Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra could also be coming extraordinarily quickly, in line with rumors, and my 14 years of expertise as a CNET evaluation means I do know simply what the corporate must do to make it its greatest telephone ever. I’ve examined each era of Samsung’s Ultra vary, together with taking 1000’s of photographs and enjoying numerous hours of video games. Over the years I’ve discovered a factor or two about why these telephones are up there with rivals from Apple and Google. But I’ve additionally discovered the place they are often improved. Over all that point, I’ve watched Samsung stay a dominant phone-maker, persistently out-selling its principal rivals. But that does not imply Samsung can relaxation on its dominance. I’ve additionally examined superb telephones from manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei which are extra modern and cutting-edge than what Samsung has been doing with its Galaxy S-line. And it is time for Samsung to point out us all what it may do. The S25 Ultra is not a lot of an improve over the S24 Ultra. They even look just about the identical. Andrew Lanxon/CNETSo with the Galaxy S26 Ultra virtually upon us, this is what I wish to see from Samsung’s subsequent tremendous telephone. Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras want greater sensors Samsung’s Ultra telephones have all the time been up there with the perfect in terms of taking photographs. Its Galaxy S telephones have excelled with night-time imagery, and it was among the many first firms to essentially wow us with telephoto zooms. But the digicam {hardware} hasn’t modified a lot over the previous couple of generations of Ultra telephones, and it appears like it is time to go large. Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra blew me away with its pictures expertise, due to its 1-inch sort picture sensor, which is bodily bigger than the sensors you will discover in virtually every other telephone digicam. An even bigger picture sensor can seize extra mild, theoretically permitting for higher dynamic vary and extra element with out relying as arduous on software program picture processing. Taken on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and barely edited in Adobe Lightroom, I like how the telephone captures natural-looking photos that keep deep shadows reasonably than attempting to create a very faux HDR look. It’s one of many few telephones that I feel can actually rival mirrorless cameras. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI love the pictures I’ve taken with Xiaomi’s latest telephones, and I wish to see Samsung create a digicam that is actually tailor-made to professional photographers like myself. Sure, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s zoom is sweet, and the additional decision we bought added to the ultrawide is sweet to see. But slap in an even bigger principal digicam sensor for the S26 Ultra and let me snap wonderful photos that appear like they had been taken on a mirrorless digicam, and yeah, you will be onto a winner there, Samsung. It would additionally assist the S26 Ultra distinguish itself from the S25 Edge and Z Fold 7, each of which function the principle digicam from the present S25 Ultra. And with Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra shaping as much as be a complete imaging powerhouse, it would be sensible of Samsung to essentially push the boat out right here. Galaxy S26 Ultra wants extra picture filter choices Samsung’s cameras have already got quite a lot of filters that modify the colour firming and publicity of your photos. They work effectively sufficient and are much like Apple’s Photographic Styles in that you would be able to customise the look of every filter and alter these settings even after you have taken the picture. You also can create your personal customized presets based mostly on the tones from a special supply picture, which works OK. What you may’t do is then share that preset for different photographers to make use of, and I feel Samsung is lacking a trick right here. There is a small tucked-away retailer the place you may obtain a handful of further presets, but when Samsung opened up the power for Galaxy homeowners to share their customized presets there for others to obtain, it could assist construct a group of eager photographers who would wish to maintain utilizing Samsung’s digicam telephones. Samsung’s My Filter device allowed me to create this Wes Anderson-inspired picture preset. I’d love to have the ability to share this with different photographers, in addition to use shade filters created by an enthusiastic picture group. Andrew Lanxon/CNETFujifilm has had comparable success with its cameras, permitting photographers to create ‘recipes’ that different photographers can merely key into their digicam and instantly begin taking photographs utilizing the very same filmic model that caught their eye. As a end result, Fujifilm has an enormous, passionate fanbase that may greater than fortunately bore you inflexible about how nice Fujifilm’s cameras are due to the appears to be like you will get if you use them. Samsung has a chance to create the identical factor for cellular pictures. Galaxy S26 Ultra wants a smaller dimension choice The S25 Ultra is perhaps an absolute powerhouse, but it surely’s additionally immense. At 6.9 inches, it requires thumbs the dimensions of redwoods to sort on one-handed and attempting to squeeze it into skinny denims means struggling an embarrassing bulge in…locations you do not need an embarrassing bulge. And regardless of being 6-foot-2, I even have fairly small arms, so I’ve all the time most popular smaller telephones. I take advantage of the iPhone 17 Pro, not the 17 Pro Max, as I a lot want the 6.3-inch display screen over the gargantuan 6.9 inches on the Max. But not like Apple, Samsung has all the time provided its greatest expertise in only one dimension, which forces you to decide on between pocketability and efficiency. I like my iPhone 17 Pro. It suits in my hand. My tiny, tiny arms. Andrew Lanxon/CNETI’d like to see Samsung take a cue from Apple right here and put the processor and digicam expertise that make the Ultra sequence what they’re right into a extra manageable dimension. I’d even be completely happy to see the S Pen go to facilitate this — I by no means use it anyway. Galaxy S26 Ultra wants extra colours While we’re speaking design selections, I’d wish to see some extra enjoyable colours within the Ultra line. Samsung briefly flirted with vibrant orange on the S22 Ultra, however its shade ranges since then have been reasonably extra muted. OK, certain, the S25 Ultra does come in several colours than simply black or silver, however they’re very delicate hues that, if I’m feeling beneficiant, could possibly be described as stylish, and if I’m not feeling beneficiant, then they’re merely boring. I like the Cosmic orange shade of the iPhone 17 Pro. I like that it does not take itself in any respect critically, and why ought to we? Phones are enjoyable equipment, and I do not want a impartial grey tone to match my enterprise swimsuit. I’m sufficiently old to recollect the Motorola Razr V3, which got here in a scorching pink shade, and I’ll be trustworthy, I completely cherished it. My greatest buddy Charlie had one, and I used to be intensely envious. The present Motorola Razr Ultra comes not solely in pink but in addition makes use of cloth on the again to make it extra comfy to carry and helps it stand out from the glass and aluminium crowd. Just take a look at that scorching pink Motorola Razr V3. What an absolute piece of magnificence. Angela Lang/CNETIf Samsung takes that vibrant metallic pink and slaps it onto the S26 Ultra, then I’ll be principally pressured to throw my bank card at them to get one. Galaxy S26 Ultra wants a bigger battery and quicker charging The Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a 5,000-mAh battery with a most of 45-watt recharge pace. Which is identical specs because the S22 Ultra had when it launched 4 years in the past. Battery tech has moved on significantly within the final 4 years, and we’re seeing telephones now utilizing new silicon-carbon expertise for extra energy-dense cells and telephones with 100-watt charging speeds. Some of the fastest-charging telephones come from China, and lots of aren’t obtainable within the US, however the OnePlus 15 affords 80-watt wired charging, and its 7,300-mAh battery critically impressed us within the full evaluation. The S25 Ultra’s battery was definitely good once we examined it, however with new battery expertise getting used on rival telephones, it is time Samsung gave its Ultra sequence a little bit of a refresh right here. The OnePlus 15’s battery is not simply greater, it fees quicker too. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Galaxy S26 Ultra’s value I’m asking for lots on this article, and I do know that if I had my manner on every little thing, the telephone must see a big value enhance. While the S25 Ultra really launched on the similar value as its predecessor, I do not count on that to be the case this time spherical. Between financial fluctuations, tariffs and the continued RAM scarcity, which is making elements costlier, the S26 Ultra is probably going going to return with an even bigger price ticket — or see some specs minimize to maintain prices down. But I’m hoping that Samsung is ready to maintain this to a minimal and never use market modifications as a chance to extend the value to some extent the place having the newest expertise is solely out of attain for anybody with out the title “Oil baron” on their enterprise card.
More