Apr 08, 2026
3 min read
Want to switch to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if you already have the Samsung S25 Ultra?This article examines the comparison between the two mobile phones starting from the design, camera, chipset, to AI features.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra VS S25 Ultra, little or big difference?
Samsung once again presented its new flagship line through the Galaxy S26 series at the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event held in San Francisco, United States.Many are calling the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra the successor to the Galaxy S25 Ultra that was already on the market.
Having this latest device brings several improvements, especially in the areas of cameras, performance, and AI-powered features.However, many Samsung users are still wondering about the extent of the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and whether the improvements on offer are significant enough to make it worth upgrading to this latest series.
To answer this confusion, here is a review of the difference between S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra.
Design and Features of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra VS S26 Ultra
The design change is one of the notable differences between the two devices.Samsung still maintains its premium identity, but provides minor updates to make the device modern and user-friendly.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has dimensions of 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm and weighs 218 grams, using a titanium material that gives a strong and solid impact.Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has dimensions of 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm with a light weight of 214 grams.
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses aluminum which makes the device lighter but has better heat dissipation capabilities.In addition, the corner design of the body is more rounded to provide comfort when held, unlike the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra which still has strong corners of the previous series.
- On the other hand, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a camera module also in the form of a capsule or an ambient island that is more integrated with the body.
Layar Samsung S26 Ultra VS S25 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 and S25 Ultra use a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with QHD Plus resolution (3120 x 1440 pixels).
Both devices support an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120Hz and a brightness level of up to 2600 nits.The screen protector also uses Corning Gorilla Armor 2 and a 12MP front-facing camera.
The main difference is in the additional features in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, namely the privacy screen.This feature allows the screen to be clearly visible only from the user's point of view, the display will be dark when viewed from the side.This technology works by using two pixel structures, a narrow pixel and a wide pixel, thus increasing privacy when used in public spaces.
With these features, the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers quite significant security value compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Kinerja lan Chipset Galaxy S26 Ultra VS S25 Ultra
In terms of performance, the improvements in the Galaxy S26 Ultra are very clear. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite for the Galaxy chipset, which is still competitive in the flagship class.
However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, which boosts CPU performance by up to 19%, GPU by 24% and NPU by 39%.This improvement directly affects multitasking, gaming and AI-based processing capabilities.
Furthermore, the RAM options on the Galaxy S26 Ultra are also more flexible with 12GB and 16GB options, while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is only available in the 12GB variant.Both still offer storage options up to 1TB.
Camera Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra VS S25 Ultra
The camera industry is one of the main differentiating factors, which is very important.Both the devices use a quad camera setup at the back with a 200 MP main sensor.
- The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has an aperture of f/1.7 on the main camera, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra goes up to f/1.4.A larger aperture allows more light to enter the sensor, resulting in clearer and more detailed photos, especially in low-light conditions.
- Improvements also come to the 5x telephoto camera, which now has an aperture of f/2.9 compared to f/3.4 in the previous generation.This improves long-range shooting capabilities as well as overall image quality.
- In addition, the Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with better image processing and more advanced AI-powered features, resulting in more natural colors and better video stabilization.
Galaxy S26 Ultra VS S25 Ultra battery and charging
The battery capacity of both devices is the same, which is 5,000 mAh.However, the difference is in the charging technology.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra supports fast charging up to 45 watts, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports up to 60 watts. This improvement allows for shorter charging times.
In addition, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's energy efficiency has also been enhanced thanks to the combination of the latest chipset and operating system optimization.
AI Features and OS Galaxy S25 Ultra VS S26 Ultra
Both devices support the Galaxy AI feature.However, the artificial intelligence feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a number of exclusive, more sophisticated features.
Some of the new features include Now Nudge, which identifies unknown callers with call screening and action recommendations, Now Brief, which analyzes user habits, and an automated app action feature that lets you take actions automatically.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has also improved Photo Assistant, which now supports text input, as well as integration with various AI functions such as voice-based Gemini, stress and Bixby.
In terms of software, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra runs on Android 15 and One UI 7, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra uses Android 16 and One UI 8.5.Both phones promise to receive up to seven years of operating system and security updates.
Need to upgrade from Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to S26 Ultra?
The ideas for improvement should be adapted to the needs of the users.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a powerful flagship device, and it can meet the needs of everyday life.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra offers significant improvements, especially in the camera, performance, charging and smart features.Features such as Natural Screen and advanced AI capabilities provide a safer and more enjoyable experience.
For users who need maximum performance and the latest features, upgrading may be the best option.However, if it is only suitable for daily needs and not for work, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is still very suitable for use for years to come.
