Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra brings Privacy Display, 60W charging and upgraded cameras

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is the company’s flagship conventional smartphone for 2026, combining a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, integrated S Pen and four rear cameras headed by a 200MP main sensor.

The biggest changes over the Galaxy S25 Ultra are more targeted than a complete redesign. Samsung has introduced its built-in Privacy Display, widened the apertures on the main and 5x telephoto cameras, increased wired charging to 60W and made the phone thinner and lighter. The battery remains at 5,000mAh.

Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 series at Galaxy Unpacked on 25 February 2026. Samsung South Africa confirmed local availability of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26+ and S26 in March 2026.

TechnologyBlog.co.za has not independently tested the Galaxy S26 Ultra. This article therefore focuses on verified specifications and features rather than providing conclusions about camera quality, battery endurance or everyday performance.

Privacy Display is the S26 Ultra’s standout hardware feature

Samsung’s new Privacy Display is one of the clearest differences between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and its predecessor.

Instead of requiring a stick-on privacy screen protector, the feature is integrated into the display hardware. When activated, it restricts visibility from off-axis viewing angles while allowing the person directly in front of the phone to continue seeing the screen.

Users can apply the privacy effect to the complete display or configure it for particular situations. Samsung allows Privacy Display to activate for selected apps, notification pop-ups and sensitive information such as PINs and passwords.

A Maximum Privacy Protection setting provides stronger side-view shielding.

The feature could be particularly useful when checking banking information, email or messages on public transport and in other crowded environments. It should not, however, be treated as absolute protection against someone deliberately viewing the display. Samsung notes that some information may remain visible depending on the viewing angle, brightness and surrounding conditions.

The display remains a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel

The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 3120 × 1440 QHD+ resolution.

Its adaptive refresh rate ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz, allowing the phone to reduce refresh activity when displaying static content and increase it for scrolling, animations and compatible games.

The basic size and resolution are therefore very similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The major display upgrade is not a jump in resolution or screen size, but the addition of Privacy Display and refinements to Samsung’s image-processing technology.

Samsung also includes ProScaler, which uses processing to improve lower-resolution content when displayed on the QHD+ screen. Manufacturer processing claims should not be confused with additional native image detail that was not present in the source material.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy powers every S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy.

Unlike the standard Galaxy S26 and S26+, where processor availability can differ by market, Samsung lists the customised Snapdragon processor for the Ultra model.

Samsung claims that compared with the S25 Ultra, the new platform delivers up to:

• 19% higher CPU performance
• 24% higher GPU performance
• 39% higher NPU performance

These figures are Samsung comparisons rather than TechnologyBlog.co.za benchmark results. Real performance depends on workload, software, temperatures and other conditions.

The NPU increase is particularly relevant because Samsung continues to expand Galaxy AI and on-device processing.

Higher theoretical AI performance does not mean every AI feature operates locally. Some Galaxy AI and third-party AI features still require internet connectivity or cloud processing.

Samsung redesigned the cooling system

Higher processor performance creates additional thermal-management demands.

Samsung has redesigned the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s vapour chamber and repositioned thermal interface material around the processor to spread heat across a larger surface area.

Samsung describes the new design as providing 21% greater thermal performance than the S25 Ultra.

TechnologyBlog.co.za has not independently tested sustained temperatures or throttling.

The more important practical question is whether the cooling system can maintain processor and GPU performance during extended gaming, video recording and AI workloads rather than merely achieving high short-duration benchmark results.

The 200MP camera remains, but its aperture is wider

Samsung has retained a four-camera rear system led by a 200MP wide camera.

The S26 Ultra camera system consists of:

Camera	Galaxy S26 Ultra specification
Main wide	200MP, f/1.4
Ultra-wide	50MP, f/1.9
5x telephoto	50MP, f/2.9
3x telephoto	10MP, f/2.4
Front camera	12MP, f/2.2

The important changes are found in the apertures rather than simply the megapixel counts.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra used an f/1.7 aperture on its 200MP main camera and f/3.4 on its 50MP 5x telephoto camera. The S26 Ultra moves those to f/1.4 and f/2.9 respectively.

A wider aperture can allow more light to reach the sensor.

Samsung says the new main camera captures 47% more light and the 50MP telephoto receives 37% more light than their S25 Ultra equivalents. These are manufacturer measurements rather than independent image-quality results.

Zoom still combines optical and sensor-assisted magnification

The Galaxy S26 Ultra provides genuine optical zoom at 3x and 5x.

Samsung additionally describes 2x and 10x as “optical quality” zoom. These modes rely on Samsung’s Adaptive Pixel sensor processing rather than separate lenses providing native 2x and 10x optical magnification.

Digital Space Zoom extends to 100x.

The distinction matters because a 100x figure should not be interpreted as a 100x optical lens.

Samsung combines optical hardware, sensor cropping, stabilisation and computational processing as magnification increases.

Nightography gets more attention

Samsung has concentrated its camera messaging around low-light photography and video.

The wider main and telephoto apertures provide the hardware foundation, while the Snapdragon processor and Samsung’s ProVisual Engine handle image processing and noise reduction.

Nightography Video uses processing tuned to the different camera sensors to reduce noise in dark environments.

There is also an upgraded Super Steady mode with Horizontal Lock.

This is designed to keep footage level while the phone rotates, including movement through a complete 360-degree rotation in supported shooting scenarios.

For more advanced video workflows, Samsung has added support for APV, a professional video codec intended to retain high visual quality through editing workflows. The S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy smartphone to support it.

AI also reaches the selfie camera and photo editor

Samsung says the front camera now benefits from an upgraded AI image signal processor designed to improve skin tones and detail under mixed lighting.

Again, this is something that needs real photographic testing before drawing conclusions about image quality.

The software changes are easier to define.

Photo Assist now accepts natural-language editing instructions. A user can describe a change, such as altering a background or removing unwanted details, rather than manually selecting every editing tool.

Creative Studio can work from sketches, photos and text prompts to create new imagery, stickers, wallpapers and related content.

Samsung warns that AI-generated results are not guaranteed to be accurate. Some generative features also require a Samsung Account and network connection, and feature availability can vary by market and language.

Galaxy AI becomes more proactive

The Galaxy S26 generation represents Samsung’s third generation of phones built heavily around Galaxy AI.

One new feature is Now Nudge.

Rather than waiting for the user to open a particular application, Now Nudge can surface contextual suggestions. Samsung gives the example of identifying relevant recent photographs when someone asks for trip pictures or recognising calendar information related to an incoming message.

Now Brief also returns with more contextual information and reminders.

Samsung has additionally expanded the phone’s choice of AI assistants. The Galaxy S26 series can integrate Bixby, Google Gemini and Perplexity for different requests.

AI availability varies by service, region and account. Third-party assistants can also have separate terms, privacy policies and subscription requirements.

Bixby becomes more conversational

Samsung has updated Bixby so users can interact with phone settings using more natural language.

Someone should therefore be able to describe what they want the phone to change without knowing the exact Android setting name.

Bixby remains different from a general-purpose generative AI service. Its main value is deeper control over Samsung device functions, while Gemini and other agents can handle broader information and generative tasks.

Samsung is increasingly positioning these assistants as complementary rather than expecting one AI service to handle everything.

Circle to Search can recognise multiple objects

Google’s Circle to Search also receives an update on the Galaxy S26 series.

The newer implementation can identify multiple objects within a single image. A user looking at an outfit, for example, can search for several individual items rather than processing each one separately.

Results still depend on Google’s recognition and search systems, so users should check important information instead of assuming every match is correct.

5,000mAh battery remains unchanged

Samsung has retained a 5,000mAh typical battery capacity.

That is the same headline battery capacity as the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Samsung rates the S26 Ultra for up to 31 hours of video playback, but real battery endurance varies substantially with display brightness, mobile signal quality, applications, camera use, gaming and other workloads.

TechnologyBlog.co.za has not independently tested its battery life.

Keeping the same capacity does not necessarily mean identical endurance because processor efficiency and software optimisation can change power consumption between generations.

Wired charging finally moves to 60W

One of the more practical specification upgrades is faster wired charging.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra supports Samsung’s Super Fast Charging 3.0 at up to 60W.

Samsung says a compatible 60W adapter can charge the battery to as much as 75% in around 30 minutes under its test conditions. The charger is sold separately.

The S26 Ultra also supports wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare for compatible devices.

As always, the maximum charging rate does not remain constant throughout the complete charging cycle. Battery temperature, starting charge level and charger compatibility can affect actual speeds.

It is Samsung’s slimmest Ultra yet

Samsung has reduced the Galaxy S26 Ultra to 7.9mm thick and 214g.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra measured 8.2mm thick and weighed 218g.

The difference is relatively small on paper, but reducing weight is useful on a phone with a 6.9-inch display.

Its complete dimensions are 163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm.

Samsung has also changed the camera design, bringing the rear cameras together visually on what it calls an ambient island.

Armour Aluminum replaces the S25 Ultra’s titanium frame

One potentially important change is the frame material.

Samsung marketed the Galaxy S25 Ultra around its titanium frame. The S26 Ultra instead uses Armour Aluminum around the chassis.

The front uses Corning Gorilla Armor 2, while Samsung lists Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the rear.

The phone carries an IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating. Samsung tests this under laboratory conditions involving freshwater at depths of up to 1.5 metres for as long as 30 minutes.

Water resistance can diminish with wear and should not be interpreted as permanent waterproofing.

The S Pen remains built in

The S26 Ultra continues to include an integrated S Pen stored inside the phone.

It supports handwriting, drawing, Air Command, Air View, Screen Write, translation and other stylus functions. Samsung also integrates AI Select and Creative Studio into the S Pen workflow.

One limitation carries over from the S25 Ultra.

The built-in S26 Ultra S Pen does not use Bluetooth and does not support Air Actions. It therefore cannot perform the Bluetooth remote-control gestures available on some older Galaxy Note and Ultra S Pens.

Users coming from an S24 Ultra or older compatible model should take this into account if they regularly used the S Pen as a remote camera shutter or gesture controller.

Storage reaches 1TB, with more RAM on that model

Samsung offers the Galaxy S26 Ultra with three storage configurations:

Storage	Memory
256GB	12GB RAM
512GB	12GB RAM
1TB	16GB RAM

Samsung South Africa currently lists all three capacities.

Storage is not expandable through a microSD card, so buyers who record large amounts of high-resolution video or retain extensive offline media should choose capacity carefully.

The 1TB model also stands apart by increasing RAM to 16GB.

Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 are included

Connectivity includes:

• 5G
• LTE
• Wi-Fi 7
• Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 6.0
• NFC
• Ultra-Wideband
• USB-C
• Samsung DeX

Samsung’s South African specification page confirms Wi-Fi support across 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands. Wi-Fi 7 features require compatible network infrastructure.

Bluetooth 6.0 is another upgrade over the S25 Ultra, which Samsung listed with Bluetooth 5.4.

Galaxy S26 Ultra specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Display	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution	3120 × 1440 QHD+
Refresh rate	1–120Hz adaptive
Privacy Display	Yes
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
RAM	12GB or 16GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB or 1TB
Main camera	200MP, f/1.4
Ultra-wide	50MP, f/1.9
5x telephoto	50MP, f/2.9
3x telephoto	10MP, f/2.4
Front camera	12MP, f/2.2
Optical zoom	3x and 5x
Digital zoom	Up to 100x
Video	Up to 8K recording
Battery	5,000mAh typical
Wired charging	Up to 60W
Wireless charging	Yes
S Pen	Built in
S Pen Bluetooth Air Actions	No
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 6.0
NFC	Yes
UWB	Yes
Water and dust resistance	IP68
Operating system at launch	Android 16
Interface	One UI 8.5
Dimensions	163.6 × 78.1 × 7.9mm
Weight	214g

Specifications are based on Samsung’s current official Galaxy S26 Ultra documentation. Availability and memory configurations can vary by market.

Galaxy S26 Ultra versus Galaxy S25 Ultra

The generation-to-generation changes become clearer when the phones are compared directly.

Feature	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Galaxy S25 Ultra
Display	6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz	6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
Privacy Display	Yes	No
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy	Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Main camera	200MP, f/1.4	200MP, f/1.7
5x telephoto	50MP, f/2.9	50MP, f/3.4
Ultra-wide	50MP, f/1.9	50MP, f/1.9
3x telephoto	10MP, f/2.4	10MP, f/2.4
Battery	5,000mAh	5,000mAh
Maximum wired charging	60W	45W
Thickness	7.9mm	8.2mm
Weight	214g	218g
Bluetooth	6.0	5.4
Built-in S Pen	Yes	Yes
S Pen Air Actions	No	No

The camera hardware therefore has not been completely replaced. Samsung has concentrated on wider apertures and processing rather than increasing every sensor’s resolution.

Similarly, the 5,000mAh battery remains unchanged.

For an S25 Ultra owner, Privacy Display, faster charging and improved low-light camera hardware are among the clearest reasons to consider moving to the newer generation. Someone satisfied with the S25 Ultra may find less reason to upgrade immediately.

Seven years of software support

The Galaxy S26 series launched with Android 16 and One UI 8.5.

Samsung promises seven generations of operating-system upgrades and seven years of security updates from the global launch date.

Samsung South Africa’s current product documentation lists security support for the Galaxy S26 Ultra through 28 February 2033.

Long software support strengthens the case for keeping the phone for several years, although battery condition and repairability will also influence its useful life.

Security now extends further into AI

Samsung’s AI strategy requires the phone to process increasing amounts of contextual and personal information.

The Galaxy S26 series uses Samsung Knox alongside the Personal Data Engine for personalised on-device AI features.

Samsung says Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection separates and encrypts app data, while Knox Vault isolates sensitive information in dedicated secure hardware.

Samsung has also introduced Privacy Alerts designed to flag applications with elevated device privileges when they request sensitive information such as precise location, contacts or call history.

A Private Album provides another method for hiding selected photographs and videos.

These controls can improve privacy, but users should still review what information they share with cloud-based AI services. A feature appearing inside Galaxy AI does not necessarily mean all associated processing occurs locally.

Galaxy AI output still requires verification

Samsung explicitly warns that it does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or reliability of AI-generated output.

That qualification applies to a growing number of functions across modern smartphones and is worth keeping in mind when using generative tools for work, research or other important decisions.

Availability can also depend on country, language, One UI version, network connection and account requirements.

Samsung says basic Galaxy AI features remain free under its current terms, but future enhanced features or third-party services can operate under different commercial arrangements.

Galaxy S26 Ultra is officially available in South Africa

Samsung officially brought the Galaxy S26 series to South Africa in March 2026.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is available locally in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations, with 12GB RAM on the first two and 16GB on the 1TB model.

Standard colours include Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue and White. Samsung also offers Pink Gold and Silver Shadow as Samsung.com-exclusive colour options, subject to availability.

South African buyers should check the exact model and network configuration when purchasing through operators or retailers.

Who is the Galaxy S26 Ultra for?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra makes the most sense for users who want Samsung’s most capable conventional Galaxy smartphone rather than a foldable.

The built-in S Pen makes it unusually well suited to users who regularly take handwritten notes, mark up documents or draw directly on a phone.

Its four-camera system targets buyers who value multiple focal lengths and extensive zoom flexibility.

Privacy Display provides another differentiator for professionals and commuters who often work with sensitive information in public places.

The 1TB model with 16GB RAM is aimed more clearly at power users handling large quantities of video, applications and files.

However, the Ultra remains a large phone. Its 6.9-inch display and 214g weight will not suit everyone.

Existing Galaxy S25 Ultra owners should also look carefully at the actual changes before upgrading. The S26 Ultra brings a faster processor, wider camera apertures, 60W charging, Privacy Display and a lighter chassis, but the screen size, basic camera layout and 5,000mAh battery remain familiar.

For buyers coming from an older Galaxy Ultra, those cumulative improvements are likely to be considerably more significant.