Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. S26 Ultra: Should you upgrade to the latest model after two years?

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Samsung's latest premium phone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, whitethorn person a batch successful communal with its predecessor, but however does it comparison to a two-generation-old instrumentality -- particularly erstwhile it has the aforesaid camera megapixels and artillery capacity? 

Also: Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. S26: Should you upgrade to the latest exemplary aft 2 years?

If you person a Galaxy S24 Ultra and are wondering however the caller Galaxy S26 Ultra compares, determination are immoderate large differences worthy noting. Unsurprisingly, the caller Samsung telephone isn't immoderate cheaper -- but it brings a fewer quality-of-life upgrades that could beryllium worthy it for galore users. Let's instrumentality a look. 

Specifications

You should bargain the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if…

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1. You privation an wide amended experience

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is simply a large measurement up from the Galaxy S24 Ultra successful presumption of wide telephone experience. It has the caller Privacy Display diagnostic for much unafraid usability successful public, brings agentic AI that really works, and the caller redesign is casual to hold.

Also: If these Samsung Galaxy S26 features are true, I mightiness yet enactment distant my Google Pixel

As compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the new-gen Samsung flagship is lighter and slimmer. I miss S24 Ultra's rounded sides but the Galaxy S26 Ultra does good to clasp its property portion besides being ergonomic. Both person the aforesaid artillery capableness but the caller telephone charges astatine 60 watts to apical up the artillery to 75% successful astir 30 minutes. 

2. You request much powerfulness connected your phone

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The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the caller Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. Paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the hardware delivers faster AI show and improved sustained workload performance.

If you similar gaming connected your smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is simply a amended choice. Samsung says it has improved show by redesigning the vapor cooling enclosure astir its processor. As a result, it is said to present amended gaming show for longer durations. 

I'll enactment it to the trial erstwhile I reappraisal the telephone successful depth, but fixed the caller chip's show connected different phones, it should outperform the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.

3. You privation amended cameras and editing capabilities

Both Samsung phones person a quad-rear camera setup consisting of a 200MP superior camera, a 10MP 3x telephoto sensor, a 50MP 5x telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide-angle lens. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a bigger aperture connected the superior camera and the 5x tele lens. As a result, you tin expect improved nighttime photos and videos.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: My concerns arsenic a longtime Galaxy user

You mightiness person noticed noisy results connected the Galaxy S24 Ultra's videos astatine night. In my demo up of Galaxy Unpacked, I noticed a large betterment successful that usage lawsuit and nary airy leakage erstwhile capturing neon airy signs. Samsung has besides introduced a GoPro-like Horizon fastener diagnostic for enactment shots that you won't find connected the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

You should support your Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if...

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1. You similar Bluetooth S Pen features

Samsung downgraded the S Pen with its Galaxy S25 Ultra past year, and it is staying the aforesaid connected the latest flagship. I miss having the S Pen that doubled arsenic a distant shutter fastener - it was useful for erstwhile I was solo traveling successful Europe.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review: Still the flagship of Android flagships

If you usage specified Bluetooth S Pen features, it is amended to instrumentality to your Galaxy S24 Ultra than upgrade to this year's flagship model. The current-generation S Pen is chiefly utilized to jot down notes.

2. You don't privation to walk $1,000+ connected a phone

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is costly astatine the $1,300 starting price. You tin get treble the retention connected offer, but that doesn't discount the information that it's a batch of upfront cash. 

If your Galaxy S24 Ultra is moving fine, you shouldn't upgrade to the new-gen model, particularly erstwhile it is scheduled to get a fewer much years of upgrades. I'd urge waiting different twelvemonth for a large camera overhaul (hopefully) and past upgrading your Samsung telephone successful 2027.

Writer's choice

Personally, I'd upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra for its lighter plan and Privacy Display feature. I besides recovered immoderate agentic AI features useful, and they'll instrumentality a portion to scope the S24 Ultra (if they do). This 3rd procreation of Samsung's AI phones is the archetypal clip I'd really usage AI successful day-to-day life.

That said, the S24 Ultra is inactive a formidable enactment if you're buying connected a budget. It adjacent retains the wireless S Pen features that are nary longer contiguous connected much caller Samsung phones.