I’ve used the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra extensively over the last month, so I feel it’s the ideal time to take a look back at the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
I’m not comparing the two, as if you’d upgrade your still-excellent year-old S25 Ultra to the newer S26 Ultra. If you already have last year’s phone in your pocket, keep it there.
However, if you don’t have either in your pocket, there is a legitimate case to be made for saving a few bucks and getting the S25 Ultra.
I understand it feels like you can make that argument with almost every new phone release, and it’s become a kind of refrain telling people to skip the new one and buy the old one.
It’s more complicated than that with the S25 Ultra, and if you are in the market for a premium Samsung device, there are a few things you have to keep in mind.
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I found it odd that Samsung focused on the display
I keep seeing Samsung commercials highlighting the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but after using it, I think it’s getting the bulk of the attention because there isn’t much else to talk about.
If you crank it all the way up to the maximum privacy settings, yes, it will block what’s on your screen from an angle. However, the trade-off in display quality is too much for me to care about the Privacy Display.
I know it’s not a feature intended to be on all the time, but how am I supposed to get excited about it? Every time I’m carrying one around, people ask to see the Privacy Display, and almost everyone has been underwhelmed by it.
It’s a cool feature, and I look forward to Samsung working on the technology. But is it worth the worst viewing angles and eye strain I get? Absolutely not.
I’m not conducting high finance on the train every day, and I think many of you overestimate how much you’ll use the Privacy Display feature.
I will say that the faster 60W charging on the S26 Ultra is a genuinely welcomed improvement.
It’s much easier to top off in a hurry, so if I have a late night or use my phone heavily for some reason, I don’t have to sweat making sure I get enough power to get through the day.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers a lot for the price
There’s no drop off in 2026
If the Galaxy S25 Ultra were significantly hampered in 2026, I could see steering people towards the newer device.
If Samsung gate kept an impressive new feature, I wouldn’t like it, but I would begrudgingly tell people it’s better to pay up for the new phone than save a few dollars.
I don’t see any of that when comparing the Galaxy S26 Ultra to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The S25 Ultra still provides all the performance I’d need, which you’d absolutely expect from a flagship phone that’s only a year old.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite paired with 12GB of RAM plays all my favorite mobile games smoothly, and even more intensive Android apps aren’t a problem on the S25 Ultra.
Its 6.9-inch display is gorgeous, and I believe it’s better than what you get on the newer Ultra. The viewing angles aren’t compromised, and the display appears a touch brighter and more vibrant by comparison.
You’re also not missing out on much with One UI. One UI 8.5 is expected on my S25 Ultra soon, and I’m currently loving the Android 16 experience on One UI 8.
Software support isn’t an issue, as you will still receive another six years of updates, making the S25 Ultra a more attractive option than older flagships have been in the past.
The S25 Ultra has (mostly) the same camera hardware and a 5,000mAh battery as the S26 Ultra.
You miss out on a few optimizations from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, but nothing that would keep me up at night or severely limit battery life.
Low-light camera performance is improved on the S26 Ultra, thanks to a wider aperture on the main sensor, but that’s not a reason I’d spend extra.
I will defend the Galaxy S26 Ultra by saying I couldn’t care less about the material used. If you’re complaining about the switch from titanium to aluminum, you’re grasping at straws.
My iPhone 15 Pro Max scratched up just as much as anything else, and I haven’t been worried about my phone casually bending in my pocket since the iPhone 6 Plus.
Aluminum is strong enough to do the job, and some users have reported improved thermals compared to titanium.
If Samsung had gone to stainless steel, it would be more of a conversation, but there’s little reason to be concerned about the aluminum frame on the S26 Ultra.
Price is absolutely a factor in 2026
I don’t see the gap being worth it
The primary benefit of opting for a year-old flagship is the money you save.
If you’re comfortable with a pre-owned phone, you can pick up an S25 Ultra for around $800. If you want a new one, you’ll still pay close to $1,000, at which point you might start considering the S26 Ultra more seriously.
For $800, the S25 Ultra is an attractive package, and I don’t consider the S26 Ultra to be worth over $500 more, especially since Samsung didn’t go hard on the upgrades again this year.
The difference between this year and most other years, where you are comparing phones that are only a year old, is that all things considered, I’d prefer the S25 Ultra in my hand. At best, it’s a draw between the two.
I do like that the S26 Ultra is lighter and thinner, but I prefer the display on the S25 Ultra.
There’s always more to consider
As with anything in life, it’s not cut and dry. Yes, you save money buying a pre-owned, unlocked Galaxy S25 Ultra, but not everyone buys their phones that way.
If you’re used to going through your carrier for your phones and financing on your monthly bill, the S26 Ultra is the better option. You’ll have affordable payments for three years, and it makes more sense to get the latest and greatest at that point. The same applies if there is a great trade-in offer.
However, for the rest of us, I’d seriously consider picking up an S25 Ultra. It’s aged well, and Samsung hasn’t given me enough reason to spend $500 more this year.
7.5/10
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM
12GB
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra leaves the Note-like design behind for the very first time. With flat edges, curved corners, and a massive 6.9-inch display, this is a modern flagship through and through — and yes, that S Pen is still here too.