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The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was 1 of the astir reliable phones launched past year. It had a big, crisp surface with a unsocial anti-reflective coating, almighty performance, and versatile cameras. However, I couldn't usage it full-time due to the fact that of an ergonomically mediocre plan and an aging telephoto camera.
Also: Samsung confirms Galaxy S26 preorder woody for $900 disconnected up of February Unpacked
There person been rumors pointing toward akin downsides for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. I'm acrophobic astir Samsung's upcoming flagship phone.
1. Where's the telephoto camera upgrade?
According to ETNews, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra volition person a 200MP superior camera, accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, and different 50MP 5x telephoto sensor. The 200MP camera is afloat susceptible of shooting high-resolution images, but the 3x zoom camera is owed for a large upgrade.
Samsung has relied connected the aforesaid sensor for 3x zoom capabilities for a mates of years now. It was anemic past year, erstwhile Apple pushed the limits successful videography with its 4x telephoto camera, and Chinese manufacturers had perfected portraits and macro shots with improved processing. If it is the aforesaid telephoto camera successful 2026, it doesn't basal a accidental against competitors.
I anticipation Samsung updates the post-processing to amended the output from its 10MP sensor, but I'm not ace optimistic. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra sticks with the aforesaid 3x telephoto camera, I'd counsel much radical to usage the 200MP camera mode and harvest photos aboriginal alternatively of zooming successful connected the viewfinder.
2. Please, conscionable absorption connected the ergonomics
Last year, Samsung slashed the value of its Galaxy S25 Ultra to 218 grams -- a large feat for a mainstream flagship phone, particularly since nary of the $1,000-plus phones from Apple oregon Google measurement little than 230 grams. Despite a lighter design, it was harder to usage than the heavier Galaxy S24 Ultra, which wasn't excessively comfy owed to its crisp corners, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra earlier that.
The on-paper value tin beryllium misleading due to the fact that an unergonomic plan tin render a telephone hard to usage successful day-to-day life. That is precisely what happened with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Samsung gave its flagship telephone a boxy design, which looks good, and I similar it, but it forgot to taper the edges connected each side. As a result, erstwhile you clasp the phone, its sides excavation into your palm. Both the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL bash amended successful this regard. If the latest leaks are immoderate indication, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could diagnostic the aforesaid sharp, level sides arsenic before.
According to a now-removed video shared by leaker Evan Blass, the upcoming Samsung telephone could clasp the boxy look with level sides. It looks akin to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I cannot accidental for definite whether the edges connected some sides person been tapered. If not, I volition beryllium disappointed due to the fact that I request my phones to beryllium comfy to clasp without adding a case.
3. I anticipation the S26 Ultra isn't much expensive
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not guaranteed to get a terms hike, but rumors are divided connected whether it is going to outgo the aforesaid arsenic its predecessor oregon beryllium much expensive. Samsung could beryllium facing unit from constituent terms hikes, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra already outgo $1,300 astatine launch.
To enactment things into perspective, $1,300 for the basal mentation is much than Apple and Google's large flagship phones. While Samsung has doubled the retention to 512GB for the aforesaid terms arsenic portion of motorboat offers, it is inactive successful a pugnacious spot.
Modest upgrades, but caller tech is promising
Samsung precocious teased a caller show privateness diagnostic debuting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. There is nary authoritative sanction for the diagnostic yet, but it is expected to beryllium called Privacy Display -- and it could beryllium a large woody for some regular consumers and concern users. It could enactment likewise to a privateness surface protector, which prevents strangers from snooping connected your backstage information successful public.
Also: Samsung Unpacked 2026: 5 biggest rumors I'm seeing connected Galaxy S26 Ultra, Buds 4 Pro, more
The Korean institution is said to execute this done pixel-level airy control, adjusting its OLED emanation truthful that airy lone shines toward the idiosyncratic erstwhile the show is viewed consecutive on. It won't trim the phone's wide brightness oregon colour depth, dissimilar a physical privateness surface protector.
I americium looking guardant to it the most. If Samsung tin marque a comfortable-to-hold phone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a batch going for it, contempt immoderate humble upgrades connected paper.
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