Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKEXAA Review
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra packs the best screen, camera, and performance into one phone. It's also huge, heavy, and expensive. Here's who should buy it.
The 30-Second Version
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the undisputed heavyweight champion of Android specs. It's also a literal heavyweight, and your wallet will feel it.
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the phone that has everything, and it's not subtle about it. The one thing to know is this: if you want the absolute best screen, camera, and raw power you can get in an Android phone right now, this is it. It's a massive, no-compromise flagship that scores in the 100th percentile for camera, display, performance, and battery in our database. It's also a massive phone, so if you have small hands or hate heavy pockets, you've been warned.
Performance
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and 12GB of RAM, this thing is a monster. It doesn't just open apps; it vaporizes them. Gaming is buttery smooth, and the AI features like Photo Assist and Now Nudge actually feel snappy and useful, not like gimmicks that slow everything down. The 5000mAh battery paired with that efficient processor means you can easily get through a heavy day without scrambling for a charger.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong camera (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong battery (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong display (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong performance (100th percentile) 100th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.9 |
| Display Type | OLED |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 2600 nits |
| HDR | Yes |
Performance
| Processor | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Processor Model | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| CPU Speed | 4.74 |
| RAM | 12 MB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Camera
| Main Camera | 200 |
| Camera Count | 4 |
| Ultrawide | 50 |
| Telephoto | 50 |
| Front Camera | 12 |
| Optical Zoom | 3x, 5x |
| Video | 8K at 30fps |
Battery & Charging
| Battery | 5000 Wh |
| Wired Charging | 60 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Fast Charging | Adaptive Fast Charging |
| Connector | USB-C |
Connectivity
| 5G | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB-C |
| SIM | Nano SIM |
Design & Build
| Water Resistance | IP68 |
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
| Fingerprint | Yes |
| Face Recognition | Yes |
| OS | Android 16 |
| Headphone Jack | No |
Value & Pricing
Worth it? Only if you demand the absolute top tier and have the budget to match. At its full retail price, it's a huge investment. But here's the kicker: with prices ranging wildly up to $1500, your mission is to find the vendor selling it for way less than that. Don't pay the $1500. Hunt for the deal.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to the Google Pixel 10, you're trading the Pixel's more seamless software and computational photography magic for Samsung's sheer hardware dominance and more versatile zoom. Against the OnePlus 15, the S26 Ultra wins on camera and display quality but loses on charging speed and that sleek, lightweight feel. The iPhone 16e isn't even in the same league spec-wise, but it's for a completely different, budget-conscious buyer.
| Spec | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKEXAA | Motorola Moto G PB6V0014US | Google Google Pixel 10 GA09899-US | OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | Apple Unlocked iPhone 15/15 Plus MTLY3LL/A | 8849 8849 Tank 3 5G Rugged Smartphone, 23800mAh 6.79" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 6.8 |
| Display Type | OLED | AMOLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | - |
| Refresh Rate | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 | - |
| Processor | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | A16 | Octa-Core |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 8 | 16 | 16 | - | 16 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 1024 | 256 | 512 | 128 | 512 |
| Rear Camera Mp | 200 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 | 200 |
| Front Camera Mp | 12 | 32 | 42 | 32 | - | - |
| Battery Capacity Mah | 5000 | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | - | - |
| Charging Wattage | 60 | 68 | - | - | - | - |
| Wireless Charging | true | true | false | - | - | false |
| Five (g) | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | - | IP68 |
| Operating System | Android 16 | Android 15 | Android 16 | Android 16 | iPadOS 17 | Android |
| Product | Build | Camera | Battery | Display | Feature | Performance | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKEXAA | 99.6 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.7 | 99.8 | 99.7 | 95.4 |
| Motorola Moto G PB6V0014US | 99.9 | 98.3 | 100 | 99.6 | 100 | 89.5 | 100 | 95.7 |
| Google Google Pixel 10 GA09899-US | 99.6 | 99.8 | 91.7 | 99.2 | 89.8 | 84.4 | 99.4 | 98.7 |
| OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | 93.9 | 99.9 | 98.9 | 99.1 | 95.7 | 100 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| Apple Unlocked iPhone 15/15 Plus MTLY3LL/A | 83.5 | 85.7 | 71.7 | 98.6 | 80.7 | 92.4 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 8849 8849 Tank 3 5G Rugged Smartphone, 23800mAh 6.79" | 93.9 | 88.2 | 71.7 | 88 | 97.7 | 85.8 | 90.2 | 95.9 |
Common Questions
Q: Can I trade in my S25 Ultra in an exclusive color?
Right now, it's a crapshoot. The official trade-in programs often don't list the special colors, so you might get a lower value or be rejected. Your best bet is to sell it privately.
Q: What if I can't pick up my order on the scheduled date?
It depends on the store's policy, but typically, they'll only hold it for a limited time before canceling the order. Always contact the store directly as soon as you know you'll be late.
Q: Is the 512GB storage enough?
For 99% of people, yes. With 512GB, you can shoot 8K video and download a massive game library without playing storage Tetris. Skip the lower storage models.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a compact, lightweight, or affordable phone, this isn't it. Go get a Google Pixel 10 or a Samsung S25 FE instead. Also, if you hate hunting for charger adapters, skip it—this box doesn't include one.
Verdict
This is a clear, decisive recommendation for power users and photography enthusiasts who don't care about size or cost. It's the best Android hardware package you can buy today, full stop. For everyone else—especially those who value a compact phone—the size, weight, and price are legitimate deal-breakers. Look at the S25 FE or a Pixel instead.