Bloomberg — A smartphone doesn’t have to be completely redesigned for the latest version to be a significant improvement over its predecessor. While Apple Inc. (APPL) opted for a bold new design for its Pro models last year and has since enjoyed strong demand, Samsung Electronics Co. refrained from making a similar visual change for its Galaxy S26 Ultra.
But don’t be fooled by the familiar: the new phone is my favorite “Ultra” the company has released in several years.
Instead of a major overhaul, the leading Android phone maker focused its efforts on a very practical hardware innovation: a privacy screen that will immediately appeal to anyone constantly scrolling through sensitive information on their screen. If you work in finance, medicine, public administration, or any other field where you regularly handle sensitive material, this is a big draw.
Samsung has also incorporated quality of life improvements, such as Faster loading speeds. And while the S26 Ultra still has the same camera sensors as its latest predecessors, the company has made adjustments to help those cameras capture more light and detail.
See more: Samsung launches Galaxy S26 with more AI features and new headphones: prices
There are some new artificial intelligence capabilities, such as automated tasks through Google’s Gemini model, that lets you automate multi-step tasks, like booking a ride home or re-ordering your favorite food for delivery. But these features are still in their infancy and do not alone offer a compelling enough reason to purchase this device. Samsung has included at least one new AI function, editing images with natural language, which I myself have used frequently.
Two other newly announced Samsung phones, the Galaxy S26 and S26+, have increased in price this year, making them difficult to sell. However, The Ultra continues to cost the same as before, US$1,300, even with some improvements, such as the latest chip from Qualcomm Inc (QCOM).
After a week of testing ahead of the phone’s launch on March 11, here are six of my favorite features of the device:
Privacy screen
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When activated, the 6.9-inch OLED display turns off the pixels that would normally help keep the device viewable off-axis, making It is almost impossible for someone sitting next to you on the train or behind you in an elevator to see what you are doing.
The basic concept is similar to third-party privacy screen protectors that you can buy for most phones. But these usually degrade the clarity of the screen. More importantly, once you apply one, it stays on your phone at all times, making it difficult to show a group of friends your latest vacation photos or a funny video.
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Privacy Display is much more flexible. If you prefer, you can leave the function activated all the time, but the smartest thing to do is Choose specific apps to protect, such as banking software, password managers, Slack, Gmail, or any program you use for work. Another setting lets you hide incoming push notifications, but keep everything else visible, so no one can spy on personal messages as they arrive.
There are many times when your phone should only be seen by you. The privacy screen offers a real improvement in security that I hope other phone manufacturers try to replicate.
Blazing loading speeds
If you have a fast enough plug, Samsung’s new phone can support wired charging speeds of up to 60 watts, going from empty to 75% in just half an hour. That’s faster than any previous Ultra. Wireless charging has increased to 25 watts, but Samsung has yet to integrate magnets into the phone. The company says the vast majority of customers buy a case, so that’s what you’ll need to do if you want the Ultra to magnetically attach to charging stands and MagSafe-compatible accessories.
Lighter design
The S26 Ultra remains a gigantic phonenow even a little taller and wider than before. However, by changing the titanium sides for aluminum ones, Samsung has reduced the weight enough to make it a the lightest Ultra model to date. The difference is noticeable when comparing the phone with an iPhone 17 Pro Max. The more rounded corners of Samsung’s new phone are also more comfortable in the palms than the squarer corners of the S25 Ultra.
Better low light camera performance
Although the underlying sensor is the same, the larger aperture of the new main camera lens allows for better detail retention when shooting at night or in dark environments. The difference is even more pronounced when recording videos. Samsung now takes into account the noise its cameras produce in low light conditions and automatically filters it out of clipsmaking them sharper than before.
Cue-based image editing
Among the latest features of Samsung’s “Galaxy AI” there is a trick that we have already seen on Google. On the S26 Ultra, You can make significant edits to a photo by simply typing in the changes you’d like to see. A cloudy day can instantly turn into a sunset. You can remove imperfections or add elements to the image that were never there originally using natural language. It is logical to have reservations about the impossibility of trusting the “real” of a photo, since these tools are getting better and more convincing, but the convenience is undeniable.
S Pen
The Ultra’s signature built-in accessory hasn’t received any new functionality this year and has remained stored on the phone for most of my testing time. However, on those occasions when it is useful, such as for write a quick note, sign a PDF, or make precise edits in Adobe Lightroomthe inclusion of the S Pen is worth it.
An innovative phone, but not essential
Like his predecessors, The S26 Ultra is aimed at Android enthusiasts who want high-end specs, a large screen and Samsung’s long list of software features. If you have an S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra, the latest improvements don’t make it a must-have device. The privacy screen is a new hardware upgrade that helps make the overall device more personal and could justify the purchase for those who demand confidentiality.
However, it’s at least refreshing to see a key selling point that has nothing to do with AI.
Read more at Bloomberg.com
