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The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra was one of the most reliable phones launched last year. It had a big, sharp screen with a unique anti-reflective coating, powerful performance, and versatile cameras. However, I couldn't use it full-time because of an ergonomically poor design and an aging telephoto camera.
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There have been rumors pointing toward similar downsides for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. I'm concerned about Samsung's upcoming flagship phone.
1. Where's the telephoto camera upgrade?
According to ETNews, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will have a 200MP primary camera, accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP 3x telephoto camera, and another 50MP 5x telephoto sensor. The 200MP camera is fully capable of shooting high-resolution images, but the 3x zoom camera is due for a big upgrade.
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Samsung has relied on the same sensor for 3x zoom capabilities for a couple of years now. It was weak last year, when Apple pushed the limits in videography with its 4x telephoto camera, and Chinese manufacturers had perfected portraits and macro shots with improved processing. If it is the same telephoto camera in 2026, it doesn't stand a chance against competitors.
I hope Samsung updates the post-processing to improve the output from its 10MP sensor, but I'm not super optimistic. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra sticks with the same 3x telephoto camera, I'd advise more people to use the 200MP camera mode and crop photos later instead of zooming in on the viewfinder.
2. Please, just focus on the ergonomics
Last year, Samsung slashed the weight of its Galaxy S25 Ultra to 218 grams — a big feat for a mainstream flagship phone, especially since none of the $1,000-plus phones from Apple or Google weigh less than 230 grams. Despite a lighter design, it was harder to use than the heavier Galaxy S24 Ultra, which wasn't too comfortable due to its sharp corners, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra before that.
The on-paper weight can be misleading because an unergonomic design can render a phone difficult to use in day-to-day life. That is exactly what happened with the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
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Samsung gave its flagship phone a boxy design, which looks good, and I like it, but it forgot to taper the edges on each side. As a result, when you hold the phone, its sides dig into your palm. Both the Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL do better in this regard. If the latest leaks are any indication, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature the same sharp, flat sides as before.
According to a now-removed video shared by leaker Evan Blass, the upcoming Samsung phone could retain the boxy look with flat sides. It looks similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I cannot say for sure whether the edges on both sides have been tapered. If not, I will be disappointed because I need my phones to be comfortable to hold without adding a case.
3. I hope the S26 Ultra isn't more expensive
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is not guaranteed to get a price hike, but rumors are split on whether it is going to cost the same as its predecessor or be more expensive. Samsung could be facing pressure from component price hikes, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra already cost $1,300 at launch.
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To put things into perspective, $1,300 for the base version is more than Apple and Google's big flagship phones. While Samsung has doubled the storage to 512GB for the same price as part of launch offers, it is still in a tough spot.
Modest upgrades, but new tech is promising
Samsung recently teased a new display privacy feature debuting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. There is no official name for the feature yet, but it is expected to be called Privacy Display — and it could be a big deal for both regular consumers and business users. It could work similarly to a privacy screen protector, which prevents strangers from snooping on your private data in public.
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The Korean company is said to achieve this through pixel-level light control, adjusting its OLED emission so that light only shines toward the user when the display is viewed straight on. It won't reduce the phone's overall brightness or color depth, unlike a physical privacy screen protector.
I am looking forward to it the most. If Samsung can make a comfortable-to-hold phone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a lot going for it, despite some modest upgrades on paper.
