Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: finally enough convert the iPhone faithful?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most fully realised Android flagship in years, and if you’ve been on the fence about ditching Apple, this might be the phone that finally tips you over.

Thinking of switching? We tested it out for you and have answered all the questions worth asking…

Another flagship phone… Haven’t they peaked by now?

You could say that, but the S26 Ultra has at least one unique feature. Using what Samsung calls Flex Magic Pixel technology, its built-in “Privacy Display”‘” fully blacks out the screen when viewed from the side, so the person beside you can’t see your banking app, your messages, or that racy Heated Rivalry scene you’re enjoying on a flight. You can also set it to only cover selected parts, such as password fields as you type.

Galaxy AI can also strip background noise from videos – your own footage, YouTube, Netflix, the list goes on – and the anti-reflective display coating does an acceptable job of cutting glare in direct sunlight.

But I’m an Apple user…

The S26 Ultra won’t hold it against you, and the practical barriers to switching are lower than ever. AirDrop compatibility has just started rolling out to Galaxy devices, so sharing files with nearby iPhones and Macs is seamless – useful when most of your friendship group remains stubbornly Apple.

The photo-editing tools are streets ahead of anything Apple Intelligence currently offers, there’s a built-in S Pen stylus for annotating documents, sketching, or scribbling down notes without unlocking the phone, and 60W wired charging (compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 40W) got us to almost 85 per cent in 30 minutes (or 100 per cent in just 43 minutes). Perfect for when you’re always in a rush.

What about the cameras?

Samsung has a reputation for having the best smartphone cameras, and the S26 Ultra showcases that honour. The 200MP main sensor handles low light well, thanks to a wide f/1.4 aperture, and the zoom – optical up to 5x, usable out to 30x, with a 100x digital option for when you’re essentially conducting surveillance – will get you a (mostly) clean shot from the back of an arena crowd.

The “Horizon Lock” feature keeps video steady however chaotically you’re moving (seriously – there are clips of the S26 Ultra being tested taped to the wheel of a car), AI will remove unwanted objects (or exes) from photos convincingly, and there’s even a mode for capturing underwater shots in case you end up at Tom Daley‘s for a dip.

Verdict

We love: Privacy Display is perfect for commuting; class-leading cameras; super-fast charging.
We’d change: The design is edging towards outdated; speakers could be fuller.
We think: The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the perfect all-rounder that could finally convince Apple devotees to jump ship.