Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra may be mere weeks away, according to rumors, and I’ve got a few things I especially want to see.
In my 14 years as a CNET reviewer, I’ve tested every generation of Samsung’s Ultra range. I’ve taken thousands of photos across all Galaxy models, played countless hours of games and scrolled through pictures of cakes on Instagram. So I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes these phones so good — but also, where they can be improved.
Over all that time, I’ve watched Samsung remain a dominant phone-maker, consistently out-selling brands like Apple, Google and Motorola. But that doesn’t mean Samsung can rest on its dominance. I’ve also tested amazing phones from brands like Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei that are more innovative and cutting-edge than what Samsung has been doing with its Galaxy S-line. And it’s time for Samsung to show us all what it can do.
The S25 Ultra isn’t much of an upgrade over the S24 Ultra. They even look pretty much the same.
So with the Galaxy S26 Ultra almost upon us, here’s what I want to see from Samsung’s next super phone.
Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras need bigger sensors
Samsung’s Ultra phones have always been up there with the best when it comes to taking photos. Its Galaxy S phones have excelled with night-time imagery, and it was among the first companies to really wow us with telephoto zooms. But the camera hardware hasn’t changed much over the last few generations of Ultra phones, and it feels like it’s time to go big.
Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra blew me away with its photography skills, thanks to its 1-inch type image sensor, which is physically larger than the sensors you’ll find in almost any other phone camera. A bigger image sensor can capture more light, theoretically allowing for better dynamic range and more detail without relying as hard on software image processing.
Taken on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and slightly edited in Adobe Lightroom, I love how the phone captures natural-looking images that maintain deep shadows rather than trying to create an overly fake HDR look. It’s one of the few phones that I think can truly rival mirrorless cameras.
I love the shots I’ve taken with Xiaomi’s recent phones, and I want to see Samsung create a camera that’s truly tailored to pro photographers like myself. Sure, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s zoom is good, and the extra resolution we got added to the ultrawide is nice to see. But slap in a bigger main camera sensor for the S26 Ultra and let me snap glorious images that look like they were taken on a mirrorless camera, and yeah, you’ll be onto a winner there, Samsung.
It would also help the S26 Ultra distinguish itself from the S25 Edge and Z Fold 7, both of which feature the main camera from the current S25 Ultra.
Galaxy S26 Ultra needs more photo filter options
Samsung’s cameras already have a variety of filters that adjust the color toning and exposure of your images. They work well enough and are similar to Apple’s Photographic Styles in that you can customize the look of each filter and change those settings even after you’ve taken the image.
You can also create your own custom presets based on the tones from a different source image, which works OK. What you can’t do is then share that preset for other photographers to use, and I think Samsung is missing a trick here. There is a small tucked-away store where you can download a handful of additional presets, but if Samsung opened up the ability for Galaxy owners to share their custom presets there for others to download, it would help build a community of keen photographers who would want to keep using Samsung’s camera phones.
Samsung’s My Filter tool allowed me to create this Wes Anderson-inspired photo preset. I’d love to be able to share this with other photographers, as well as use color filters created by an enthusiastic photo community.
Fujifilm has had similar success with its cameras, allowing photographers to create ‘recipes’ that other photographers can simply key into their camera and immediately start taking photos using the exact same filmic style that caught their eye. As a result, Fujifilm has a huge, passionate fanbase that will more than happily bore you rigid about how great Fujifilm’s cameras are because of the looks you can get when you use them. Samsung has an opportunity to create the same thing for mobile photography.
Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a smaller size option
The S25 Ultra might be an absolute powerhouse, but it’s also immense. At 6.9 inches, it requires thumbs the size of redwoods to type on one-handed and trying to squeeze it into skinny jeans means suffering an embarrassing bulge in…places you don’t want an embarrassing bulge.
And despite being 6-foot-2, I actually have quite small hands, so I’ve always preferred smaller phones. I use the iPhone 17 Pro, not the 17 Pro Max, as I much prefer the 6.3-inch screen over the gargantuan 6.9 inches on the Max. But unlike Apple, Samsung has always offered its best technology in just one size, which forces you to choose between pocketability and performance.
I like my iPhone 17 Pro. It fits in my hand. My tiny, tiny hands.
I’d love to see Samsung take a cue from Apple here and put the processor and camera skills that make the Ultra series what they are into a more manageable size. I’d even be happy to see the S Pen go to facilitate this — I never use it anyway.
Galaxy S26 Ultra needs more colors
While we’re talking design choices, I’d like to see some more fun colors in the Ultra line. Samsung briefly flirted with vibrant orange on the S22 Ultra, but its color ranges since then have been rather more muted. OK, sure, the S25 Ultra does come in different colors than just black or silver, but they’re very subtle hues that, if I’m feeling generous, could be described as classy, and if I’m not feeling generous, then they’re simply boring.
I love the Cosmic orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro. I love that it doesn’t take itself at all seriously, and why should we? Phones are fun accessories, and I don’t need a neutral gray tone to match my business suit. I’m old enough to remember the Motorola Razr V3, which came in a hot pink color, and I’ll be honest, I absolutely loved it. My best friend Charlie had one, and I was intensely envious. The current Motorola Razr Ultra comes not only in pink but also uses fabric on the back to make it more comfortable to hold and helps it stand out from the glass and aluminium crowd.
Just look at that hot pink Motorola Razr V3. What an absolute piece of beauty.
If Samsung takes that vibrant metallic pink and slaps it onto the S26 Ultra, then I’ll be basically forced to throw my credit card at them to get one.
Galaxy S26 Ultra needs a larger battery and faster charging
The Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a 5,000-mAh battery with a maximum of 45-watt recharge speed. Which is the same specs as the S22 Ultra had when it launched four years ago. Battery tech has moved on considerably in the last four years, and we’re seeing phones now using new silicon-carbon technology for more energy-dense cells and phones with 100-watt charging speeds.
Some of the fastest-charging phones come from China, and many aren’t available in the US, but the OnePlus 15 offers 80-watt wired charging, and its 7,300-mAh battery seriously impressed us in the full review.
The S25 Ultra’s battery was certainly good when we tested it, but with new battery technology being used on rival phones, it’s time Samsung gave its Ultra series a bit of a refresh here.
The OnePlus 15’s battery isn’t just bigger, it charges faster too.
Galaxy S26 Ultra’s price
I’m asking for a lot in this article, and I know that if I had my way on everything, the phone would have to see a significant price increase. While the S25 Ultra actually launched at the same price as its predecessor, I don’t expect that to be the case this time round.
Between economic fluctuations, tariffs and the ongoing RAM shortage, which is making components more expensive, the S26 Ultra is likely going to come with a bigger price tag — or see some specs cut to keep costs down.
But I’m hoping that Samsung is able to keep this to a minimum and not use market changes as an opportunity to increase the price to a point where having the latest technology is simply out of reach for anyone without the title “Oil baron” on their business card.
