Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra first look: Privacy Display steals the show

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is finally here, and while you are reading this, I’ve already had the chance to spend some quality time with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Now, this isn’t the full review; that will happen after we put it through its paces at the Digit Test Labs. But even in the short window I had with it, a few things became very clear. So, we all know that the Ultra has always been Samsung’s ‘no holds barred’ flagship. It has the biggest display, best cameras, top-end specs and you know the drill. This year, Samsung is calling the S26 series its third-generation AI phones. That’s a big claim. Still, once you put the marketing aside and just use the Ultra, what stands out is how refined it feels. Of course, the changes are subtle, but they become clearer the more time you spend with it. Let’s dive in.

Design and build

The first thing I noticed (before I talk about the Privacy Display) was the weight. On paper, the S26 Ultra should be around 15 grams lighter than the S25 Ultra. But when you hold it in hand, the difference feels more obvious than the number suggests. The titanium frame is gone. Samsung has gone back to aluminium and glass. Personally, I don’t mind this at all. The phone’s frame looks visibly similar and it feels lighter and slightly more balanced. Aluminium should also help with better heat dissipation, which is important for a performance-focused device.

And yes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is still big, no second thoughts around that. You get a 6.9-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. It’s edge-to-edge and very sharp. Classic Ultra. But somehow, and maybe it could be just me, it feels a bit more manageable this time.

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As for colours, I saw the finishes in the product film and spent time with the Violet unit. The White, to me, looks the most royal. The Violet in certain lighting almost looks like a stealthy grey shade, which I quite liked. It is subtle and mature rather than flashy. The phone also comes in black and blue, along with Samsung’s website exclusive shades: pink and silver.

Privacy Display

One feature that genuinely surprised me on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the new Privacy Display and it’s a big one. Now, before testing it, I actually thought it was going to be a marketing gimmick, but trust me, this is something you need to see in person to fully understand. Samsung says it works at a pixel and light dispersion level. In simple terms, it restricts viewing angles when turned on. In simpler terms, no one around you will be able to make out what’s on your phone’s screen.

So, naturally, I tested it for myself by tilting the phone side to side and I also tested it with people standing next to me. From the side, the screen becomes very hard to read. Straight on, it looks normal. I am someone who is always aware of people peeping into my screen in public places. In the office, in public spaces, in cafes, etc. And this feature solves that anxiety in a very practical way. I don’t know how aggressively Samsung will market this, but to me, Privacy Display is a solid and genuinely useful addition.

Performance and AI

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Samsung claims a 19% faster CPU and 39% better NPU compared to the previous generation. We have already seen what the 8 Elite and now the 8 Elite Gen 5 version can do in other phones. The jump is noticeable.

In my short time with the device, everything felt smooth. The stock apps and then some other pre-loaded ones launched quickly, animations were buttery smooth, and there were no signs of lag and stutters. Of course, real performance numbers will come after lab testing. What I am most curious about is how much faster this feels compared to the S25 Ultra in gaming, sustained workloads and day to day stuff.

The vapour chamber cooling system has also been redesigned and is now larger. I didn’t catch the exact number, but Samsung does say that the heat now spreads more efficiently across the frame. That is something we will test properly, but on paper it makes sense, especially with an aluminium build.

On the AI side, features like Photo Assist and Now Nudge caught my attention. I am quite excited to test Photo Assist in detail. The idea of describing edits, changing lighting conditions, or removing objects with simple prompts sounds promising. I did not get enough time to properly test Now Nudge, which is meant to proactively surface suggestions based on what you are doing. That is something I am looking forward to exploring in daily use.

Cameras

The camera setup remains very Ultra. The Galaxy S26 Ultra features a 200MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 50MP 5x telephoto. There is also a 12MP selfie camera.

I did try the night mode in a controlled dark booth. The results were quite nice. Images looked bright without being overly artificial. If history is anything to go by, Samsung’s processing is usually reliable in both daylight and low light. The improvements in light capture on the main and 5x cameras should help further, but we’ll need more time to judge consistency.

Battery and charging

The battery on the Galaxy S26 Ultra remains at 5,000 mAh, but wired charging is now 60W. Samsung claims 0 to 75% in about 30 minutes. Wireless charging goes up to 25W, and reverse wireless charging is also present. On paper, this brings it closer to what rivals have been offering.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: First impression

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has left a very positive first impression and I can’t wait to test the phone thoroughly. To give you perspective, it feels like Samsung has tightened the screws on something that was already working. The S26 Ultra is lighter in the hand, a bit more comfortable to hold, and more refined overall. And then there’s Privacy Display, which is not just a spec sheet addition. It’s one of those features you will actually notice and appreciate in daily use.

Performance should likely be a strong point, especially with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and the cameras, given Samsung’s track record, should deliver. The AI additions also seem thoughtful, given how many of those features you’d actually use in daily life.

The real test, of course, is how all of this holds up once the novelty wears off and the phone goes through proper testing at the Digit Test Labs. For now, though, the S26 Ultra leaves me curious, and that’s always a good place to start.

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