I’ll be honest: I’m not a Samsung fan. I spent the last few years on Xiaomi, and since last year I’ve been using the vivo X300 — and I’m happy with it. But if I were choosing right now, the Galaxy S26 would definitely be on my short list of potentially best smartphones of 2026. Not the S26 Ultra, but specifically the base S26. And this is a deliberate choice, not penny-pinching for the sake of it. Here I’ll explain why, when looking at the Samsung lineup, my hand reaches not for the most expensive option.
I would choose the compact smartphone. Image: GSMArena Official
A Compact Android Smartphone
Since switching to the vivo X300, my attitude toward smartphone size has changed. The X300 is a relatively compact phone on the market, and after using it, I don’t want to go back to huge devices. The Galaxy S26 Ultra with its dimensions and weight looks like a tool, not a smartphone for everyday life.
The Galaxy S26 behaves differently in this regard. It’s lightweight, sits comfortably in the hand, and fits into jeans pockets without any issues. Reaching any part of the screen with one hand isn’t a quest. The buttons are in the right place. This sounds trivial, but when you’re holding a phone in your hands all day, compactness transforms from a spec into quality of life. The Ultra ruins the impression the moment you pick it up after the small Galaxy S26: it feels like you’re holding a tablet.
A Smartphone With a Great Screen
Dynamic AMOLED, 120 Hz, brightness sufficient for outdoor use — the Galaxy S26 specs for the screen give no reason to complain. Yes, the Ultra’s screen is slightly larger. But the difference in diagonal isn’t enough to justify paying tens of thousands of rubles more for it.
The smartphone has a compact but really great screen. Image: GSMArena Official
In practice: watching videos, scrolling through social media, reading — all of this looks excellent on the S26. Colors are vibrant, blacks are convincing, and on a bright day the screen is readable without straining. The S Pen in the S26 Ultra is an interesting option, but only for a very specific audience. For me — no.
One UI Features on Samsung
Both smartphones run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Both receive the same set of Galaxy AI: Object Eraser, Now Brief, smart suggestions. The differences between the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra in terms of performance and software capabilities are practically unnoticeable.
The cameras on the S26: 50 MP main, 10 MP telephoto with 3x zoom, 12 MP ultrawide. The Ultra has more megapixels and a longer zoom. But the 3x focal length is the most versatile for most scenarios: portraits, product shots, everyday photography. You reach for the 10x zoom far less often than it seems in the store. Yes, the Galaxy S26 is better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra not in everything, and certainly not in the camera, but in most real-world scenarios the compact model outperforms the bulky “slab.”
How Many Years Samsung Smartphones Receive Updates
You don’t buy a smartphone for just one year. If a device stays with me for three to four years, it’s important for me to know that during that time it won’t turn into a pumpkin without support. Samsung promises long-term support for the Galaxy S26, specifically:
- 7 new Android versions;
- 7 years of current security patches;
- Galaxy AI and other software features throughout this entire period.
And this is identical for the S26 and S26 Ultra. The difference in support is zero. Why overpay for the Ultra for an identical device lifespan?
Galaxy S26 Price vs. S26 Ultra
Here’s the main argument, and it’s more convincing than all the previous ones combined. The Galaxy S26 price is around 64,500 rubles. The Galaxy S26 Ultra price is over 100,000 rubles. The difference is more than 40,000 rubles.
The base S26 is much cheaper
What does the Ultra give you for that difference:
- S Pen (useful for a narrow circle of users);
- a longer zoom (needed less often than you think);
- a slightly larger battery;
- Privacy Display to protect the screen from prying eyes on public transport.
That’s an honest list. And for each of these features, you’d pay on average about 10,000 rubles. If you need the S Pen — get the Ultra, no question. If not — 40,000 rubles is money for a year’s subscription to all streaming services, new headphones, and a reserve for unexpected expenses. Or toward part of your next smartphone in three years.
Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra — it’s a choice where there’s no right answer. But for most people who use a smartphone for photography, social media, and work, the premium for the Ultra doesn’t pay off. The S26 gives 90% of the Ultra’s capabilities for 65% of the price. The math is simple.
