Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Review: Ultra vs Slim

Let’s be honest—we all spent the last six months obsessing over the “S26 Edge” rumors. But as we hit the February 25, 2026 launch, the truth is out: Samsung killed the Edge to save the Galaxy S26 Plus.

I’ve been hauling a prototype of the S26 Ultra around for a week. My buddy Jake—who famously trashes every phone that isn’t a “Pro” model—is actually impressed for once. Here is the unvarnished truth on the phones that survived the chopping block.

The 2-Minute Verdict: “Cop or Drop?”

The Standout: The Galaxy S26 Ultra. It finally moved to 60W fast charging. It’s about time.
The “Value” Play: The Galaxy S26+. It’s the sleek, 7.35mm phone the Edge was supposed to be, but with a battery that actually lasts.
The Innovation: Privacy Display 2.0. It’s a hardware layer that blocks side-viewers. Perfect for the subway.
The Verdict: If you’re a power user, the Ultra is the only choice. If you want a big screen without the “hefty boy” weight, grab the S26+.

The 2026 Spec Showdown: S26 vs. S26+ vs. S26 Ultra

Feature	Galaxy S26	Galaxy S26+	Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Brain	Exynos 2600 (2nm)	Exynos 2600 (2nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite 5
Brightness	2,600 Nits	2,600 Nits	3,000 Nits (M14 OLED)
Juice	4,300 mAh	4,900 mAh	5,000 mAh
Fast Charge	25W (Boring)	45W	60W (Finally!)
Price (US)	$799	$999	$1,299

Performance & AI: The “Agentic” Shift

The Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 in the Ultra is a literal monster. But let’s talk about Galaxy AI 2.0. Samsung finally moved past the gimmicks. The new “Agentic” search means the phone can actually perform multi-step tasks, like booking a flight and syncing it to your calendar, without you lifting a finger.

The Reality Check:

The 2nm Exynos 2600 in the base models has closed the gap, but the Snapdragon still reigns supreme for gaming. During my tests, the base S26 still got spicy (hot) after 20 minutes of 4K recording. It’s a physics problem—thin phones just struggle to breathe.

Pros & Cons: The Straight-Up Truth

Pros

Privacy Mode: A physical security win for anyone who hates “shoulder surfers.”
Ultra Charging: 60W is a massive jump from the stagnant 45W of yesteryear.
Display King: The Ultra’s 3,000-nit screen is the best in the world, period.

Cons

Slow Base Charging: $799 for 25W charging in 2026 is a joke.
Price Creep: These are officially “budget car” price points now.
Size: The Ultra is a massive 6.9-inch “unit.” It’s a two-handed phone, no matter what the marketing says.

Final Verdict: Is it Worth Your Cash?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the “Main Character” of 2026. If you want the 200MP camera and the S-Pen, there is no substitute. But for most people, the S26+ is the smarter buy. It’s the sleek, high-end experience without the “dumbbell” weight in your pocket.