Upgrading to the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not appeal to flagship phone owners

Samsung may face a challenge in convincing Galaxy S25 Ultra owners to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra, according to a survey.

According to the information published by the reliable whistleblower Ice Universe, the only specifications that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will improve on compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th generation chip, faster 60W charging, 7.9 mm less thickness and a slightly lighter weight of about 214 grams.

The poll asked readers if they would get the Galaxy S26 Ultra if they owned the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Of the 1,090 participants, 824 (76%) believed there was insufficient reason to promote. 150 people (14%) said they would upgrade only if the price remained the same. Only 116 (10%) said they would still migrate to the Galaxy S26 Ultra even if the price went up.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best Android phones of the year, and perhaps that’s why Samsung feels it can do just a few minor tweaks and launch a new product. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may include changes that improve the everyday user experience, even if we don’t see much of a change in specs on the surface.

For example, the phone is said to use 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X memory, which could theoretically improve system response time and camera performance.

Similarly, although battery capacity is likely to remain unchanged, the use of M14 material may increase charge life.

After all, a phone isn’t just a bunch of specs on paper. If it offers reliable and desirable performance in everyday use, it may be attractive enough for many flagship users to be tempted to buy it.

Of course, the issue is not that simple. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to perform very well for years to come, and given the likely price hike, Samsung needs to make a stronger case for the upgrade.

Perhaps Samsung still has a few hidden trump cards to convince Galaxy S25 Ultra owners that the Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t just a slightly better version of their current phone.