As we approach the release of the Galaxy S26 series, it’s clear there’s quite a bit to look forward to. Rumors of larger batteries, faster charging, design changes, and even a new Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra are very exciting, but last year’s phone is still an excellent choice and comes at a discounted rate, too.
And let’s be real. The leaks so far about the Galaxy S26 Ultra are not Earth-shattering. Sure, Privacy Display looks to be an amazing new feature, but a $12 privacy tempered glass protector will do 90% of the job for a lot less money. Samsung is said to be upgrading charging speed, although battery capacity, unfortunately, might stay the same. And the new, rounder corners on the S26 Ultra will likely have Galaxy S Ultra fans even more annoyed, too.
Samsung, the software king
Listen, if you told me a decade ago that Samsung would become the king of smartphone software and updates, I would have laughed until I cried. But, over the years, Samsung took all the complaints and negative feedback about its awful software and finally did something about it.
The past year with the Galaxy S25 Ultra is proof that Samsung is the king of smartphone software, with faster, more stable updates than any other company, and regular feature updates that keep the phone feeling new and fresh. Ironically, while the S25 series launched with One UI 7, that wider software rollout was one of the messier launches in recent Samsung history.
To make up for that, Samsung not only delivered its Android 16 update, One UI 8, well ahead of schedule, but also without the major problems that came with One UI 7’s rollout. To top it off, One UI 8.5 is already in beta and improves on what already makes Samsung’s software great: customizability and unique features.
The real irony here is that, unlike Apple and companies like OnePlus, Samsung’s updates and UI changes seem to be well-received by its customers. While some of the changes are maybe more iOS-inspired than I’d like, there’s no doubt that Samsung’s riffs on Apple design offer a superior experience over an iPhone.
One of my favorite things about One UI — and, indeed, all power users — is the level of customization throughout the UI. If you don’t like the terrible paginated app drawer or navigation buttons that Samsung stubbornly clings to, you can just change them in settings. Likewise, with the multitasking UI or the split notification panes. Toss in Good Lock, which is by far the most unique utility available on any smartphone, and you’ll understand why Samsung’s software is so excellent.
Last, but certainly not least, is the company’s commitment to privacy and security. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the only flagship smartphones that allows you turn off cloud-based AI processing. It’s a simple toggle switch in security settings, and it means you can enjoy great AI-based features without worrying about it being offloaded to some cloud server in the great unknown.
Pain points and design flaws
Overall, I think the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a truly excellent phone that’ll please nearly anyone who buys it, but there are a few pain points and design flaws that have emerged over the last 12 months of use. I was never a fan of the phone’s boxy design, and the longer I use it, the more I hate those sharp edges around the display.
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s display is still a literal pain for anyone sensitive to PWM dimming, and Samsung hasn’t introduced a flicker-reduction mode for users affected by it. There’s no telling if Samsung will address this in the S26 line, but the industry is moving forward with better eye protection while Samsung continues to lag in this area.
The display’s oleophobic coating also seems rather weak compared to the competition, with several users noting that the phone becomes a fingerprint magnet after a few months’ use. This doesn’t happen with other Samsung phones, as far as we can tell, so it might be something with the anti-reflective layer on the S25 Ultra.
I’ve also found the fingerprint reader to be super lousy compared to phones like the Google Pixel 10 Pro or the OnePlus 15. It’s so irritating to use that I’ve completely disabled it, and I’m definitely not alone here. A quick Google search reveals a lot of responses from people who dislike Samsung’s ultrasonic sensors, and anything from dry skin to applying a screen protector almost always makes things worse.
I’ve seen fewer complaints about things like overheating, poor battery life, and camera processing issues, but all of those continue to see regular posts on places like Reddit and Samsung’s official support forums. I don’t want to downplay these issues or complaints, but most of them are extremely subjective and depend on personal phone usage, while the others are more generalized or widespread.
Samsung’s best year yet
As we noted in our 2025 smartphone report card, 2025 was the best year yet for Samsung as a whole. That includes the Galaxy S25 Ultra with its well-rounded experience, quick and routine software updates, solid build quality, and a plethora of accessories to choose from.
Even the camera holds up against newly released phones, as it continues to provide excellent photography, especially when you utilize the four lenses on the back for zooming in or out. Samsung even improved motion capture since the S25 Ultra’s launch, something we’ve regularly harped on Samsung for in our camera reviews for years.
No phone is perfect, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra is still a champ a year later. Can Samsung improve things on the S26 Ultra? Absolutely, but for most people, I think the vast majority of any changes won’t be worth the upgrade. This one’s still an excellent buy, and that includes after the S26 Ultra launches, since you’ll undoubtedly be able to snag one for a record low price.
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