Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S25 Ultra
Device summary
Samsung
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Full specifications
| Basic information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Starting price | $1,300 | $1,300 |
| Display size | 6.9-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Dimensions | 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm | 77.6 mm × 162.8 mm × 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 214 g | 218 g |
| Front material | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Back material | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | — |
| Display | ||
| Display technology | Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2600 nits | — |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 | Corning Gorilla Armor 2 |
| Performance | ||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| RAM | 12 GB, 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No |
| Cameras | ||
| Main camera | Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom | Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.7 · OIS |
| Ultra-wide camera | Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9 | Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9 |
| Telephoto camera | Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom | Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom · OIS |
| Rear camera 4 | Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom | Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/3.4 · 5x Optical Zoom · OIS |
| Front cameras | Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 | Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2 |
| Video recording | 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps | — |
| Battery & charging | ||
| Wired charging | 60 W | 45 W |
| Wireless charging | 25 W | — |
| Charging standard | Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
| Typical capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Rated capacity | 4855 mAh | 4855 mAh |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | 5G, LTE | 5G, LTE |
| Wi‑Fi | Wi‑Fi 7 | Wi‑Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| USB | USB‑C | USB‑C |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Build & durability | ||
| Frame | Armor Aluminum | Titanium |
| Ingress protection | IP68 | IP68 |
Basic information
Release year
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2026
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 2025
Starting price
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- $1,300
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- $1,300
Display size
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9-inch
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 6.9-inch
Dimensions
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 78.1 mm × 163.6 mm × 7.9 mm
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 77.6 mm × 162.8 mm × 8.2 mm
Weight
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 214 g
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 218 g
Front material
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Back material
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- —
Display
Display technology
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Privacy Display
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Refresh rate
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 120 Hz
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 120 Hz
Peak brightness
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 2600 nits
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- —
Protection
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Performance
Chipset
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
RAM
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 12 GB, 16 GB
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 12 GB
Storage
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 256 GB, 512 GB, 1024 GB
Expandable storage
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- No
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- No
Cameras
Main camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.4 · 2x Optical Quality Zoom
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Wide · 200 MP · ƒ/1.7 · OIS
Ultra-wide camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Ultra Wide · 50 MP · ƒ/1.9
Telephoto camera
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Telephoto · 10 MP · ƒ/2.4 · 3x Optical Zoom · OIS
Rear camera 4
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/2.9 · 5x Optical Zoom / 10x Optical Quality Zoom
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Telephoto · 50 MP · ƒ/3.4 · 5x Optical Zoom · OIS
Front cameras
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Front · 12 MP · ƒ/2.2
Video recording
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4K at 120 fps, 8K at 30 fps
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- —
Battery & charging
Wired charging
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 60 W
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 45 W
Wireless charging
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 25 W
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- —
Charging standard
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Super Fast Wireless Charging, Wireless PowerShare
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare
Typical capacity
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
Rated capacity
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 4855 mAh
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 4855 mAh
Connectivity
Cellular
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5G, LTE
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- 5G, LTE
Wi‑Fi
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Wi‑Fi 7
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Wi‑Fi 7
Bluetooth
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Bluetooth 6.0
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Bluetooth 5.4
USB
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- USB‑C
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- USB‑C
NFC
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Yes
eSIM
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Yes
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Yes
Build & durability
Frame
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Armor Aluminum
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Titanium
Ingress protection
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- IP68
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- IP68
Key differences
The most meaningful measured gaps in size and weight — not an overall winner.
Weight
Galaxy S26 Ultra
4 g lighter · minor difference
Height
Galaxy S26 Ultra
0.8 mm taller · minor difference
Thickness
Galaxy S26 Ultra
0.3 mm thinner · minor difference
Width
Galaxy S26 Ultra
0.5 mm wider · minor difference
User Experience Summary
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Strengths
- 60W wired charging — major upgrade over S25 Ultra
- Privacy Display for commuting and office shoulder-surfing resistance
- Brighter 200MP main and versatile periscope zoom
Compromises
- Heavy, wide chassis limits one-handed and pocket comfort
- Aluminum instead of titanium divides premium buyers
- Privacy Display trade-offs and S Pen software stagnation
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Strengths
- Gorilla Armor anti-reflective display for outdoor clarity
- Versatile cameras with 5x periscope and 200MP main
- S Pen productivity and titanium durability
Compromises
- Heavy, wide chassis limits one-handed and pocket comfort
- 45W charging not class-leading
- Fingerprint sensor occasionally inconsistent