Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: There's a Catch

TL;DR

The S26 Ultra's standout privacy display feature literally cuts resolution in half, making it a clever trade-off rather than a clear upgrade.

Key Points

• 1.Privacy Display trade-off: The new built-in privacy mode works by turning off half the pixels (wide-angle ones), literally halving resolution — visible as blockier text and edges — and slightly reducing peak brightness when activated.
• 2.Display downgrades baked in permanently: Even with privacy mode off, half the pixels have narrow-angle lenses, worsening viewing angles all the time; the display also still uses 8-bit (simulating 10-bit) and ships at 1080p by default despite being 1440p.
• 3.Same safe battery choices: Despite competitors using silicon-carbon batteries for bigger capacity in thinner bodies, Samsung kept the same 5,000 mAh cell with no built-in magnets (no MagSafe equivalent) and only modest 60W peak charging.
• 4.Camera upgrades are mostly aperture and software: Both the main and 5x cameras got wider apertures for better low light, but minimum focus distance got worse; standout new features are Horizon Lock stabilization (crops 200MP sensor for stable 4K/60) and APV log codec.
• 5.Base S26/S26+ called poor value: Same cameras since S23, dropped millimeter wave, Exynos chip outside the US, and removed the $900 128GB entry model — meaning you pay more for essentially the same phone.