The upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra won\u2019t enjoy that leeway, as its initial MSRP demands the phone receive proper scrutiny.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve used the Galaxy S25 Ultra for a year, and here\u2019s what Samsung must improve for the next generation.<\/p>\n
Making devices thinner doesn\u2019t improve ergonomics<\/p>\n
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a sleeker design<\/p>\n
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I\u2019m going to shamelessly borrow a theme from my colleague Andy Boxhall, who so rightly pointed out that the Galaxy S25 Ultra just isn\u2019t a pleasant phone to hold<\/a>. <\/p>\n I\u2019m not someone who enjoys using cases, especially since I pay $1,300 for a premium feel and materials, so I like to get the most out of a phone\u2019s design.<\/p>\n Making a phone thinner doesn\u2019t automatically make it easier to hold. While I celebrated the end of harshly curved displays, that didn\u2019t mean the back glass of the phone couldn\u2019t be curved.<\/p>\n Google got it right with the Google Pixel 8 Pro. A flat glass surface in the front, with a rounded frame and gently curved glass in the back \u2014 the phone felt like it melted into your hand.<\/p>\n The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a thicker phone than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but thanks to its rounded frame, it feels and handles better.<\/p>\n I hope Samsung gives us a sleeker design for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, because the phone desperately needs one.<\/p>\n Key hardware upgrades that move the needle<\/p>\n An upgraded camera and better charging speeds<\/p>\n I\u2019ve given up on Samsung radically redesigning or upgrading the Galaxy S26 Ultra.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not the company\u2019s goal, and it\u2019s too important a phone for Samsung to take chances that might turn off consumers. Samsung has a large installed user base and knows when buyers will upgrade.<\/p>\n However, that doesn\u2019t completely absolve Samsung, and I still need to see meaningful improvements in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.<\/p>\n For starters, I hope the rumors about a larger camera sensor are true. Samsung has coasted for far too long in its flagship series, recycling the same sensors repeatedly.<\/p>\n It won\u2019t be the 1-inch sensor we see on some overseas phones, but the rumored f\/1.4 aperture will let in more light than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.<\/p>\n More light means more data, so I expect low-light and nighttime images to improve.<\/p>\n Samsung also needs to increase charging speeds. I\u2019m pleased to hear leaks that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature 60W charging. I\u2019d love a silicon-carbon battery, but if I can\u2019t have that, 60W charging is a must.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time Samsung stopped looking over its shoulder for the ghost of the Galaxy Note 7.<\/p>\n Galaxy AI that does something productive<\/p>\n I\u2019d settle for anything at this point<\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t wrap my head around why Samsung would choose to lead with Galaxy AI as a reason to upgrade to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but I kept an open mind.<\/p>\n I gave Now Brief a legitimate chance and hoped that I\u2019d eventually get a prompt that felt generative. Unfortunately, that has yet to happen, and despite all the cool features that Galaxy AI boasts, I don\u2019t use any of them.<\/p>\n It\u2019s why I prefer Google\u2019s strategy with Gemini on Pixel devices. AI deserves to be in the background, providing contextual prompts when appropriate.<\/p>\n The moment I have to go out of my way to start using the tools, it\u2019s almost always faster for me to just complete the task myself.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to have to figure out how each individual AI tool is supposed to enhance my workflow or user experience.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Samsung\u2019s job to integrate it into One UI, so not only do I not know I\u2019m using it, but I also see the benefits.<\/p>\n If Samsung honestly wants to convince me that the Galaxy S26 Ultra<\/a> is its most advanced AI phone yet, I\u2019ll need Now Brief and other functions to do something I can\u2019t just get by looking at my calendar or a random Samsung News story. <\/p>\n The Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn\u2019t have to do much, but that still might be a lot<\/p>\n I\u2019m not giving Samsung a high bar with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is an odd thing to say about a $1,300 (or more) phone.<\/p>\n![\"Samsung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/img_0278.jpg\")
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