Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Galaxy S26+: What are the key differences?

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26+ are both flagship smartphones that share the same design language, the same Galaxy AI^[1] features, and the same display technology.

The Galaxy S26+ is a strong all-round phone that covers the fundamentals very well. The Galaxy S26 Ultra builds on that foundation with a more advanced camera system, a built-in S Pen, faster charging, and several display and hardware upgrades that are exclusive to the Ultra.

Here is a quick overview of the key differences between the two phones:

Both phones use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with QHD+ resolution, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2600 nits. The Galaxy S26+ has a 6.7-inch screen; the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch screen. The extra size on the Ultra makes a noticeable difference for reading, watching video, and working with the S Pen.

The more significant display difference is Privacy Display, which is exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Privacy Display narrows the screen’s viewing angle on demand so its content is visible only to you. It is the world’s first built-in Privacy Display on mobile and can be activated manually or set to trigger automatically in specific apps.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra also has Gorilla Armor 2 glass, which includes an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare by up to 75%. The Galaxy S26+ uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which does not include this coating. For outdoor use in bright conditions, this is a practical difference.

The Galaxy S26+ has a triple-camera system: a 50MP wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP 3x telephoto. It is a capable camera setup that handles everyday photography and video well, with Nightography^[7] and Galaxy AI features including Photo Assist^[8] available on both phones.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a quad-camera system. Its 200MP wide camera has an f/1.4 aperture — a meaningful improvement over the previous generation, letting in 47% more light than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s equivalent lens.

On top of the same 10MP 3x telephoto, the Ultra adds a dedicated 50MP 5x telephoto lens with an f/2.9 aperture, which brings in 37% more light than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 5x lens. The result is more zoom versatility and stronger performance at longer distances, particularly in low light.

Both phones support 4K video at up to 60fps and share video stabilisation features including Super Steady with Horizontal Lock^[9]. The Galaxy S26 Ultra adds APV codec support and log video recording for more advanced video workflows.

No. The S Pen is built into the Galaxy S26 Ultra only. It slots into the phone’s frame and does not require a separate case or attachment. The S Pen is pressure-sensitive and works across Samsung’s apps including Samsung Notes, where it supports handwriting-to-text conversion and precise annotation.

For users who regularly take handwritten notes, sketch, or annotate documents, the S Pen is one of the more practical reasons to choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Galaxy S26+. It also works well with the larger display.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in all markets worldwide. The Galaxy S26+ uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in North America, China, and Japan, and the Exynos 2600 in other regions. Both are flagship processors built on advanced manufacturing processes, and both support the full Galaxy AI feature set.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra also has a slightly larger RAM option: the standard configuration comes with 12GB on both phones, but the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra variant comes with 16GB.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra supports Super Fast Charging 3.0^[10] at up to 60W wired and 25W wireless. At 60W, the phone reaches approximately 75% from empty in about 30 minutes. Wireless charging at 25W is also a step up from previous Galaxy flagships.

The Galaxy S26+ supports Super Fast Charging 2.0^[11] at up to 45W wired and 20W wireless. This is still quick charging by any practical standard — the Galaxy S26+ reaches around 69% in approximately 30 minutes. The difference in wired charging speed is most noticeable when you need a fast top-up before heading out.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery and the Galaxy S26+ has a 4900mAh battery. Both support Wireless PowerShare^[12] to charge other devices.

Both phones have an aluminium frame and a glass back. The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses Corning Gorilla Armor 2 on the front display, which is exclusive to the Ultra model. Gorilla Armor 2 offers better scratch resistance than standard smartphone glass — resisting scratches up to Mohs level 7 compared to level 6 for Gorilla Glass Victus 2 — and is rated for drop resistance onto concrete from 2.2 meters. It also includes the anti-reflective coating mentioned in the display section.

The Galaxy S26+ uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. This is the same glass used on many premium Samsung Galaxy smartphones and offers strong everyday durability. Both phones carry an IP68^[13] rating for water and dust resistance.

The Galaxy S26+ is a well-rounded flagship that delivers a large, bright display, capable cameras, fast performance, and the full Galaxy AI experience in a slightly more compact frame than the Ultra. For most everyday use cases it covers everything you need from a flagship phone.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the choice if you want the more advanced camera system with the 5x telephoto and 200MP wide lens, the S Pen, Privacy Display, faster charging, or the additional durability of Gorilla Armor 2. These are meaningful additions, and most of them address specific use cases — zoom photography, note-taking, privacy in public spaces, and quick charging.

^{[1] Galaxy AI: Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.}

^{[2] Privacy Display: Requires manual activation in settings to function. Privacy Display feature is not AI-powered.}

^{[3] 60W charger sold separately.}

^{[4] 25W wireless charger sold separately.}

^{[5] 45W charger sold separately.}

^{[6] 20W wireless charger sold separately.}

^{[7] Nightography: Results may vary depending on light condition, subject and/or shooting conditions.}

^{[8] Photo Assist: Requires network connection and Samsung account login. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output not guaranteed.}

^{[9] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.}

^{[10] Super Fast Charging (SFC) 3.0 requires a USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.1 (or higher) compatible device supporting Direct Charging.}

^{[11] Super Fast Charging (SFC) 2.0 requires a USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 compatible device supporting Direct Charging.}

^{[12] Wireless PowerShare: Works with most Qi2-compatible devices. Different devices may charge at different speeds. Need minimum of 30% to use.}

^{[13] IP68 rating based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use.}