{"id":386961,"date":"2026-04-11T16:20:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T16:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/386961\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T16:20:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T16:20:19","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-is-a-major-downgrade-to-s25-ultra-in-one-key-area-and-thats-why-i-didnt-buy-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/386961\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a major downgrade to S25 Ultra in one key area, and that’s why I didn\u2019t buy it"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ultra series represents the pinnacle of Samsung\u2019s engineering. It is defined not just by internal specs but by a distinct presence in the hand.<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra<\/a> perfected this with its refined Titanium build, which offers a density and texture that felt every bit like a premium flagship.<\/p>\n

However, after holding the Galaxy S26 Ultra demo unit for a while, it feels like a step backward. By ditching Titanium in favor of Aluminum and reducing weight, Samsung has traded \u2018Premium heft\u2019 for \u2018hollow lightness.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tI’ve used the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Motorola Razr Ultra, but only one stays in my pocket
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Another one has my heart<\/p>\n

The material downgrade<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

When I first picked up the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the shift in materials hit me immediately \u2014 and not in a good way.<\/p>\n

I have always argued that at the $1,300 price point, you aren\u2019t just paying for megapixels and clock speeds; you are paying for a certain level of jewelry-grade engineering.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy S25 Ultra nailed this by using Titanium. It gave the phone a mature, industrial texture that just feels expensive and exclusive.<\/p>\n

Switching back to Armor Aluminum for the S26 Ultra feels like a massive step backward in the luxury department.<\/p>\n

Aluminum is the \u2018every man\u2019 metal of the smartphone world; it\u2019s what I expect on a base-model Galaxy or even mid-range A-series device.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m holding the S25 Ultra, the Titanium frame gives off a sense of rugged sophistication. It\u2019s a material used in aerospace and high-end watches for a reason.<\/p>\n

By comparison, the S26 Ultra\u2019s Aluminum rails feel generic. Even with Samsung\u2019s fancy branding, it is still essentially a refined version of the same metal we have been using for a decade.<\/p>\n

For a power user who spends all day with their device, that loss of premium grit is a deal-breaker.<\/p>\n

The weight and density problem<\/p>\n

\"Galaxy<\/p>\n

On paper, the difference between the S25 Ultra and the S26 Ultra is a mere 4 grams. You would think such a minor change would be negligible, but the moment I held them side-by-side, the difference became the elephant in the room.<\/p>\n

The S25 Ultra feels like a solid, precision-milled slab of technology. There is a specific heft to it that signals quality with no wasted space. When I pick it up, it feels intentional.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, by shedding those 4 grams while also thinning the chassis down to 7.9mm, Samsung has reached a tipping point where the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts to feel airy.<\/p>\n

This creates a massive disconnect for me. When I\u2019m holding a device that costs as much as a high-end laptop, I want it to have some gravity.<\/p>\n

The S26 Ultra\u2019s lightness makes it feel more like a toy and less like a professional tool. It\u2019s the difference between holding a weighted professional camera and a plastic point-and-shoot.<\/p>\n

Samsung might call this \u2018ergonomic optimization,\u2019 but to me, they have lost the \u2018Ultra\u2019 soul.<\/p>\n

Samsung shouldn\u2019t have followed Apple<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

When Apple replaced Titanium with Aluminum in the iPhone 17 Pro<\/a>, it at least had a logical excuse for thermals.<\/p>\n

However, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was already a thermal champ. It didn\u2019t need better cooling via a material downgrade; it was already perfected.<\/p>\n

Instead of doubling down on the premium, exclusive feel of Titanium to make the Galaxy S26 Ultra stand out, Samsung chose to blend in.<\/p>\n

This was its golden opportunity to let the Ultra shine against the iPhone 17 Pro and even the Pixel 10 series.<\/p>\n

While everyone else was using the standard materials to cut costs or manage heat, Samsung could have stood out with high-end, high-density construction.<\/p>\n

Instead, we are left with a device that shares the same frame material as a phone for half its price.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tI’m a smartphone expert and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra left me unimpressed: Here’s why
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

This isn’t the path, Samsung<\/p>\n

Loss of identity<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The Samsung Ultra series always had a sharp, uncompromising rectangle that felt more like a professional workstation than a consumer gadget.<\/p>\n

With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, that identity has been softened. Samsung has moved toward a more rounded aesthetic, curving the corners of the frame to better align with the rest of the S26 lineup.<\/p>\n

I think it strips the device of its authority. The S25 Ultra had those crisp, defined corners that made it look and feel like a serious piece of equipment.<\/p>\n

By rounding those edges and smoothing out the frame, Samsung has traded that \u2018Note-like\u2019 prestige for a design that feels safe.<\/p>\n

While Samsung has improved the grip, it watered down the very thing that made that Ultra an Ultra.<\/p>\n

One step forward, two steps back<\/p>\n

For me, the switch from the rugged sophistication of Titanium to a standard Aluminum frame changes the identity of Samsung\u2019s top-tier flagship. The Galaxy S26 Ultra feels like it lost its soul in the pursuit of weight loss.<\/p>\n

The Galaxy S25 Ultra hit a sweet spot that balances modern material with a density that felt intentional and expensive. In comparison, the Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn\u2019t give me the satisfaction of holding a device with a $1,300 price tag.<\/p>\n

\"s26<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tSoC \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tRAM \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12GB \/ 16GB<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStorage \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t256GB \/ 512GB \/ 1TB<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tBattery \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5,000mAh<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOperating System \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid 16 \/ OneUI 8.5<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tFront camera \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12MP<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a world-first new feature called the Privacy Display, which hides the phone screen from prying eyes. The phone is lighter, thinner, and more powerful than its predecessor.<\/p>\n

\"s25-ultra-square\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tSoC \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tRAM \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12GB<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tStorage \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t256GB, 512GB, 1TB<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tBattery \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5,000mAh<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPorts \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSB-C<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u2014 and yes, that S Pen is still here too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Ultra series represents the pinnacle of Samsung\u2019s engineering. It is defined not just by internal specs but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":386962,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[85,46,321,125],"class_list":["post-386961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-mobile","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=386961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386961\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/386962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=386961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=386961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}