Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Ultra adds a 200MP f/1.4 main camera, a 50MP 5x telephoto with 100x Space Zoom, the S Pen, the world’s first built-in Privacy Display, a bigger battery and 60W charging. The S26 is 47g lighter, much smaller and $400 cheaper.
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Quick answer
Choose Samsung Galaxy S26 ($999.99) if you want a compact, light phone, you mainly use the main camera or you’d rather keep $400. Choose Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra ($1,399.99) if you shoot a lot of zoomed photos or night video, you want the S Pen or Privacy Display or you want the biggest battery and 60W charging.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check Samsung Galaxy S26 price (opens in a new tab)Check Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| US list price (256GB) | $999.99 | $1,399.99 |
| Display | 6.3-inch FHD+ (2340 × 1080), 120Hz | 6.9-inch QHD+ (3120 × 1440), 120Hz, anti-reflective, Privacy Display |
| Thickness and weight | 7.2mm, 167g | 7.9mm, 214g |
| Chip | Samsung US FAQ: Exynos 2600 (The Verge lists Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM and storage | 12GB; 256GB or 512GB | 12GB with 256GB/512GB; 16GB with 1TB |
Get the Galaxy S26 ($999.99) if you want a compact 6.3-inch, 167g flagship and mainly shoot with the main camera. Get the S26 Ultra ($1,399.99) if you’ll use the 5x telephoto and 100x Space Zoom, the S Pen or the Privacy Display, or want the 5,000mAh battery with 60W charging (75% in about 30 minutes, per Samsung). The gap is $400 at US list price for 256GB.
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: side-by-side
| Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| US list price (256GB) | $999.99 | $1,399.99 |
| Display | 6.3-inch FHD+ (2340 × 1080), 120Hz | 6.9-inch QHD+ (3120 × 1440), 120Hz, anti-reflective, Privacy Display |
| Thickness and weight | 7.2mm, 167g | 7.9mm, 214g |
| Chip | Samsung US FAQ: Exynos 2600 (The Verge lists Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| RAM and storage | 12GB; 256GB or 512GB | 12GB with 256GB/512GB; 16GB with 1TB |
| Main camera | 50MP f/1.8 | 200MP f/1.4 |
| Ultra-wide | 12MP f/2.2 | 50MP f/1.9 |
| Telephoto | 10MP 3x f/2.4 | 50MP 5x f/2.9 plus 10MP 3x f/2.4 |
| Max zoom | 30x Space Zoom | 100x Space Zoom |
| Rear video | 8K30, 4K60 | 8K30, 4K120 |
| Battery and video playback (Samsung) | 4,300mAh; up to 30 hours | 5,000mAh; up to 31 hours |
| Wired charging (Samsung) | 25W; up to 55% in about 30 minutes | 60W; up to 75% in about 30 minutes |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 25W |
| S Pen | No | Yes, built in (no Bluetooth or Air Actions) |
| Glass | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back | Gorilla Armor 2 front, Victus 2 back |
| Connectivity (The Verge) | 5G (no mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | 5G with mmWave, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Water and dust | IP68 | IP68 |
How much do they cost?
Samsung Galaxy S26 plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 12GB + 256GB | $999.99 | Launched at $899.99 |
| 12GB + 512GB | $1,199.99 | Launched at $1,099.99 |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 12GB + 256GB | $1,399.99 | Launched at $1,299.99 |
| 12GB + 512GB | $1,599.99 | Launched at $1,499.99 |
| 16GB + 1TB | $1,999.99 | Launched at $1,799.99 (+$200) |
What are the pros and cons?
Samsung Galaxy S26: pros
- $400 cheaper at 256GB
- Compact and light: 6.3 inches, 7.2mm, 167g
- Same IP68 rating, Wi-Fi 7, 8K video and Galaxy AI features
- Bigger battery than the S25 (4,300mAh vs 4,000mAh, per Samsung)
Samsung Galaxy S26: cons
- Only a 3x telephoto; 30x max zoom
- Slower 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
- No mmWave 5G; Samsung’s US FAQ lists Exynos 2600 rather than Snapdragon
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: pros
- 200MP f/1.4 main and 50MP 5x telephoto; Samsung claims 47% brighter main-camera aperture
- Built-in S Pen and the world’s first built-in Privacy Display
- 5,000mAh battery, 60W wired and 25W wireless charging
- Gorilla Armor 2 anti-reflective front glass; 1TB option
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: cons
- $1,399.99 to $1,999.99 after the October price rise
- Heavy at 214g
- S Pen lacks Bluetooth and Air Actions
Which should you choose: Samsung Galaxy S26 or Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The S26 gives you the core Galaxy S26 experience, IP68, Wi-Fi 7 and 8K video in a far smaller and lighter phone for $400 less. The Ultra earns its price only if you’ll actually use the 5x telephoto and 100x zoom, the S Pen or the Privacy Display, or if battery life and fast charging matter most. Samsung says the S26 Ultra was named Consumer Reports’ top-rated phone, but that doesn’t make the extra size worth it for everyone.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S26 if…
- You want a compact, light phone
- You mainly use the main camera
- You’d rather keep $400
Choose Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if…
- You shoot a lot of zoomed photos or night video
- You want the S Pen or Privacy Display
- You want the biggest battery and 60W charging
Prices went up on October 1
Android Authority[5] reports that Samsung raised US prices by $100 on the 256GB and 512GB models of every Galaxy S26 on October 1, 2026, citing the global memory shortage. The S26 now starts at $999.99 and the Ultra at $1,399.99, and the 1TB Ultra rose $200 to $1,999.99. The same report noted some Amazon listings still showing launch prices at the time, so compare retailers and Samsung trade-in offers before you buy.
Cameras and zoom
Samsung lists the S26 with a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12MP ultrawide and a 10MP 3x telephoto, with up to 30x digital zoom. The Ultra steps up to a 200MP main camera that now opens to f/1.4 (Samsung claims 47% better brightness), a 50MP ultrawide and two telephotos: 50MP at 5x (f/2.9) and 10MP at 3x, with up to 100x Space Zoom. Both record 8K at 30fps; only the Ultra records 4K at 120fps.
S Pen, Privacy Display, battery and chip
Only the Ultra has the S Pen; Samsung’s support page lists 4,096 pressure levels but no Bluetooth (BLE) or Air Actions. The Ultra is also the only model with Privacy Display, which Samsung says can hide the whole screen, selected apps or notifications from people beside you. The Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery with 60W wired and 25W wireless charging, against 4,300mAh, 25W and 15W on the S26. On the chip, Samsung’s Ultra page and The Verge[4] list Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, while Samsung’s US S26 page FAQ names the Exynos 2600 for the S26 and S26+; check the spec sheet of the exact model you buy. Neither phone takes SD cards.
Who should skip this
Skip both if you want an iPhone-sized flagship for less: compare iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S26 or Galaxy S26 vs Pixel 11. Skip both if you want a cheaper Samsung; see Galaxy S26 FE vs Galaxy A57 and our best Samsung Galaxy phones. Skip the S26 Ultra if you have small hands, don’t use a stylus, or won’t use zoom beyond 3x. Skip the S26 if you need all-day heavy use from one charge, mmWave 5G or fast 60W charging.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra?
How much is the Galaxy S26 Ultra now?
Does the Galaxy S26 support the S Pen?
Do the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra use the same chip?
Who should skip the Galaxy S26 vs S26 Ultra?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Samsung US: Galaxy S26 Ultra (checked November 2026) (samsung.com)
- Samsung US: Galaxy S26 and S26+ (checked November 2026) (samsung.com)
- Samsung US Support: Compare Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra and S26 FE (samsung.com)
- The Verge: How the new Galaxy S26 phones compare (theverge.com)
- Android Authority: Galaxy S26 series US price increase (October 1, 2026) (androidauthority.com)
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