Among tech companies, Samsung is often the first to launch its Galaxy S series each year. Naturally, the pressure of being the earliest to release a product means the company needs a sufficiently distinctive and appealing product to attract users.
But creating differentiation is becoming increasingly difficult, as design and features have reached their limits. Upon first unboxing, you might not notice the changes in the Galaxy S26 compared to its predecessor. Only after using it for a sufficient amount of time, allowing the device to become "accustomed" to my needs, did I begin to notice the differences and conveniences of the S26 Ultra.
The design isn't groundbreaking, but it's reliable.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra still uses a design with two flat surfaces and a square frame, but it has a slight twist with the camera module being a strip, instead of just three protruding lenses like the previous generation. It's a very small change, but it helps this model stand out and have a bit more personality.
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The frame has switched from titanium to aluminum, but this change doesn't make a huge difference in terms of sturdiness or weight. The phone still feels solid in the hand, the screen size remains quite large, and the dust, water, and scratch resistance thanks to the new Gorilla Glass provides enough peace of mind for the device I use most often.
The S26 Ultra remains one of the smartphones with the best displays, boasting a 6.9-inch AMOLED screen. However, the display quality can sometimes be affected by the phone's newest and most notable feature: Privacy Display. Because it's integrated into the screen, it can prevent snooping right out of the box.
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Privacy screens come in handy when privacy is needed, and there are quite a few such instances. |
This feature is useful and I use it more than I initially thought. Every time I chat about work in the elevator, I don't have to worry about the person next to me glancing at my screen. When I bring my phone to the movie theater, I also turn this feature on so I don't disturb others if I need to check my phone in the theater. Privacy Display gives me more options when I need "privacy," but in other situations, I usually turn it off to ensure a better display.
AI becomes more useful when used extensively.
AI is perhaps the feature that manufacturers talk about the most during new phone launches, but whether it's used effectively is another story.
Thanks to its deep integration with Gemini, Galaxy AI understands context well and often helps me realize needs I hadn't thought of. The day before my business trip to Singapore, the phone's "Now brief" screen reminded me of the weather there, helping me remember and organize overlapping tasks. By reading my calendar, Galaxy AI also reminded me of appointments on several occasions.
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Samsung's ability to record and transcribe audio has been excellent since the first generation with Galaxy AI, and it continues to be effective today. The "closed-loop" process of recording, transcribing, and importing into NotebookLM directly on the phone helps me a lot when I need to quickly work on a long speech.
The call screening feature also proves useful in many situations. When an unknown number calls, the AI will answer on behalf of the caller, asking who the caller is and why they are calling, and simultaneously converting the content into text displayed on the screen. The entire process takes place in Vietnamese, quite naturally. With advertising or spam calls, the system usually causes the other party to hang up quite quickly.
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These are just a few instances where Galaxy AI has helped me use it more efficiently and save time. Like any other AI application, it needs long-term use, allowing the phone to learn my habits and trust me enough to provide some personal data, before the AI on the phone becomes a truly effective assistant.
Practicality in everything from battery and charging to performance.
If I were to talk about expectations when using a device with a starting price of 37 million VND, I would certainly hope it simply "works well" right out of the box. That's what the S26 Ultra delivers. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip remains top-of-the-line, providing a smooth experience for all daily tasks, especially when combined with the 120Hz screen.
In terms of battery capacity, the S26 Ultra might fall short of some competitors in the same price range. However, my experience shows that the battery lasts a full day, and I rarely need to recharge it before getting home in the evening. While the Samsung model's battery isn't as generous as some competitors, it's sufficient for everyday use.
While battery life hasn't improved significantly, charging speed is another story. This is the first high-end Galaxy model to support wired charging at 60W. Faster charging and better compatibility mean I can plug it in and still have enough power for a whole day out.
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The phone's camera isn't the kind that will wow you or have a brand name attached. However, it almost perfectly meets my needs: the main lens shoots very quickly and is sharp enough even in low light, the 5x telephoto camera is sufficient for stage shots or close-ups of speakers in meetings, and the ultra-wide-angle camera is sharp and captures light well. I don't often use or fully utilize features like AI zoom at 30x or more, but the S26 Ultra is a practical phone, even in terms of photography.
While other Android phone manufacturers, besides iPhones, are also pricing their phones above 30 million VND, Samsung is essentially competing on equal footing with its rivals. You might want models with more investment in photography or more unique designs from Xiaomi, Vivo, or Oppo. However, it's undeniable that the Galaxy S26 Ultra remains a safe bet for Samsung.
What they did well, they maintained. The new features are mostly useful enough for everyday use. Instead of "cramming" AI into every nook and cranny like the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung this time focused on the core elements such as stable performance, reliable hardware, and a versatile camera. Even many of the AI features, which the company frequently talks about, proved effective. For those who need a good daily experience, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most convincing answer Samsung has offered in years.
Source: https://znews.vn/mau-dien-thoai-android-khong-on-ao-nhung-duoc-viec-post1645817.html
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