Last updated: April 8th, 2026 at 15:28 UTC+02:00
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AI and the S Pen take a backseat.
Reading time: 2 minutes
Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has been available in Europe for about a month, and leading consumer associations from several countries have already named it the No.1 smartphone.
Winning Best in Show at MWC 2026 wasn’t enough for Samsung or the S26 Ultra. And even though “best” doesn't mean “perfect,” the Galaxy S26 Ultra gets close, or at the very least, its pros far outweigh the cons.
Leading European consumer associations agree, according to Samsung. They believe the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best phone to buy right now.
The new Ultra ranked highest across several categories — though one was oddly missing. More on that later. For now, here are their main praises:
Across most of Europe, the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at €1,399. Discounts and bonuses vary by country, so check your local Samsung online shop. The phone comes in three memory configurations.
Author's Note: Despite Samsung’s heavy AI push in recent years, none of the award commentaries mention AI.
Most Galaxy S26 Ultra praise focuses on its hardware, camera, and Privacy Display, while Galaxy AI and even the S Pen appear to have taken a backseat.
This suggests that consumer (association) priorities and Samsung’s strategic vision may not be fully aligned.
Mihai is a blogger and column writer at SamMobile. His first Samsung phone was an A800 which took a lot of beating, and a part of him still misses the novelty of the clamshell design. In his free time, he enjoys watching shows, documentaries, and stand-up comedy; listening to music, taking walks, and occasionally playing old(er) video games.
