{"id":534823,"date":"2026-03-12T05:00:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T05:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/534823\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T05:00:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T05:00:11","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-review-huge-leaps-in-flagship-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/534823\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Huge Leaps in Flagship Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The viral Privacy Display on the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a>* device has united tech geeks and non-aficionados for the first time, finally introducing a phone upgrade everyone can get excited about.<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

Samsung recently confirmed the Ultra is among its bestsellers in its popular S-series<\/a>, with the previous S25 Ultra<\/a> making up nearly 70 per cent of last year\u2019s S25<\/a> sales. <\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s no surprise the company has exclusively added certain key features to the S26 Ultra<\/a> instead of the entire fresh line-up.<\/p>\n

Nathan Rigger, Samsung Australia\u2019s Head of Product, Mobile Experience says the new smartphone \u201ccomes with really significant improvements\u201d and \u201cmost importantly, all the things that people care about\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ultra has it all,\u201d he told news.com.au checkout.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been testing out the new S-series smartphone for the past two weeks and here are our first impressions. <\/p>\n

SHOP SAMSUNG<\/a><\/p>\n

Quick links:1-MINUTE REVIEW: SAMSUNG GALAXY S26 ULTRA<\/p>\n

HOW WE TESTED THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26 ULTRA<\/p>\n

For the past two weeks, I\u2019ve been using the Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> as my go-to smartphone for the past two weeks. I\u2019ve tested the camera in a variety of conditions, and often comparing it with my all-time favourite S25 Ultra<\/a>, and played around with the new AI features.<\/p>\n

BATTERY LIFE AND CHARGING<\/p>\n

The S26 Ultra<\/a> offers easy all-day battery life, once again providing up to 31 hours of video playback similar to the S25 Ultra<\/a>. But it can now give you 75 per cent charge in just 30 minutes. The device also supports up to 60W wired charging and, if you have a magnetic case, 25W wireless charging.<\/p>\n

Ultimate all-day camera<\/p>\n

While it might not seem like much, the wider apertures in the new Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> have made an incredible difference to the already amazing S series cameras<\/a>. With more light allowed to reach the sensors, the pictures seem more vibrant and detail-rich compared to my trusty S25 Ultra<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After seeing how well the device captured photos and videos at night, I don\u2019t think you understand how unbelievably tempted I am to buy the S26 Ultra for the camera alone<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Take a look at my first day out with the new Galaxy phone below.<\/p>\n

Morning<\/p>\n

The zoom quality definitely left a few of us stunned after seeing how clear the adorable dogs came out from the top of the hill. <\/p>\n

Afternoon<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to worry about overcast weather or timing photos for when there\u2019s decent lighting because the colours remain consistently accurate, regardless.<\/p>\n

Evening<\/p>\n

After seeing the lack of graininess and blurriness at night (and in very dimly lit bars), I was quickly convinced this phone camera was unbeatable.<\/p>\n

Zoom: S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra<\/p>\n

For better context on how much the camera has improved, here are some comparisons between the S25 Ultra<\/a> and S26 Ultra<\/a>. <\/p>\n

PHOTO EDITING WITH AI<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not someone who regularly creates AI images, but there are a few fun things to try. I really liked using Creative Studio to whip up stickers I can send in group chats, and Photo Assist to try on outfits I would love to buy but not sure if it\u2019s the right colour.<\/p>\n

These editing features often change your face and may need multiple tries to get the request right, but overall work pretty well. <\/p>\n

Document Scan<\/a> is probably more for a niche audience, but it\u2019s of my top underrated features on the device. The camera app automatically recognises documents so you can quickly tap the little icon that pops up and quickly get rid of fingerprints, creases, discolouration and more.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s signing agreements the \u2018oldschool\u2019 way, or sharing printed photos or articles, this makes it so much easier than a regular scanner. I especially love it for taking notes because sometimes a digital notepad can get performance anxiety when you\u2019re in a rush. <\/p>\n

PRIVACY DISPLAY<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fair to say everyone went wild over Samsung\u2019s new Privacy Display<\/a> at Galaxy Unpacked<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The built-in feature offers a customisable alternative to regular privacy protectors, making it easy to hide notifications, passwords, certain apps or your entire screen from nosy onlookers. <\/p>\n

Honestly, I never noticed how visible other commuters\u2019 phone display could be until I started playing around with this new setting. It surprisingly doesn\u2019t take much effort to accidentally spot a stranger\u2019s messages or a payment confirmation page, so I really liked being able to protect any \u2018secret business\u2019 as well as general doom scrolls.<\/p>\n

The screen brightness barely impacted during the daytime, but switching to the Maximum Privacy Protection setting at night or in otherwise low-lighting can definitely leave your phone screen looking too dim. <\/p>\n

MAXIMUM CONVENIENCE WITH AI<\/p>\n

The Galaxy S26 series<\/a> now has three AI agents, with Perplexity now added to the list, although Gemini and the \u2018new and improved\u2019 Bixby have stolen the show this year. <\/p>\n

Gemini can streamline jobs that usually require multiple apps and steps, such as booking an Uber. <\/p>\n

Voice commands can sometimes be a bit fiddly, but it\u2019s generally great at understanding what you really mean. It\u2019ll do everything except confirm the booking, which makes sense. <\/p>\n

Bixby has also been helpful with navigating the device, making it easy to adjust settings without having to know the specific terms. It\u2019s especially useful if you\u2019re a fan of voice commands when creating reminders or alarms, or if you hate digging around to find specific settings. <\/p>\n

While Now Brief and Now Bar still remain pointless for my simple daily schedule, I absolutely loved the introduction of Now Nudge. It\u2019s quite handy having the S26 Ultra<\/a> recognise things from conversations and streamlining tasks, such as finding photos in my gallery or adding plans to my calendar based on when I\u2019m available. <\/p>\n

Circle to Search, one of my favourite functions, has also been updated to recognise multiple objects. If you\u2019re like me and constantly looking for skincare or fashion recommendations online, this is a nice small win. <\/p>\n

HOW MUCH DOES THE S26 ULTRA COST?<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S26<\/a> Ultra is available is available in three storage options with a starting price of $2199. <\/p>\n

\u2022 256GB: $2199<\/p>\n

\u2022 512GB: $2499<\/p>\n

\u2022 1TB: $2949<\/p>\n

There are four different colours to choose from, including Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White and Black. You can also head to Samsung\u2019s website to grab the online exclusive shades<\/a> Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.<\/p>\n

New Galaxy Club<\/p>\n

Need extra peace of mind, or a new phone every year? For $14 per month, Samsung users can now subscribe to New Galaxy Club<\/a> and enjoy huge discounts (up to 50 per cent off the latest models) and device protection. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re seeing people upgrading a little quicker than they used to maybe two to three years ago. So, we\u2019ve looked at that trend and introduced New Galaxy Club,\u201d Mr Rigger explained.<\/p>\n

IS THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26 ULTRA WORTH BUYING?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a hot minute since phone releases have been truly exciting. And I, for one, don\u2019t want to shell out $1500+ on what\u2019s ultimately the same brick but in a slimmer fit and fun new colour. So, I knew the Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> was cooked up something good after someone stopped me on the plane and gasped \u201cOMG is that the new Samsung?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ultra range has rarely disappointed and this fresh model is no exception. It offers <\/p>\n

great battery life, a crazy good camera and several AI functions that can be genuinely practical<\/a> in day-to-day life. <\/p>\n

In saying that, the price is not quite wallet friendly and there are still some quirks when using voice commands and AI generation. There\u2019s also not a dramatic change feature-wise compared to the previous S25 Ultra<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But the Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> is nevertheless a solid performer and a powerhouse device worth investing in.<\/p>\n

*Product loaned by Samsung for a 100 per cent independent, honest review.<\/p>\n

Sign up to our free shopping newsletter<\/a> to stay updated on the latest sale events, reviews and top-rated product roundups.<\/p>\n

\"Tahnee-Jae<\/a>Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito<\/a>Senior Shopping Writer<\/p>\n

Tahnee-Jae has years of reviewing experience, specialising in all the appliances and products that can help improve your home and life. From finding the best budget sheets to the mattresses that can help you get a better night\u2019s sleep, she does all of the research to save you time and money.
\nShe previously worked as a content producer for one of Australia\u2019s top comparison sites Canstar Blue, where she spent her days learning what Australian shoppers really think by translating detailed national survey data into hundreds of highly respected consumer ratings \u2013 helping shed light on how well brands offer value for money and more.
\nArmed with a Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the Queensland University of Technology, she knows that detail matters and is dedicated to creating in-depth shopping guides to help you find the right product.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The viral Privacy Display on the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra* device has united tech geeks and non-aficionados for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":534824,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[64,63,203,105],"class_list":["post-534823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mobile","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/534823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/534824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=534823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=534823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}