Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: tested the stunning Privacy Display and 60W fast charging. Camera upgrades, design changes, and is it worth the price? Full impressions.
I just got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in San Francisco, and after spending time with it, one thing is clear: this phone’s Privacy Display is the real star of the show.
Privacy Display: The Game-Changer
This isn’t just a software gimmick. Samsung built Privacy Display right into the screen at the pixel level. When activated from the quick settings panel, it instantly narrows the viewing angle, making it impossible for anyone beside you to see what’s on screen.
What impressed me most is the customization. You can set it to activate only in sensitive apps like banking or messaging, or even just for incoming notifications. There are two privacy levels, and in my testing, the maximum setting made the screen completely unreadable from even a slight angle. Best of all, it works with screen protectors, and when turned off, the display returns to its full vibrant glory with zero image compromise.
Read More: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Announcement: Here’s Everything
60W Charging: Finally Catching Up
Samsung has listened to years of feedback and bumped the charging speed from 45W to 60W. . Official figures claim 0 to 75% in 30 minutes. While this still lags behind Chinese competitors pushing 100W+, for Samsung loyalists, it’s a welcome upgrade. The 5000mAh battery remains unchanged, but the faster top-ups make a real difference.
Camera & Design Tweaks
The camera hardware looks familiar on paper, but wider apertures (f/1.4 main, f/2.9 5x zoom) promise 47% more light capture. The 3x telephoto sensor concerns me slightly—it might be smaller—so I’ll reserve judgment for full testing.
The design is subtly refined: a slimmer 7.9 mm profile, a lighter 214 g weight, and a switch back to aluminum for better heat management. A rounded corner makes it easier to hold.
Read More: Galaxy S26 Series: The Ultimate 2026 Guide – The Latest Information
Is It Worth It?
If you own an S25 Ultra, probably not—the upgrades are iterative. But for anyone with an S23 Ultra or older, the Privacy Display alone is a genuinely useful innovation you won’t find anywhere else. At $1,299, it’s priced identically to last year’s base model, though higher storage tiers have crept up.
Verdict: A refined, confident flagship with a killer privacy feature that actually matters.
