Opinions on the Galaxy S26 Ultra are split right down the middle

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is trying out some new upgrades, including one that has never been seen before on any smartphone. However, opinions on the upcoming Samsung flagship are split right down the middle, with many saying that the phone is bland and still isn’t doing enough to warrant interest.

Galaxy S26 Ultra, both great and bland

A Galaxy S26 Ultra got unboxed early, giving everyone a clear look at what the phone will be like when it becomes officially available next month. In a poll asking for your opinions on the phone, just a little over 50 percent of you said that the Galaxy S26 Ultra looks great, a sentiment that I personally agree with as well.

Meanwhile, almost 31 percent of respondents said that the Galaxy S26 Ultra looked bland. Lastly, around 19 percent of voters revealed that they were still unsure about the phone and would only lean to one side of the fence after more thorough reviews come out. Where do you find yourself in this debate?

A phone of ups and downs

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a tricky phone to rate just yet, it has both ups and downs, and some of the downs might be dealbreakers for some.

For example, though the new privacy display is great, Samsung has allegedly limited the brightness on the S26 Ultra to compensate for still using the same 5,000 mAh battery. And though the phone now has 60W of wired charging speeds, the battery is worse on the Galaxy S26 Ultra and will last even fewer years than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Not to mention the whole Snapdragon vs Exynos debate that has opened up again, it makes perfect sense why opinions on the Galaxy S26 Ultra are divided.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is now available for up to $720 off

$579 ⁹⁹

$1299 ⁹⁹

$720 off (55%)

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has been announced, bringing a Privacy Screen feature, insanely fast processor, and multiple Galaxy AI enhancements. Right now, you can save up to $720 at the Samsung Store with eligible trade-ins. You also get 15% off the Buds 4 series with your purchase. Alternatively, you can get $150 credit for add-ons, no trade-in required.

Buy at Samsung

The Galaxy S26+ is now available for up to $480 off

$619 ⁹⁹

$1099 ⁹⁹

$480 off (44%)

The Galaxy S26+ is here, bringing improved software and a more powerful processor. The device can now be yours for up to $480 off with eligible device trade-ins. Users also get 15% off the Buds 4 series with their purchase. The official store gives you a $150 credit for add-ons without trade-ins.

Buy at Samsung

Galaxy S26 is now available for up to $380 off

$519 ⁹⁹

$899 ⁹⁹

$380 off (42%)

The Galaxy S26 is currently available at the Samsung Store with an exciting trade-in discount. Right now, you can buy the model with a $380 maximum price cut. Samsung also gives you 15% off the Galaxy Buds 4 or the Buds 4 Pro with your smartphone purchase.

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The positives still outweigh the negatives

To my mind, the phone still manages to do enough right to make it a worthwhile upgrade. For the longest time, I thought that the Galaxy S26 Ultra looked very outdated, but I’ve come around to the design after seeing it in much more detail in the early reviews that are popping up.

Perhaps more importantly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be a fun phone in an industry full of boring and marginal annual upgrades. And that, for me, is perhaps the best upgrade we’ve had in years.