Samsung S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: 8 Real Differences and Whether You Should Upgrade in 2026

The Galaxy S26 Ultra looks almost identical to the S25 Ultra, launched at the same $1,299.99 starting price and keeps the same 5,000mAh battery and 6.9-inch screen size. The changes are concentrated in four places: a brighter main and telephoto camera, a built-in Privacy Display, faster wired and wireless charging, and a faster Snapdragon chip. If you own an S25 Ultra, those are refinements, not reasons to spend $1,300. If you are coming from an S23 Ultra or older, the gap is large enough to matter.

This comparison uses Samsung's official specifications and published tests from Tom's Guide and PhoneArena. We do not have our own test units, so every performance and battery figure below is attributed to its source.

Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Specs Side by Side

8 Differences That Actually Matter

1. A brighter f/1.4 main camera

The 200MP sensor's aperture widens from f/1.7 to f/1.4. Samsung says that lets in 47% more light, which should mean faster shutter speeds indoors and at night, so less blur on moving people and pets. Resolution and the rest of the camera hardware are unchanged.

2. A brighter 5x periscope

The 50MP 5x lens moves from f/3.4 to f/2.9, and Samsung claims it is 37% brighter. Zoom shots in dim rooms, where the S25 Ultra often switched to a cropped main-camera image, should now use the real telephoto more often.

3. Built-in Privacy Display

This is the only feature with no S25 Ultra equivalent. A switchable layer inside the panel makes the screen hard to read from the side, and you can turn it on for selected apps or parts of the screen, such as notifications. It replaces stick-on privacy filters, which dim the display permanently.

4. Faster wired charging

Wired charging rises from 45W to 60W. Samsung quotes 75% in 30 minutes, and Tom's Guide measured 77% in 30 minutes against 71% for the S25 Ultra. You need a 60W-capable USB-C PD PPS charger to get the full speed; neither phone includes one.

5. Qi2.2 wireless charging at 25W

Wireless charging jumps from 15W to 25W under the Qi2.2 standard. Samsung still left magnets out of the phone, so you need a magnetic case to use snap-on chargers, wallets and stands. Our guide to Qi2 wireless charging explains what to look for in a charger.

6. A faster chip

On a reference device, Tom's Guide measured the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at 3,832 single-core and 12,208 multi-core in Geekbench 6, against 3,031 and 9,829 for the S25 Ultra: roughly 25% faster on both. Graphics improved by a similar margin in 3DMark Solar Bay (55.3 fps vs 42.4 fps). The S25 Ultra was never slow, so you will notice this most in demanding games.

7. Lighter, thinner, aluminum instead of titanium

The S26 Ultra is 4g lighter and 0.3mm thinner, and its corners are slightly rounder. Samsung dropped the titanium frame for Armor Aluminum. It is a small change in the hand, but S25 Ultra cases will not fit the new phone properly because the camera layout and dimensions changed.

8. Battery life did not improve

Both phones use a 5,000mAh battery. Tom's Guide recorded 17 hours 14 minutes for the S25 Ultra and 16 hours 40 minutes for the S26 Ultra in its web-surfing test, so the newer phone lasted slightly less, not more. Faster charging makes up for it in daily use, but anyone hoping for a bigger battery will be disappointed.

Benchmarks and Battery Test Results

What Stayed the Same

• Screen size and resolution: 6.9 inches, 3120 x 1440, 120Hz.
• The 50MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP selfie camera.
• The S Pen, still without Bluetooth remote features.
• Seven years of Android and security updates, so the S25 Ultra is supported into the early 2030s.
• Most Galaxy AI features, which Samsung has brought to the S25 Ultra through software updates.

Should You Upgrade? Advice by Current Phone

If you are buying from scratch, the S25 Ultra is the value play while stock lasts, especially refurbished. Samsung's own trade-in offers change often, so check what your current phone is worth before deciding. Prices across the industry are under pressure from rising memory costs, which our analysis of when phone prices will drop covers in detail.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Pros and Cons vs the S25 Ultra

Pros

• Brighter main and 5x cameras for low light.
• Privacy Display, a genuine first.
• 60W wired and 25W wireless charging.
• About 25% faster CPU and GPU.

Cons

• No battery capacity increase; slightly shorter test result.
• Still no magnets for Qi2 accessories.
• Titanium frame dropped at the same price.

For everything else about the new phone, including colours and Galaxy AI features, see our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra specs and price guide.

S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: FAQ

Is the S26 Ultra worth upgrading from the S25 Ultra?

For most owners, no. The upgrades are real but small, and battery life is about the same. Upgrade only if you specifically want the Privacy Display or better low-light photos and can get a strong trade-in.

Do S25 Ultra cases fit the S26 Ultra?

No. The dimensions and camera cutouts changed, so buy a case made for the S26 Ultra.

Does the S26 Ultra have a bigger battery?

No. Both have 5,000mAh batteries. The S26 Ultra charges faster at 60W wired and 25W wireless.

Will the S25 Ultra get the S26 Ultra's AI features?

Most software features reach the S25 Ultra through One UI updates. Hardware features such as the Privacy Display and the brighter cameras cannot be added by software.

Summary: Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra