Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26
The Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the cheaper of the two at $800 versus $1,300, a difference of about $500. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra stands out for class-leading 200 mp main camera with 5x periscope zoom, while Samsung Galaxy S26 is praised for compact 6.2-inch flagship. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra if…
- →Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- →Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- →Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 if…
- →Compact 6.2-inch flagship
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- →7 years of OS updates
Pros & Cons
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Pros
- Class-leading 200 MP main camera with 5x periscope zoom
- Built-in S Pen for note-taking and productivity
- Bright 2600-nit display with Gorilla Glass Armor 2
- Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers top-tier performance
- 7 years of OS and security updates
Cons
- Very expensive at $1299 starting price
- S Pen lost Bluetooth remote features
- Charging speed still capped at 45W
- Large and heavy for one-handed use
Samsung Galaxy S26
Pros
- Compact 6.2-inch flagship
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- 7 years of OS updates
- IP68 water resistance
Cons
- Smaller 4000 mAh battery
- Only 25W charging
- 12MP ultrawide is dated
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15, One UI 7 | Android 16, One UI 8 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 218 g | 168 g |
| Material | Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass Armor 2 | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm | 146 x 70 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 200 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP 5x periscope + 10 MP 3x | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/1.9 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W Qi2 | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.9 inches | 6.2 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 1080 x 2340 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2600 | 2600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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