I’ve had an up-and-down relationship with the Galaxy S25 Ultra this year.
When Samsung first released the device, I was disappointed. There was no way I could get excited about marginal hardware upgrades, a nerfed S pen, and Galaxy AI features that were unsatisfying to say the least — especially for $1,300.
Time (and aggressive discounts) softened my stance, and I’m at a place where I can respect the Galaxy S25 Ultra as an excellent phone, even if I didn’t love it on launch.
The upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra won’t enjoy that leeway, as its initial MSRP demands the phone receive proper scrutiny.
I’ve used the Galaxy S25 Ultra for a year, and here’s what Samsung must improve for the next generation.
Making devices thinner doesn’t improve ergonomics
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a sleeker design
I’m going to shamelessly borrow a theme from my colleague Andy Boxhall, who so rightly pointed out that the Galaxy S25 Ultra just isn’t a pleasant phone to hold.
I’m 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’s design.
Making a phone thinner doesn’t automatically make it easier to hold. While I celebrated the end of harshly curved displays, that didn’t mean the back glass of the phone couldn’t be curved.
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 — the phone felt like it melted into your hand.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a thicker phone than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but thanks to its rounded frame, it feels and handles better.
I hope Samsung gives us a sleeker design for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, because the phone desperately needs one.
Key hardware upgrades that move the needle
An upgraded camera and better charging speeds
I’ve given up on Samsung radically redesigning or upgrading the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
That’s not the company’s goal, and it’s 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.
However, that doesn’t completely absolve Samsung, and I still need to see meaningful improvements in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
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.
It won’t 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.
More light means more data, so I expect low-light and nighttime images to improve.
Samsung also needs to increase charging speeds. I’m pleased to hear leaks that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature 60W charging. I’d love a silicon-carbon battery, but if I can’t have that, 60W charging is a must.
It’s time Samsung stopped looking over its shoulder for the ghost of the Galaxy Note 7.
Galaxy AI that does something productive
I’d settle for anything at this point
I couldn’t 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.
I gave Now Brief a legitimate chance and hoped that I’d 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’t use any of them.
It’s why I prefer Google’s strategy with Gemini on Pixel devices. AI deserves to be in the background, providing contextual prompts when appropriate.
The moment I have to go out of my way to start using the tools, it’s almost always faster for me to just complete the task myself.
I don’t want to have to figure out how each individual AI tool is supposed to enhance my workflow or user experience.
It’s Samsung’s job to integrate it into One UI, so not only do I not know I’m using it, but I also see the benefits.
If Samsung honestly wants to convince me that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is its most advanced AI phone yet, I’ll need Now Brief and other functions to do something I can’t just get by looking at my calendar or a random Samsung News story.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t have to do much, but that still might be a lot
I’m 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.
Still, it’s shaping up to be a solid device, and I love what Samsung’s done with One UI, even if I can’t stand Galaxy AI.
There’s lots to look forward to for Samsung fans coming up in a short time. I just hope Samsung gives us legitimate reasons to be excited.
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.