Samsung’s latest Ultra smartphone is built to do almost everything a top-end Android phone can offer. The Galaxy S26 Ultra arrives with a large 6.9in display, four rear cameras, an integrated stylus and AI features spread across the system. It also introduces a privacy display that Samsung says is the first of its kind, aimed at making it harder for people nearby to see what is on screen.
The company is pitching the phone as a premium all-rounder and, as the price suggests, it sits firmly at the top of the range. The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs £1,279, or €1,449, $1,299 or A$2,199. That puts it among the most expensive mainstream smartphones available, but also among the most fully loaded.
A screen designed with privacy in mind
The most unusual feature is the privacy display, built into the phone’s large panel. Samsung says it is designed to keep “shoulder surfers” from spying on the screen when the phone is used in public or in crowded places. On a device with a display as large as 6.9in, that addition could be especially useful for anyone who often checks messages, email, banking apps or other personal information on the move.
Privacy screens have existed as accessories before, but Samsung’s approach is integrated into the handset itself. That makes it one of the standout features of the S26 Ultra, especially as smartphone makers continue to search for ways to make high-end devices feel meaningfully different from one generation to the next.
Built for users who want everything
The Galaxy S26 Ultra follows Samsung’s familiar Ultra formula: large screen, powerful hardware and a long list of features. The phone is aimed at users who want a device that can handle photography, productivity and entertainment without compromise.
Its four rear cameras continue Samsung’s emphasis on flexible imaging. While the source material does not provide full camera specifications, the presence of four lenses underlines the phone’s ambition to cover everything from everyday snapshots to more specialised shooting needs.
The built-in stylus remains another key part of the Ultra identity. Samsung has long positioned the S Ultra line as the place where note-taking, drawing and precision controls can sit alongside traditional smartphone use, and the S26 Ultra keeps that approach intact.
Power, battery life and AI
Samsung also highlights fast chips and long battery life as part of the package. Those elements matter on a phone of this size, where users are likely to expect smooth performance for gaming, multitasking and media consumption, as well as enough battery capacity to last through a full day of heavy use.
AI assistance appears throughout the phone, adding another layer to the handset’s feature set. Samsung has been pushing artificial intelligence more deeply into its devices, and the S26 Ultra reflects that strategy with AI present in multiple parts of the experience.
For buyers considering the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the appeal will likely be straightforward: this is a device for people who want a very large screen, strong cameras, a stylus and the latest software features in one flagship package. The privacy display simply gives Samsung another way to differentiate its most expensive phone.
The bottom line
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is another example of Samsung’s effort to make its top-tier phone feel as complete as possible. It combines familiar Ultra strengths with a new privacy-focused display feature that may prove especially useful in public spaces. At £1,279, it is expensive, but it is also one of the most feature-packed smartphones on the market.
