What it gets right
- The privacy screen is genuinely useful in shared spaces
- Charging is much faster than on the previous model
- Everyday use feels quick and responsive
- Handheld video remains impressively steady
- Long-term software support adds reassurance
The compromises
- Some rival phones now have more capable cameras
- The battery does not last as long as the very best competitors
- The phone is expensive and still quite large
- It rocks on a table because the cameras stick out
- A case is needed if you want a wireless charger to line up magnetically
Buy it—or leave it?
- You often use private apps on trains, aircraft or in open offices
- Fast charging and steady handheld video matter to you
- You want a large phone that should remain supported for years
- You want the strongest possible zoom and low-light photographs
- You already own the previous Ultra model
- A smaller, lighter or less expensive phone would suit your day better
What would you like to do now?
Choose the route that matches how confident you feel. The free review stays free whichever route you choose.
Check today’s price
From £1,279 (256GB)
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Retailer link last checked 1 August 2026These are Amazon affiliate links. UKTechExpert may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. How this worksCompare the Galaxy S26 range
See the three models side by side, including the price gap, important drawbacks and who each one suits.
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Get my personal phone shortlist — £29Includes two follow-up repliesWhat it is actually like
Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.
01The privacy screen
This is more than a marketing trick. GSMArena, Tom's Guide and Trusted Reviews all found it useful. At its strongest setting, somebody sitting beside you struggles to read the screen while it remains clear from directly in front. It can be used only for selected apps, messages or password boxes. The trade-off is a dimmer picture while the strongest privacy setting is active.
02Photographs and video
The main camera still produces detailed, attractive photographs, and night pictures can be very good. The concern is progress rather than failure: some supporting cameras have barely changed while competitors have improved. Zoom and very close photographs expose the gap most clearly. Video is the stronger story because the phone does an excellent job of keeping footage level while the person filming moves.
03Speed, battery and charging
The phone feels fast in normal use, but the largest laboratory speed wins rarely change how quickly messages, maps or banking apps open. Reviewers disagreed about how well it holds that speed during very long gaming sessions. Battery life is solid rather than class-leading. The clear improvement is charging, which restores a large part of the battery during a short break.
04Software and long-term use
Samsung promises years of updates, which matters on a phone this expensive. Some automatic editing and search tools are genuinely useful, while others work only in certain Samsung apps or languages. The number of similar tools can become confusing. Buyers should treat them as occasional helpers rather than the main reason to choose the phone.
Price and value
The UK starting price is £1,279 for 256GB. The 512GB version is £1,449 and the 1TB version is £1,699. Retailer discounts may appear, but compare the same storage amount and do not judge its value using a cheaper version with less space.
Price last checked 17 August 2026This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.
Who will notice the difference?
Commuting and shared offices
The privacy screen can protect messages, banking details and work information from somebody sitting nearby.
Handheld family video
The phone keeps moving footage unusually level and steady without asking the user to understand complicated settings.
Serious zoom photography
This is the weakest fit because several rivals now provide better camera hardware for distant and very close subjects.
What else should you consider?
The closest Apple and Google rivals offer different strengths, while several Chinese brands now push harder on cameras and battery life. The Samsung earns its place through the privacy screen, fast charging, steady video and long support. Owners of the previous Ultra model have little reason to change unless one of those specific improvements solves a real problem.
Our review process
We used full independent reviews from GSMArena, Tom's Guide and Trusted Reviews. Where their findings differed—particularly during long gaming sessions and screen testing—we kept both views. Detailed camera, speed and battery testing informs the private score; the article explains only what the differences mean in daily use.
Read our editorial standards