Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Confidential Screen, 60W Charging

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Key Takeaways

1The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features a privacy filter display, a first in the smartphone industry.

2With a fast charging capability of 60W, the S26 Ultra significantly reduces charging time, a major advantage for users.

3The AI agents in One UI 8.5 enhance the user experience by automating tasks and optimizing performance.

💡Why it matters — These innovations strengthen Samsung's position in the high-end smartphone market, emphasizing security and performance.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: A Concentration of Innovations

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the successor to the S25 Ultra, marks a turning point in the evolution of the brand's high-end smartphones. While some improvements were expected, this model stands out with innovations that deserve attention. Here’s an overview of the standout features of this model.

Samsung has not drastically changed the design of its flagship model, but has made significant improvements that, together, make a difference. Among the notable innovations are:

An integrated privacy filter in the screen, a first in the smartphone industry.
Improved camera lenses for better brightness.
A 60W fast charging capability, ending a long wait for users.
Proactive AI agents integrated into One UI 8.5 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

The price of this model starts at €1,469 and can reach €1,969 for the version with 1TB of storage. Here’s our assessment after several days of intensive use.

Strengths

Screen quality
Integrated privacy filter
Overall performance
One UI 8.5 and its AI agents
Photo and video quality
Fast charging finally available!

Weaknesses

Uninspired design
No charger included
High price

Design & Ergonomics: Subtle but Notable Changes

Samsung has opted for a conservative approach to design, but the S26 Ultra features some subtle differences compared to its predecessor. The model is 0.3 mm thinner and four grams lighter, while other dimensions remain unchanged. The unified design with the rest of the S26 lineup is noticeable, particularly with rounder corners.

The chassis, now made of Armor aluminum instead of titanium, is touted for its robustness. The stylus, whose disappearance was feared, is still present, although it has lost its Bluetooth functionality.

The positioning of the buttons, SIM tray, and USB-C port remains the same. The device is certified IP68, making it resistant to water and dust for everyday use.

Display: Cutting-Edge Technology and Enhanced Privacy

The display is an area where the Galaxy S series has always excelled, and the S26 Ultra is no exception. It features a 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels. Its refresh rate varies between 1 and 120 Hz, and it is certified HDR10+, with a theoretical maximum brightness of 2600 nits.

The major new feature is the addition of the Privacy Display, a function that limits the screen's viewing angle, making it unreadable for those not directly in front of it. This feature can be activated permanently or for specific applications, which is particularly useful for viewing sensitive information.

Performance & Battery Life: Power and Efficiency

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, accompanied by 12 GB of RAM. This version is slightly overclocked compared to the standard model, offering top-tier performance.

In Antutu tests, the S26 Ultra achieved an impressive score of 3,590,354 points, with a GPU reaching 7,762 points on 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme, placing it among the most powerful Android smartphones on the market.

Samsung has optimized the thermal dissipation system, although throttling is still present, with a noticeable drop in frequency during prolonged use. However, the device heats up less than its predecessor.

Fast Charging

The 5000 mAh battery is the same as that of the S25 Ultra, but Samsung has introduced 60W fast charging, allowing for 75% battery recharge in about 30 minutes. Although the charger is not included, it is available for €60. The model also supports 25W wireless charging and reverse charging.

AI Agents in One UI 8.5

The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on Android 16 with version 8.5 of One UI. Samsung is committed to providing major updates and security patches for seven years.

The main software advancement lies in Galaxy AI, which is more deeply integrated into the operating system through agents. These agents analyze commands and chain actions by combining multiple applications, thus offering an optimized and smooth user experience.