Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra Might Provide a More Significant Update Than Typical - Here Are Five Possible Justifications
The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be a significant upgrade from its predecessor, with rumors suggesting a range of exciting new features.
Powerful Performance
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, possibly in a special "Made for Galaxy" overclocked edition with a clock speed of up to 5 GHz. This chipset, yet to be announced, is anticipated to be the most powerful Android chipset available when it launches. The device is also rumored to come with 12-16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB UFS4 storage.
Improved Battery and Charging
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to retain its 5,000 mAh battery but will upgrade wired charging to 60W fast charging, a significant increase from the 45W charging speed of the S25 Ultra. Additionally, it will offer 15W wireless charging.
Thinner Design and Larger Display
Design-wise, the S26 Ultra will reportedly be thinner and lighter, targeting under 7mm thickness and less weight than its predecessor. The device is also expected to feature a very slightly larger AMOLED display, around 6.9 inches, with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Quad HD+ resolution, and Gorilla Glass Armor 3 protection.
Camera Upgrades
In terms of camera improvements, the S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a 200 MP main sensor, accompanied by a 50 MP ultra-wide, a new 50 MP 5x telephoto periscope lens, a 10 MP 3x telephoto, and a 12 MP front camera. The new telephoto lenses are expected to bring optical zoom enhancements beyond the previous model.
One UI 8.5 and Connectivity
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch with One UI 8.5, an updated version of Samsung's current-gen software. In terms of connectivity, the device is rumored to feature Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, and NFC.
A Look at the Design
Notable tipster UniverseIce (formerly known as Ice Universe, and now using the display name PhoneArt) shared a render of the Galaxy S26 Ultra which shows the largest three cameras contained in a Galaxy Z Fold 7-style housing. The render suggests that the main body of the phone would be too thin to fit the cameras without the new housing.
Caveats
It's important to note that all these details are based on leaks, firmware findings, and insider reports and have not been officially confirmed by Samsung. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to use a different chipset than the regular Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, which are expected to launch with Samsung's own Exynos 2600 chipset. We don't expect any official confirmation until next year.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been impressing since its launch, holding spots in lists of the best phones, best camera phones, best Android phones, and more. With the S26 Ultra, Samsung seems to be aiming to maintain this high standard. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the launch date.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, rumored to be a significant upgrade, is also expected to stand out in the technology sphere with its collection of advanced gadgets. Notably, its cameras are reported to include a 200 MP main sensor, a 50 MP ultra-wide, a new 50 MP 5x telephoto periscope lens, a 10 MP 3x telephoto, and a 12 MP front camera, potentially elevating its position in the best camera phones list. Smartphones like the S26 Ultra, equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative features, underscore the continuous evolution of gadgets in our constantly connected world.
