There’s a new king of the hill for smartphones—at least if you’re in the Android camp.
Following a two-week pre-order window, Samsung has launched its next-gen flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra. What makes it stand out in a sea of yearly, incremental updates is a legitimately new hardware feature. (Sure, we saw some neat concepts at MWC 2026, but this is the real deal.)
This phone debuts the world’s first pixel-level Privacy Display. It can black out your entire screen, specific apps, or just notifications from prying eyes, and it’s seriously cool. Once again, Samsung’s introducing features that Apple simply can’t match right now—just like with the Galaxy Z Trifold.
It’s already listed as a top seller over at Amazon. If you’re thinking about an upgrade or even switching from iOS, here’s what you need to know about this new AI smartphone.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra: By the Numbers
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra will set you back $1,299.99, which is about a hundred bucks more than Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. You’re getting a seriously impressive spec sheet and camera array for that price. Based on our tests, the custom Snapdragon chip inside is set to smash records on the Geekbench 6 leaderboard.
Display: 6.9-inch AMOLED
Refresh rate: Adaptive up to 120Hz
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Resolution: 3120×1440
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery: 5000 mAh (up to 31 hours of video)
Durability: IP68 rating, Corning Gorilla Armor 2, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Cameras: 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP telephoto with 10x optical zoom, 10MP with 3x optical zoom, 12MP front-facing
Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra Worth It?
Let’s be honest: Samsung’s asking a lot for this fancy new handset. We gave it our Mashable Choice award, and you can read our full review and camera tests for the details.
Frankly, it might be too much phone—both in size and price—for most folks. But if you absolutely want the best Android phone money can buy, this is it.
Where to Find Deals on the Galaxy S26 Ultra
You can grab the new Samsung flagship anywhere phones are sold. Got an old device to trade? Both AT&T and T-Mobile have offers that could get you the phone for free with an eligible plan and trade-in.
Buy directly from Samsung, and you’ll get a $150 Samsung credit to use on stuff like the new Galaxy Buds4 Pro, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, or other gadgets.
Meanwhile, Amazon is throwing in a $200 gift card with your purchase.
