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Enhanced Privacy: The Power of Meaningful Tweaks

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Meaningful tweaks plus a slick new Privacy Display

Last year, it felt like Samsung relied a bit too much on AI when trying to convince people to upgrade to its flagship phone. And while there’s no shortage of features that utilize machine learning on the new Galaxy S26 Ultra, it feels like Samsung has done a much better job of filling out the rest of the phone’s kit with fresh hardware, faster charging and a more cohesive design. It’s still rather expensive, but its price has stayed flat year-over-year at $1,300, which when combined with everything else makes it a much more attractive package than its predecessor.

Design and display

Samsung’s Ultra phones are always going to be somewhat boxy and that’s OK. However, for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the company’s top-of-the-line handset is getting a slightly curvier appearance thanks to rounder corners. There’s also a very (and I do mean very) small reduction in size that technically makes this version the thinnest and lightest Ultra to date (214 grams and 7.9mm thick). That said, considering the previous model weighed 218 grams and measured 8.2mm, it’s incredibly hard to feel a difference even when you know what you’re looking for.



The two biggest changes to the S26 Ultra’s exterior design are more rounded corners and an aluminum chassis instead of titanium like we got on the S25U.
(Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

In reality, the biggest exterior change is that Samsung has ditched the titanium frame from last year’s phone in favor of an Armor Aluminum chassis with Corning Gorilla Armor 2 panels in front and back. Samsung says this new design is meant to make the Ultra fit in better with its less expensive siblings while also making it easier to do things like color match the phone’s body to the rest of the device. Also, for anyone who keeps track of Samsung’s palette, the hero color for the S26 Ultra is a rather fetching shade of purple called cobalt violet, with sky blue, white and black available as well (plus silver shadow and pink gold being Samsung’s online exclusive hues).

If you look closely at the top of the phone, you can see where a notification has been blacked out via the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display.

If you look closely at the top of the phone, you can see where a notification has been blacked out by the S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display.
(Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

However, my favorite new thing on the S26 Ultra is its Privacy Display. When activated, it functions a lot like HP’s Sure View tech, which prevents people from peeking at your screen from acute angles. It works both when viewed from the side or up and down and has a surprising amount of customization. Not only can you set it to turn on automatically when the phone asks you for a password or PIN, it can also be triggered by specific apps or whenever you receive a notification. But perhaps the most impressive thing is that there’s almost no impact on image quality. When Privacy Display is active, there is a minor reduction in overall brightness, but aside from that, it’s really hard to tell when it’s on (at least from the front). Furthermore, the S26 Ultra’s 6.9-inch AMOLED screen has the same underlying specs as last year, including its 120Hz variable refresh rate and 2,600 nit peak brightness, so there are pretty much no trade-offs for the added functionality.

Performance and charging

The S26 Ultra still comes with an included S-Pen and a built-in storage slot, but it still doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity like on some of Samsung's older models.Enhancements in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

While the introduction of wider apertures to allow more light is an exciting development, I am cautiously optimistic and will reserve my judgment until I witness the actual results.

AI Features in the S26 Ultra

The latest Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes equipped with a new AI-powered Photo Assist tool, enabling users to effortlessly edit and adjust images through natural language commands. My initial experience with this feature was positive, and it functions as expected. However, in a market saturated with similar services and devices, it seems like Samsung is striving to keep pace with its competitors.

When it comes to AI capabilities, the S26 Ultra offers the same set of new and enhanced features as the rest of the S26 lineup. Users who value machine learning will appreciate that these features are included at no additional cost. Among the updates for 2026 are refinements to existing features like the Gallery app, which now leverages AI to automatically categorize screenshots into eight distinct groups for easier retrieval. Additionally, Samsung has introduced Now Nudge, a feature integrated into the Samsung keyboard that functions similarly to Google’s Magic Cue, providing suggestions such as relevant photos based on conversations.

One of the S26's most powerful new AI features is Automated App Actions, which allows the phone to perform tasks like booking an Uber ride while other apps are in use.
One of the S26’s most powerful new AI features is Automated App Actions, allowing the phone to perform tasks like booking an Uber ride while other apps are in use. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Noteworthy among these features is the S26’s Automated App Actions, enabling users to delegate more complex tasks such as ordering an Uber to a specific location. Following the initial command, the phone, named Gemini, can execute the task in the background while the user engages in other activities. Upon completion, a notification prompts the user to review and confirm the action. Initially, only Uber is supported, but Samsung plans to expand this feature to other apps like Instacart.

Impressions and Early Thoughts

The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in four main colors: sky blue, black, cobalt violet, and white, along with online exclusive hues in silver shadow and pink gold.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will be available in four main colors: sky blue, black, cobalt violet, and white, along with online exclusive hues in silver shadow and pink gold. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

At a price point of $1,300, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may seem steep for a smartphone investment. However, given the current RAM shortage, maintaining last year’s pricing is a welcome relief. With refined design, enhanced processing power, a sophisticated Privacy Display, faster charging capabilities, and an updated suite of AI tools, the latest flagship model offers substantial value compared to its predecessor. The only area where improvements are lacking is in the S-Pen functionality, which is beginning to feel more like a nostalgic nod to the Note series rather than a standout feature.

While existing S25 Ultra or S24 Ultra users may not feel compelled to upgrade immediately, those with older devices seeking a comprehensive smartphone experience will find the S26 Ultra to be a compelling option.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 Ultra are currently open, with official sales scheduled to commence on March 11.

Transform the following sentence into the passive voice:

“The chef prepared a delicious meal for the guests.”

Answer: “A delicious meal was prepared for the guests by the chef.”

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