Samsung's Ultra series evolves step by step, and the S26 Ultra is no exception. On the outside they are very similar, but a few changes are clearly noticeable in daily use. Here's which ones.
Short answer
Galaxy S26 Ultra - faster charging (60 W), a thinner and lighter body, a new chip and a 16/1024 GB version. Galaxy S25 Ultra - if you find it significantly cheaper: the cameras and display are almost the same.
Key differences
| Spec | Galaxy S26 Ultra | Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Wired charging | 60 W | 45 W |
| Wireless | 25 W | 15 W |
| Thickness / weight | 7.9 mm / 214 g | 8.2 mm / 218 g |
| Memory | up to 16 GB / 1 TB | 12 GB / up to 512 GB |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.4 |
| Price | current prices | current prices |
The same: 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 1440×3120 and 120 Hz, 5000 mAh battery, 200 MP main camera, 50 MP ultra-wide, 50 MP 5× and 10 MP 3× telephotos, 12 MP front camera, S Pen, stereo speakers.
What really changed
Charging. 60 W wired and 25 W wireless - for me this is the most noticeable change. The Ultra has finally stopped being "slow" to charge.
Body. 0.3 mm thinner and 4 g lighter. A small thing, but a big phone feels a bit nicer in the hand.
Chip. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 brings second-generation Oryon cores and ray-traced graphics. The 8 Elite in the S25 Ultra still handles everything, so the difference shows only in the heaviest games and AI.
What stayed
The cameras are the same on paper, the battery is the same 5000 mAh. So no revolution in photos or battery life.
Verdict: who should buy which
- You have an S25 Ultra - no need to upgrade.
- You have an S23 Ultra or older - get the S26 Ultra.
- Fast charging matters - S26 Ultra.
- You want to save - a discounted S25 Ultra.
FAQ
Did the battery change?
No, 5000 mAh in both.
Do both have the S Pen?
Yes.
How much faster does the S26 Ultra charge?
60 W wired vs 45 W on the S25 Ultra.