Key new AI features on the S26 Ultra include:
- AI Call Screening – Bixby can answer calls, interact with callers, and take notes when you’re busy
- Automated App Actions (powered by Google Gemini) – the AI can book an Uber, order food, and more without you needing to open the apps yourself
- Now Nudge – a proactive AI tool that makes smart suggestions based on what’s on your screen
- Photo Assist & Creative Studio – describe the edit you want in plain language; the AI handles the rest
- Updated Circle to Search – now capable of identifying and searching multiple objects simultaneously
- AI Document Scanner – automatically scans and organizes documents
The Galaxy S25 Ultra also received many Galaxy AI features through software updates, but the S26 Ultra’s newer chip enables deeper, faster, and more capable AI processing. If AI productivity tools are important to you, the S26 Ultra is the clear winner.
Read More: Galaxy S26 5G Review
Overall Specs
Here is both devices’ technical information for a better overview of the Galaxy S26 Ultra specification against the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s specs:
| Specs | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
| Display | 6.9-inch | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 2600 nits | 6.9-inch | Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Body | 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm | Weight: 214g | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm | Weight: 218g |
| Main Camera | 200MP (Wide) | 50MP (Periscope Telephoto) | 10MP (Telephoto) | 50MP (Ultrawide) | Video: 8K | 200MP (Wide) | 50MP (Periscope Telephoto) | 10MP (Telephoto) | 50MP (Ultrawide) | Video: 8K |
| Front Camera | 12MP (Wide) | Video: 4K | 12MP (Wide) | Video: 4K |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core |
| Memory | 12/256GB | 12/512GB | 16/1TB | 12/256GB | 12/512GB | 12/1TB | 12/2TB |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Battery | 5000mAh | Charging: 60W (Wired), 25W (Wireless), 4.5W (Reverse Wireless) | 5000mAh | Charging: 60W (Wired), 25W (Wireless), 4.5W (Reverse Wireless) |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7| Bluetooth: 6.0 | NFC: Yes | Wi-Fi 7| Bluetooth: 5.4 | NFC: Yes |
| Features | Samsung DeX | Ultra Wideband (UWB) | Samsung DeX | Ultra Wideband (UWB) |
Verdict: Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra Worth Upgrading to?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s most powerful smartphone to date. And while it’s largely an incremental upgrade over the S25 Ultra in most areas, there are a handful of genuinely meaningful improvements most notably the Privacy Display, the faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, improved camera apertures, and significantly faster charging.
If you’re coming from a Galaxy S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra, or older, the S26 Ultra is absolutely worth upgrading to. But if you’re already using an S25 Ultra, the case for upgrading is less clear-cut unless Privacy Display is something you’ve always wanted.
Want to get the Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Galaxy S25 Ultra at the best prices? Visit Apple Gadgets today for the latest deals and an amazing shopping experience.
Mohammad Shariful Islam is the CEO and MD of Apple Gadgets, a leading e-commerce and retail chain for gadgets in Bangladesh. He has a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and holds a decade of experience in gadget E-Commerce. He’s committed to providing the best possible shopping experience for customers by delivering the latest and trendy gadgets.
