The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 123 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Picture quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Love it!
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The privacy display is a nice touch. I personally like the rounded edges too. The camera upgrades are nice as well. I noticed sometimes magsafe popsockets interfere with the spen, but if you have a thicker magsafe case it usually mitigates that. Love the phone. Probably didnt need to upgrade from s25, but i did due to the promotion they were running
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have only had this product for a few days so i have not fully experienced all of its capabilities. However after just a few days of use i am so glad I upgraded from my s23. So far its easier to use, love love love the privacy display, great battery life, better picture quality and sound. I definitely recommend upgrading to this product.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Ive had the phone for 2 weeks now. So far, no major gripes with the screen like people say. It does get a bit pixellated but only on privacy mode. I switched it in settings to use the maximum resolution and a keep my brightness above 40%. That said, the privacy display helps but isnt as private as expected, the angle viewable is still pretty wide. The tech and implementation especially the software level felt a bit rushed. Im positive it will improve with time. One annoyance is turning on privacy for notifications make them difficult to read fron a vertical angle if the phone is flat on a table in front of me -- id have to be bent directly over the phone to read them. And it only applies to pop up notifications the ones in the pull down notification menu are not private.
I think samsung switching to a thinner font has reduced readability overall, especially in privacy mode and it might have been purposefully done to reduce visibility at angles. But i can see this happening on older phones as well...
A gripe i do have is the phone is wider than my old 23ultra which makes one handed texting and typing cumbersome. Im constantly missing keystrokes. My hands are between glove size small to medium mens for reference. The improved aspect ratio is nice for content but i preferred the taller slimmer design and curved display edges of my old ultra.
The S pen is thinner and feels more delicate, I also have had it click out while in my pocket due to it being closer to the corner of the phone and less flush....
Vibration settings by default are less pronounced so im going to have to dig into settings to try and fix that.
I really like the new default notification sounds its much smoother than my old s23
The phone is much faster than my old s23 and battery life is about 20-30% better so thats a huge plus. It also felt much mugh lighter in my hands and i would honestly prefer it had a little more heft/presence.
Camera is a bit underwhelming so far. I think the software wasnt ready yet. For example I noticed when switching lensesthe photos dont have the same tonal ranges and colors. Focusing is slow and janky sometimes.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Just got my hands on the S26 Ultra, and honestly… this thing feels like it went to the gym, got a PhD, and came back with better night vision than a raccoon.
First off, the camera - yeah, it’s that good. Daytime shots? Crisp. Colors? Chef’s kiss. But the real magic shows up when the sun clocks out. Low light and night photos are where this phone flexes HARD. Stuff that used to look like blurry Bigfoot sightings now comes out sharp, detailed, and actually usable. It’s like the camera whispers, “don’t worry, I got this,” and then delivers.
Now let’s talk about the Privat Display feature. This thing is clutch. You ever try to check a message in public and suddenly feel like you're hosting a live broadcast for strangers? Not anymore. The display keeps your content looking sharp to you but turns into a “mind your business” screen for anyone else. It’s basically built-in side-eye for your phone.
Performance is smooth, battery holds up like a champ, and overall it just feels premium without trying too hard.
Final verdict:
If your current phone struggles at night like it forgot its glasses, the S26 Ultra is a serious upgrade. And if you value privacy in public… this phone might just save you from a few awkward situations.
10/10
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve held onto my S23 Ultra for 3 years because the S24 and S25 felt like incremental "AI-only" updates. The S26 Ultra is the first time since 2023 that the hardware actually matches the hype. If you’re on the fence about the trade-in cost, here is why it’s worth the jump:
The "Privacy Display" is Magic: This is the sleeper feature of the year. It’s built into the panel (Flex Magic Pixel tech), so I don't need those ugly plastic screen protectors. I can tilt my phone on the plane or in a meeting, and the screen just "blanks out" for everyone but me. It’s a game-changer for working in public.
Performance & Thermal Efficiency: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a beast. My S23U used to get warm during long 4K recording sessions or heavy gaming. The S26U stays significantly cooler, and the 16GB of RAM makes the new One UI 8.5 feel instant.
Charging Speed: Finally, we’re at 60W. Moving from the S23’s 45W doesn’t sound like much on paper, but I’m hitting 75% in about 30 minutes. When you’re in a rush, those extra 15W matter.
The Camera Polishing: While we lost the 10x physical optical from the S23U, the new 50MP 5x sensor paired with the Gen 5 NPU actually produces cleaner shots at 10x-20x than my old dedicated lens did. The "Horizon Lock" on video is also incredibly smooth—perfect for capturing kids or pets on the move.
Bottom Line: The S23 Ultra was a legend, but its time is up. The S26 Ultra feels like a professional tool again, rather than just a "smarter" phone. Best Buy’s trade-in process was seamless, and for the price of a mid-range watch, I’ve reset my 7-year update cycle.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The phone is great as expected although the display has gotten worse from the S25 Ultra it still holds to be top quality screen despite the compromise for the privacy screen, which hopefully improves over in time. The customization that the phone offers this year is unprecedented, allowing me to customize my phone in ways I never even realized. Battery size seems to not have been improved from the last couple of years which is not surprising as costs are rising. The camera is phenomenal, offering professional grade photography that most people will probably never use but it's great that it's there, although, a major pet peeve that I do have is that focusing on objects close up is near impossible, which hopefully gets improved later. The AI features are what I expected them to be, features that most people don't use and can be considered bloat to advertise the phone, some features though are useful like the live translations and transcription and spam call assist are pretty cool. The performance of the phone is amazing, it is without a doubt, the best performing phone on the market, being able to become even a desktop with Dex. Overall, the phone is a great step towards progress that really teases what the future holds for smart phones and really showcases what smartphones are capable of by being a supercomputer in your pocket.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I upgraded from my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (512GB) to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB) on March 8, 2026, and after 11 days of use, the experience has been very positive overall.
The performance feels faster and smoother, especially while multitasking and switching between apps, with no noticeable lag so far.
Battery life has slightly improved compared to my previous device, easily lasting a full day with regular usage like calls, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
The camera quality is excellent as expected, with better clarity and improved low-light performance, though the difference is not extremely drastic from the S23 Ultra.
The display is brighter and more comfortable to use outdoors, and the overall design still feels premium, although slightly heavy.
S Pen responsiveness remains great and useful for quick notes. I also noticed improvements in call quality and connectivity stability.
The built-in privacy screen feature is very useful, as it prevents others from seeing my screen in public, adding an extra layer of security.
However, the upgrade feels more incremental than revolutionary, especially considering the price. Overall, it’s a great device.
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've been a Samsung user since many years. my honest review about the S26 ULTRA after using it for 1 WEEK
• First let's start talking about the previous S series that were doing perfect.. especially the S25 ULTRA which felt the peak of what a smartphone could be. I like companies are just trying to add those extra layers to reach "Absolute perfection" and ofc sacrificing some things (eg: Bluetooth in S PEN, Titanium frame...)
• The main marketing hook this year is the privacy screen.. and we can say that the screen technologies are a Samsung thing.. From a sales prescriptive the feature is a massive selling point and some customers are buying specifically for that feature.. But for me I don't even use it unless I customise it for PINs, Passwords...etc. .. I really prefer to have them more than the privacy feature.
I like :
Performance.
The video capturing especially if u dive into the PRO settings.
The Ai image editing (text to image) is unlimited.
The colors look more vivid.
It feels premium more than the S25 Ultra.
Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Coming from a Fold 6 I was super happy to have a screen that wasn't super narrow anymore. The speed was noticable on this phone. If I were to compare the two phones I would say that the S26 Ultra was super fast. Apps would load almost instantly while the Fold 6 would lag slightly. You'll notice how zippy things are when opening and running apps like Instagram. The privacy screen is super useful and the screen is plenty bright when it's off. The cameras are top-tier. If you shoot in LOG the video quality is AMAZING! It isn't as detailed as a 1-imch sensor camera like the OSMO Pocket 3 of course, but you do get that DSLR type vibe when you add LUTs. Not only that, you get Horizontal Lock which stabilized footage for you. Samsung outdid themselves with this release. Oh and night shots are better too ^_^
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Flagship Perfection — 10/10 Recommend
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Absolutely blown away by the Galaxy S26 Ultra! This phone is an absolute powerhouse and easily the best upgrade I’ve made in years. The display is insanely sharp and vibrant everything from streaming videos to just scrolling feels next level smooth.
Battery life is a beast. I can go all day (and then some) without stressing about charging, even with heavy use. The camera system is on another level too crisp, detailed shots in any lighting, and the zoom is honestly kind of unreal.
Performance is lightning fast. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and gaming runs like a dream. Plus, the design feels super premium and comfortable in hand.
If you’re on the fence don’t be. This phone delivers on every level and then some. Worth every penny.
Honestly surprised by how powerful this phone feel
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I didn’t expect to be this impressed, but the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra genuinely surprised me. Photos come out sharp and detailed without much effort, even in tricky lighting, and the screen brightness is something I notice every single day. Using it outdoors in bright sunlight used to be frustrating with my old phone, but now everything stays clear and easy to see.
What really made me happy is how powerful and reliable it feels overall. The phone runs fast, handles multiple apps without slowing down, and the battery easily gets me through the day without stress. It just feels solid and dependable, and that kind of performance makes daily use feel smooth instead of frustrating.
Great phone with amazing screen, but takes time to
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I recently switched from iPhone 16 Pro to the S26 Ultra, and overall I’m really liking it. The display is beautiful, much bigger, and great for watching videos, browsing, and even work. The phone feels premium and powerful.
The only adjustment for me has been the size. It’s definitely bigger and a bit harder to manage with one hand compared to my iPhone. Earlier I could easily text or use my phone anywhere with one hand, but now I have to be a bit more careful and often use both hands.
That said, the bigger screen is also a big advantage once you get used to it. If you’re okay with a larger phone, this is a great upgrade.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
What can I say. I know the reviews online talk about the screen not being as good. But I think that is YouTubers trying to get clicks. I cannot tell a difference with the screen and I have one eye and bothered by poor screens. The privacy screen is wonderful. I use it only on certain apps like banking apps and message notifi ations. That way I have the full screen on videos and other. It's battery life is great. The faster charging is nice. It is lighter than the s25 ultra. And it is much lighter than the Google pixel 10 Pro XL. I took advantage of Best Buy's promotion and got the phone for $400. No brainer
Great phone. Several small updates make big differ
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This phone fixes what i didnt like about my s24u. Despite being taller its easier to hold. Lighter, thinner, narrower and the rounded corners give them all pleasing form to hold. Charging is faster and battery is over 8hrs screen on time. Pictures are better in low light and processing power for everything including AI is top tier even surpassing apple. Privacy display has no rival, unique no more privacy added screen protector that adds weight to the phone. Very pleased with my purchase.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have bought the last 5 ultras phones. I know, I have problem. However, this is a huge step up over the last few year over year improvements. They made the phone a lot more polished while slimming it down and making it way more comfortable to hold. The privacy screen is a real innovation and the AI features are low key amazing now.
My only thing from proclaiming this at the best phone ever is that it lacks the Qi 2 charging magnet in the phone. I'm sure they have to figure out the sPen interaction to get the magnet and pen working together. If they can they will have an all timers on the next one.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
glad I upgraded
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and one thing that really stands out is the Galaxy AI—it actually feels useful, not gimmicky.
It helps with a lot of everyday stuff. For example, it can summarize notifications and prioritize what’s important, which makes a big difference when my phone is blowing up. It also gives smart suggestions based on what I’m doing, so I don’t have to dig through apps as much.
The AI photo features are also really cool. I can just type what I want to change in a picture, and it edits it for me, or even creates things like stickers from photos.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Samsung S26 Ultra is an amazing device. The screen is stunning and the camera takes professional-grade photos. It is very fast and the battery life is excellent for a full day of work.
However, there is one small detail: the S Pen does not sit completely flush with the frame. It sticks out slightly, which is a bit disappointing for such a premium design. It is secure and won't fall out, but it doesn't feel perfectly smooth at the bottom. Overall, it's a fantastic phone, but I hope they fix this in the next version
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve been using the S26 Ultra for a week now, and Samsung really nailed the refinements this year. The new Privacy Display is a game-changer—it’s great knowing the person sitting next to me on the train can’t read my texts. It feels noticeably lighter than the S25, and the move to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 makes everything feel instantaneous. If you’re looking for a phone that does everything at a pro level, this is it.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I recently traded in my old Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for the new S26 Ultra, and I am absolutely amazed by the difference. I was really surprised by how much better this phone is. I love the premium materials it's made from, and the build quality feels top-notch. I’m really excited to see how it performs in the long run.