Despite active advertising campaigns, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has not marked a significant step forward for the lineup. Contrary to expectations, the update turned out to be less impactful than many had hoped. Experts compared the new model with the three-year-old Galaxy S23 Ultra and concluded that the functional capabilities remain virtually at the same level.
This is reported by Finway
Camera and Battery Life Comparison
Journalist Rajesh Pandey, who has been using the Galaxy S23 Ultra since its release in 2023, conducted a detailed analysis of the S26 Ultra. According to him, the main complaint concerns the cameras. The new smartphone features a lens with an f/1.5 aperture for its 200-megapixel sensor and the latest image processing algorithms. However, like its predecessor, the S26 Ultra has not resolved the issue of blurry shots of moving objects in low-light conditions. Users trying to photograph, for example, a child in motion indoors still face the same problem that Samsung has not addressed for years.
“The S26 Ultra still produces blurry shots when attempting to photograph, for instance, an active child indoors — a problem that Samsung has not fixed for many years.”
Another disappointment has been the battery life. In contrast to competitors from China, such as the Vivo X300 Pro, which use modern silicon-carbon batteries with capacities of 6000-7000 mAh, Samsung retains the standard 5000 mAh battery. Even the accelerated 60W charging does not provide a real breakthrough in usage duration, so the difference between the S23 Ultra and S26 Ultra in this regard is minimal, especially if the older device has had its battery replaced.
S Pen Features and Software Support
In the S23 Ultra, the S Pen stylus had built-in Bluetooth, allowing it to be used as a remote control for the camera. Starting with the S25 Ultra, this feature was removed, and it has not returned in the S26 Ultra. This diminishes the practical utility of the stylus and narrows its functionality, although for most users, this is a noticeable but not critical change.
Another argument in favor of the older model is its extended software support. The Galaxy S23 Ultra continues to receive regular security updates and new features for the One UI interface, so owners do not feel it is outdated. Experts emphasize that even with an improved processor and a new privacy mode screen in the S26 Ultra, switching to the new model is currently not justified. Moreover, a used Galaxy S23 Ultra can be purchased significantly cheaper than the new flagship.
Users of the new S26 Ultra model also share mixed impressions: the smartphone has elicited ambiguous evaluations, with opinions nearly evenly split. Detailed test analyses show that the question of whether to purchase remains open, especially against the backdrop of strong competition from Apple and Chinese brands.
