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New Samsung Flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra It could be coming very soon, according to rumours, And my 14 years of experience as a reviewer for CNET means I know exactly what the company needs to do to make it the best phone ever.
I have tested every generation of Samsung Ultra Scope, including taking Thousands of photos And play countless hours of games. Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about why these phones stand out as their competition apple And Google. But I also learned where it could be improved.
Throughout that time, I’ve watched Samsung remain the dominant phone maker, consistently outselling its major competitors. But that doesn’t mean Samsung can continue its dominance. I’ve also tested amazing phones from brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei that are much more innovative and advanced than what Samsung did with the Galaxy S-line. It’s time for Samsung to show us what it can do.
The S25 Ultra isn’t a huge upgrade over the S24 Ultra. They even look very similar.
So, as we get closer to the launch of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, here’s what I want to see from Samsung’s next super phone.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s cameras need larger sensors
Samsung’s Ultra phones have always been there with… better When it comes to taking photos. Its Galaxy S phones excelled at taking night photos, and were among the first companies to really impress us with their telephoto zoom. But the camera hardware hasn’t changed much over the past few generations of Ultra phones, and it seems like it’s time for an expansion.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra It impressed me with its photography skills, thanks to its 1-inch image sensor, which is actually larger than the sensors you’ll find in almost any other phone camera. A larger image sensor can capture more light, theoretically allowing for better dynamic range and more detail without relying heavily on software image processing.
Taken on a Xiaomi 15 Ultra and slightly edited in Adobe Lightroom, I like how the phone takes natural-looking photos that preserve deep shadows rather than trying to create an overly fake HDR look. It’s one of the few phones that I think can compete with mirrorless cameras.
I love the shots you took The latest Xiaomi phonesand I want to see Samsung create a camera specifically designed for professional photographers like me. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s zoom is certainly good, and it’s nice to see the extra resolution we’ve added to Ultra Resolution. But use the S26 Ultra’s larger main camera sensor and allow me to take great photos that look like they were taken on a mirrorless camera, and yes, you’ll be the winner there, Samsung.
It would also help the S26 Ultra differentiate itself from the S25 Edge and Z Fold 7, both of which feature the main camera from the current S25 Ultra. And with Xiaomi 17 Ultra Looking to become a full-fledged imaging powerhouse, it would be smart for Samsung to push the boat here.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs more photo filter options
Samsung cameras already have a variety of filters that adjust the color tone and exposure of your photos. It works well enough and is similar to Apple devices Photography styles Where you can customize the appearance of each filter and Change these settings even after you take the photo.
You can also create Your own custom presets Based on tones from a different source image, which works well. What you can’t do is share that preset for other photographers to use, and I think Samsung is missing a trick here. There’s a hidden little store where you can download a few additional presets, but if Samsung makes the ability for Galaxy owners to share their custom presets there for others to download, it will help build a community of passionate photographers who want to continue using Samsung’s camera phones.
Samsung’s My Filter tool allowed me to create this Wes Anderson-inspired photo preset. I would love to be able to share this with other photographers, as well as use color filters created by the passionate photo community.
Fujifilm has had similar success With her camerasallowing photographers to create “recipes” that other photographers can simply input into their camera and immediately start capturing images using the same cinematic style that caught their attention. As a result, Fujifilm has a huge and passionate fan base that will leave you raving about how great Fujifilm cameras are because of the looks you can get when using them. Samsung has the opportunity to create the same for mobile photography.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a smaller size option
The S25 Ultra may be an absolute powerhouse, but it’s also massive. At 6.9 inches, it takes a redwood-sized thumb to type with one hand and trying to squeeze it into skinny jeans means suffering from an embarrassing bulge in…places you don’t want an embarrassing bulge.
Even though I’m 6 feet 2 inches tall, my hands are quite small, so I’ve always preferred that Smaller phones. I use iPhone 17 Pro, no 17 Pro Max, because I prefer the 6.3-inch screen to the Max’s massive 6.9-inch screen. But unlike Apple, Samsung has always offered its best technology in only one size, forcing you to choose between portability and performance.
I love my iPhone 17 Pro. It fits in my hand. My little, little hand.
I’d like to see Samsung take a cue from Apple here and put the processor and camera skills that make the Ultra series what it is into a more manageable size. I’d be happy to see an S Pen to make that easier – I never use one anyway.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs more colours
While we’re talking design options, I’d like to see more fun colors in the Ultra line. Samsung briefly flirted with a vibrant orange color on the S22 Ultra, but its color ranges have since become somewhat more muted. Well, sure, the S25 Ultra comes in different colors than just black or silver, but they’re very subtle colors that, if I’m feeling generous, could be described as upscale, and if I’m not feeling generous, they’re simply boring.
I love Cosmic orange color for iPhone 17 Pro. I love that it doesn’t take itself too seriously at all, and why should we? Phones are fun accessories, and I need a neutral gray color to match my business suit. I’m old enough to remember Motorola Razr V3which came in hot pink, and I’ll be honest, I absolutely loved it. My best friend Charlie had one, and I was so envious. Not only does the current Motorola Razr Ultra come in pink, it also uses fabric on the back to make it more comfortable to hold and help it stand out among the glass and aluminum crowds.
Just look at the hot pink Motorola Razr V3. What an absolute piece of beauty.
If Samsung took that vibrant metallic pink color and put it on the S26 Ultra, I’d basically have to throw my credit card at them to get one.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a bigger battery and faster charging
The Galaxy S25 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery with a maximum charging speed of 45W. These are the same specifications as the S22 Ultra when it was launched four years ago. Battery technology It has evolved dramatically in the past four years, and we are now seeing phones using new silicon carbon technology to produce more power-dense cells and Phones with 100W charging speeds.
Some of the fastest charging phones come from China, and many are not available in the US, however OnePlus 15 It offers 80W wired charging, and its 7,300mAh battery impressed us greatly in our full review.
The S25 Ultra’s battery was certainly good when we tested it, but with new battery technology being used in competing phones, it’s time for Samsung to update its Ultra series a bit here.
The OnePlus 15’s battery is not only larger, it also charges faster.
Galaxy S26 Ultra price
I’m asking a lot in this article, and I know that if I had my way with everything, the phone would see a significant increase in price. Although the S25 Ultra was already launched at the same price as its predecessor, I don’t expect that to be the case this time.
Between economic fluctuations and ongoing tariffs Lack of RAMwhich makes the components more expensive, the S26 Ultra will likely come with a higher price tag – or some specifications will be cut to cut costs.
But I hope Samsung can keep this to a minimum and not use market changes as an opportunity to increase the price to a point where getting the latest technology becomes out of reach for anyone without the title of “Oil Baron” on their business card.