Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Get the Ultra if you can pay for it: better cameras, a privacy screen, the S Pen, a bigger battery and far faster charging. Choose the S26 if you want a small, light phone; it gives you the same software and updates for much less.
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Which one is for you?
Galaxy S26
Small hands, small pockets, a phone you barely notice? The S26.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 worth it?Galaxy S26 Ultra
Your phone is your camera, notebook and office? The Ultra.
Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth it?Key differences
Screen
Zoom
Battery
Wired charging
Weight
What owners say
Verified buyers only; every 1–3 star review read by us. How we do this
Galaxy S26
Owners like the camera, how easy it is to set up and how quick it feels. The few unhappy ones found it too small, glitchy or no better than their old phone.
- Good camera
- Easy to set up and use
- Fast and smooth
- No better than their old phone
- Software glitches or too many pre-installed apps
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Owners love the camera and how fast it is. Most of the unhappy ones are upgraders from an older Ultra who see too little change, plus a few camera faults.
- Excellent camera
- Fast and smooth
- Great screen
- Not an upgrade on their older Ultra
- Camera fault or disappointing photos
Related pages
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Expert Reviews, manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Galaxy S26: 264 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read November 2026.
Owner reports for the Galaxy S26 Ultra: 483 verified buyer ratings at Currys, read November 2026.