Apple's iPhone Fold: 2026 Launch, Crease-Less Display, $2K+ Price
Samsung's new flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is now perceived more as an 'update' rather than revolutionary innovation. Experts express three fundamental concerns about the model, while pointing to one strong reason that could still push users to upgrade.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: Innovation or Iteration?
Samsung's flagship series shapes the expectations of the smartphone market every year. However, leaked details and industry analyses regarding the Galaxy S26 Ultra suggest that this new model may emerge more as an evolutionary 'update' rather than groundbreaking features. Market observers and potential users state that the phone creates concern in three main areas, yet they agree there is a single, powerful upgrade reason that still makes it attractive.
Concern 1: Design and Hardware Reaching Saturation Point
The smartphone industry has been going through a period of noticeable hardware saturation for the last few years. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is not expected to break this trend. As with previous models, a high-resolution dynamic AMOLED display, a powerful processor, and a durable body design (likely an Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus combination) have become standard. Examining current Galaxy S25 Ultra listings on MediaMarkt, Teknosa, and Samsung's own Turkey site reveals that these features are now basic expectations. Users are looking for innovations that will fundamentally change the user experience, rather than incremental improvements like 'faster' or 'slightly brighter'.
Concern 2: Pushing the Limits in Camera
It is known that Samsung, which introduced the S25 series this past January, has already begun camera work for the S26 Ultra. However, leaked details show a focus on sensor optimization and software improvements rather than a major leap in camera hardware. The current 200 MP main sensor, 50 MP telephoto lenses, and 12 MP ultra-wide lens combination is already highly capable. In the new model, this hardware is expected to be further enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI)-supported software. However, this raises the question for users: 'Does it really take better photos than the previous model?' Incremental improvements in camera performance may not be noticeable to the average user.
Concern 3: Uncertainty in Price-Performance Balance
Samsung's flagship models continue to come with higher price tags with each generation compared to the previous one. Considering the current high-end model prices on retailer sites like Teknosa and MediaMarkt, it is predicted that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could also arrive with a similar price increase. Experts' biggest concern is whether the incremental updates mentioned above can justify this potential high price. Consumers are questioning whether more affordable competitors or a discounted previous-generation S25 Ultra might be a smarter purchasing choice.
The Single Powerful Upgrade Reason: Pervasive Artificial Intelligence
Despite all these concerns, there is one key factor that still makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra attractive and worth upgrading to: Comprehensive and deeply integrated artificial intelligence (AI) features. Samsung is clearly basing its future strategy on the 'AI Phone' concept. The S26 Ultra is expected to offer a transformative AI experience not just in camera software, but in all of the following areas:
- Productivity: Assistants that increase user efficiency with features like text summarization, real-time translation, and email and message draft creation.
- Gaming and Performance: Higher and more stable frame rates, less latency, and optimized battery consumption through AI-supported processor management.
- Personalization: A system that learns based on usage habits and personalizes the interface, notifications, and even app launch order.
- Security and Privacy: Advanced threat detection and data protection protocols.
In this context, the S26 Ultra is a hardware update
