Galaxy S26 Ultra: No Battery Bump, New Features, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 Power
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be an incremental update over its predecessor, with several notable improvements, but without the one feature that many had hoped for: a battery size increase. Leaked specifications indicate that the flagship will retain the same 5,000mAh battery as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with no change in capacity. However, it will continue to support 45W fast charging, offering a familiar experience in that department.
While the battery stays the same, other areas of the S26 Ultra are set to see some exciting upgrades. The display will remain at 6.9 inches, which closely mirrors the size of the previous model. The flagship will still feature the iconic S Pen, though disappointingly, it won’t come with Bluetooth support, which means missing out on remote camera controls and other features that could have enhanced the user experience.
In terms of design, the camera system on the S26 Ultra will sport a fresh new layout, with four sensors and a new laser autofocus unit. Samsung has opted to avoid reusing the camera rings to ensure better quality control and improved optics. The P-shaped camera placement will remain in place, continuing the trend seen in previous models.
On the inside, the S26 Ultra will pack the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, a notable upgrade over the previous generation. This means faster processing power, but for those who were hoping for an Exynos option, it seems Samsung has once again opted for Snapdragon as the go-to chipset. To keep the powerful processor cool, the device will feature a vapor chamber that’s 120 percent larger than the one used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will come with 16GB of RAM as standard across all variants, ensuring smooth performance across multitasking and demanding applications. Storage options will range from 256GB to 1TB, catering to users who need plenty of space for apps, photos, and videos.
Overall, the Galaxy S26 Ultra promises to be a powerhouse of a smartphone, though the lack of a battery upgrade might disappoint some users. With improvements in performance, design, and cooling, it’s clear that Samsung is prioritizing speed and efficiency, but the question remains: is it enough to win over users who were hoping for a more well-rounded upgrade?