Three concerns about the Galaxy S26 Ultra — and one reason to upgrade

The Galaxy S25 Ultra was one of last year’s most reliable phones: a big, sharp screen with a unique anti-reflective coating, powerful performance and versatile cameras. Still, I couldn't use it full-time because of an ergonomically poor design and an aging telephoto camera.

Rumors point to similar downsides for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and that has me concerned about Samsung's next flagship. Leaked specs suggest a 200MP primary camera, a 50MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 50MP 5x telephoto. The 200MP sensor can deliver high-resolution images, but the 3x zoom has relied on the same 10MP module for a couple of years and felt weak against Apple’s 4x telephoto videography and improvements from Chinese manufacturers.

If Samsung keeps the same 3x camera, I'd recommend using the 200MP mode and cropping later rather than relying on the viewfinder zoom. Samsung trimmed the S25 Ultra’s weight to 218 grams, yet the phone was harder to use than its heavier predecessor because of sharp, flat sides that dig into the palm.

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