I’ve not always been an iOS devotee. Before giving in to social pressure and acquiring my first iPhone, I was content with Android. However, after testing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, I was nearly swayed to adopt this stunning smartphone as my primary device.
Kicking off a review of the latest flagship Samsung Galaxy with a nod to Apple rather sets the tone. In January, Apple overtook Samsung as the leading global smartphone brand, despite Apple still not having a foldable model. (Yes, I’m still eyeing the Galaxy Z TriFold.)
I evaluated the Galaxy S26 Ultra over two weeks, capturing 1,461 photos and 93 videos. I scrolled endlessly in bed, made numerous trivial demands on Gemini, Perplexity, and Bixby, and even reported live from an Apple event using the device.
The more I engaged with it, the more reluctant I grew to revert to my iPhone.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Initial Observations
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Amidst the era of minor upgrades, one big question arises: What’s new?
Significantly more than usual.
The S series needed camera updates, and Samsung delivered. (Scroll down for unedited shots from my camera trials.) There’s also a new custom processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. With more AI features, updated chips enhance on-device capabilities, also boosting battery life.
Moreover, Samsung introduced a compelling