I returned to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and realized even Samsung has already made a better phone

I spent five days with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the longest consecutive amount of time since I reviewed it.

While nothing is fundamentally wrong with the phone, I don't think it's aging all that well, especially after Samsung's success with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Worse, I'm pining to return to the Google Pixel 11 Pro, and that's a serious problem for Samsung.

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By  Andy Boxall

There's a special feature?

I'd entirely forgotten about it

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen is the best in the business. It's so bright, sharp, and colorful, it eclipses every other Android phone I've used over the last year when it comes to visibility and versatility.

With the S26 Ultra, Samsung introduced the Privacy Display. It's technically very clever, and it's likely to be very useful in some situations and for some people.

The trouble is, I haven't found a circumstance where I needed to turn it on, and for the first few days back with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, I forgot it was even a thing.

Perhaps I don't move in circles where I'm concerned about screen privacy? Perhaps I don't have things on the screen I feel I must keep private? Maybe I'm conscious of it in a way that means I put the phone face down more, or keep it close to my chest?

Whatever the reason, the Privacy Display hasn't factored into my daily use at all.

It's not that it doesn't work, or that the small compromises put me off using it. I just don't think about it at all. The Privacy Display is like the S Pen. It works well, and some people will love it, but many (me included) will probably never use it.

The software hasn't been updated

This isn't good enough

Like the screen, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's One UI 8.5 software is one of the best Android interfaces you can use. It's varied, powerful, logical, and not overly complicated.

It needs quite a lot of care and attention during setup. I have to set up the always-on screen and the ringtones, and change the default keyboard, browser, and password autofill settings. It's not arduous, but Samsung phones always feel needier than other Android phones.

This isn't the problem. It's that the Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn't have the One UI 9 software update, which is available on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series and the Galaxy S26 FE.

It's not about the new features or that I feel I'm missing out on much; it's that the S26 Ultra is Samsung's flagship phone for regular people, which costs a lot of money. It deserves to have the latest software when it's made available elsewhere, no waiting required.

I know how complex it is for manufacturers to update Android phones, but that excuse runs out of steam when the phone has been out for six months. Yes, it's slowly starting to be released as I write these words, but it should have been earlier and faster.

The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max I'm reviewing has the latest version of iOS, like the iPhone 17 Pro Max I packaged up to return to Apple yesterday. It makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra's One UI 9 rollout look slow and painful.

Sharp angles aren't working anymore

What's wrong with making it comfortable to hold?

I use the Galaxy S26 Ultra without a case, which means I get to "enjoy" the flat, modern design to its fullest.

When I reviewed the phone, the changes Samsung made to the shape of the phone were an obvious improvement over the Galaxy S25 Ultra. This hasn't changed, but since then, I've used and adored the Google Pixel 11 Pro.

Compared to the Pixel 11 Pro, the Galaxy S26 may as well have sides made of razor blades. Coming from Google's flagship, you realize how uncomfortable the Galaxy S26 Ultra is to hold for long periods.

What's more, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 doesn't suffer from comfort issues, and is 13 grams lighter, yet offers an equally enjoyable large-screen experience when it's open.

The Z Fold 8 may be more expensive than the S26 Ultra, but it has the latest software, is lighter and more ergonomic, and doesn't have a "special" screen feature I forget to use.

Returning to the Galaxy S26 Ultra has only reinforced my belief that the Z Fold 8 is the Samsung phone to buy this year.

The S26 Ultra isn't aging well

And it's only six months old

If the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is out of budget, the Pixel 11 Pro is the non-folding phone to buy. It has the latest software, a better-designed body for use with your hands, and features like Rambler and the superb camera thatare more desirable than the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display and S Pen.

This isn't good news for Samsung. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is barely six months old, and two alternatives — one from within — are already considerably better purchases.

A flagship phone that costs as much as the S26 Ultra should stay relevant, desirable, and at the top of shopping lists longer than this.

As I said at the start, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's fundamentals are all spot-on. Calls sound great, the camera holds its own against the latest from Apple, the fingerprint sensor is accurate and reliable, there's plenty of performance, and the screen is fantastic.

It's an excellent phone and doesn't do anything wrong, but I don't think it's the best phone you can buy right now. It's not even the second-best phone you can buy, and that's less than ideal for a six-month-old, $1,100 phone.