Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Should You Upgrade?
Brighter camera lenses, 60W charging and a newer chip. What actually changed from the S25 Ultra, and who should upgrade or keep their phone.
If your Galaxy S25 Ultra works well, you don't need to upgrade. The S26 Ultra is a solid improvement, but most of it is incremental. The upgrade makes most sense if you take lots of low-light photos or want much faster charging.
What changed
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite |  Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Main camera aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.4 (lets in more light) |
| Periscope telephoto aperture | f/3.4 | f/2.9 |
| Wired charging | 45W | 60W |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Memory | Up to 12GB | Up to 16GB |
Camera
Both use a 200MP main sensor, but the S26 Ultra's lenses are brighter. In practice, expect better night and indoor photos, with less noise and blur. In daylight, the two look very similar.
Charging
60W wired charging is the clearest upgrade. You'll need a compatible 60W charger to get the full speed.
Performance
The newer chip is faster and more efficient, and helps with on-device AI features. Day to day, the S25 Ultra still feels quick.
Software
The S26 Ultra launched with One UI 8.5 and new AI features, including Perplexity integration and call screening. Samsung often brings many new features to recent flagships later through updates, so S25 Ultra owners may get some of them anyway.
Price
The S26 Ultra launched at $1,299.99 in the US, and one October report says Samsung raised its store price by $100. Discounts and trade-in deals are common, so compare before buying.
Who should upgrade
- You're on an S23 Ultra or older: yes, it's a big jump.
- You shoot a lot of concerts, nightlife or indoor photos: the brighter lenses help.
- You hate waiting for your phone to charge.
Who should wait
- S25 Ultra owners happy with their phone. Wait for the S27.
- Anyone on a tight budget: a discounted S25 Ultra is now excellent value.
Comparing with iPhone? See iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Galaxy S26 Ultra. Other options: the best Android phones of 2026.
