Galaxy S26 Ultra’s delayed launch puts Samsung on the defensive
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to debut in late February, later than many industry watchers anticipated. The delayed Galaxy Unpacked event—where the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra will be unveiled—could leave Samsung exposed as rivals push ahead with more aggressive hardware upgrades.
While the Galaxy S26 Ultra will remain a premium flagship, growing evidence suggests Samsung is opting for evolutionary changes at a time when competitors are making bolder moves—raising questions over whether the device still earns its “Ultra” badge.
Battery: Standing Still as Rivals Move Forward
Battery technology is emerging as one of the most visible differentiators in flagship smartphones. Brands such as Xiaomi and OnePlus have begun adopting silicon-carbon batteries, enabling significantly higher capacities without increasing size. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra reportedly carries a 6,800 mAh battery, while the OnePlus 15 stretches to 7,300 mAh.
By contrast, regulatory filings indicate the Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain a 5,000 mAh battery—unchanged for a seventh consecutive generation. Samsung has held the same capacity since the Galaxy S20 Ultra, alongside largely unchanged charging speeds of 45W wired and 15W wireless.
Some variants of the S26 Ultra may support 60W wired charging, offering a modest improvement. Even so, rivals now commonly offer 100W wired and up to 50W wireless charging. While the S26 Ultra should comfortably last a full day, perceptions matter: finishing the day with lower remaining battery compared to competitors could weigh heavily on consumer choice.
Camera: Incremental Tweaks, Familiar Hardware
Samsung also appears to be maintaining continuity in camera hardware. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to retain the 200-megapixel ISOCELL main sensor seen in recent Ultra models, possibly paired with a wider aperture. The 50-megapixel ultrawide and 5x telephoto cameras are also expected to remain unchanged.
The only notable update is a modest bump in the 3x telephoto camera from 10 megapixels to 12 megapixels, without any change in physical sensor size.
Meanwhile, competitors are pushing harder. Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica continues to emphasize photography as a core selling point, while Vivo’s X200 Pro—developed with Zeiss—has raised the bar for telephoto performance through advanced periscope optics.
Memory, Storage, and the AI Question
As on-device AI becomes more central to smartphone experiences, memory capacity is growing in importance. Many 2026 flagships now ship with 16 GB of RAM as standard, with some stretching to 24 GB at the top end.
Samsung appears set to offer 12 GB RAM across most of the Galaxy S26 Ultra lineup, reserving 16 GB only for the 1 TB storage variant. While 12 GB may be sufficient at launch, heavier local AI workloads in the coming years could expose limitations—potentially affecting performance, latency, or long-term device longevity.
Where the Galaxy S26 Ultra Still Excels
Despite these concerns, Samsung retains several key strengths. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a custom “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Samsung” chipset, positioning it among the most powerful Android devices of its generation.
The S-Pen remains a standout differentiator, offering functionality few rivals can match. Samsung’s new M14 OLED display technology should also deliver higher brightness, improved efficiency, and longer panel lifespan.
Ultra—But Conservative
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will undoubtedly be a capable and polished flagship, building incrementally on Samsung’s proven formula. However, as competitors take larger leaps in battery technology, charging speeds, camera innovation, and memory capacity, Samsung’s more conservative approach risks making the Ultra feel less forward-looking than its name suggests.
For consumers prioritizing cutting-edge specifications, faster charging, and future-proofed hardware, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may no longer stand alone at the top of the Android hierarchy.
