How does it compare to a Samsung Galaxy Ultra S22

This article was written for Western Sydney Publishing and published in March 2026. After using my Galaxy S22 Ultra for years, I noticed the battery just couldn’t make it through the day anymore. The phone itself still worked fine, but hitting 20% by mid-afternoon told me it was time for an upgrade.

I’ve been using the Samsung S26 Ultra for about a week and setting it up was easy. Samsung’s migration tool handled most of the work, moving my apps, photos, and settings over without any trouble. I only had to set up my banking apps myself and sign in to a few things. Since I use Dashlane for passwords, getting everything back in place took a few hours.

Once I had everything set up, I immediately noticed how much lighter and thinner the S26 feels compared to my old S22 Ultra. It’s still a large phone, but the lighter weight is a pleasant surprise. The new processor is fast, especially when working with photos or using AI features. I don’t usually pay much attention to benchmarks, but the speed improvement is clear in daily use.

The real highlight for me is the battery life. The S26 Ultra easily lasts a day and a half. I can use it all day at work, go out in the evening, and still have enough battery left to get home without worrying about finding a charger. After years of seeing my S22 drop to single digits by dinner, this feels like a real upgrade.

Samsung has been promoting the new Privacy Display, which limits the viewing angle so people nearby can’t see your screen. It’s a smart feature, and I tried it out, but in daily use, I found it more annoying than helpful. Since I often keep my phone on my desk, I couldn’t easily glance over to check who was calling or messaging because the screen darkens unless you look at it directly. It’s a cool idea, but it just isn’t practical for me.

One thing I’m not happy about is the durability. My S22 Ultra survived many drops without any cracks. With the S26 Ultra, one of my coworkers dropped theirs from a short distance, and the screen shattered right away. Make sure to get a case and consider Samsung Care. It’s worth it.

Speaking of features that are gone, the S26 Ultra’s S-Pen still works for notetaking and drawing, but it no longer acts as a Bluetooth remote for taking photos as it did before. I used that feature a lot, so now I must use the timer again, which feels like a step back.

The camera, though, is a big improvement. The 200MP main sensor, better low-light performance, Horizon Lock for steady video, and AI tools like Photo Assist and Best Face all make it much easier to get great shots without any extra effort. Whether you’re recording action or taking night photos, the S26 really stands out.

Overall, I’m happy with it. It’s faster, lighter, lasts longer, and the camera is very impressive. There are a few things that feel like downgrades, but the improvements are much more important.These prestigious CompTIA Spotlight Awards recognise the very best individuals and organisations driving innovation, growth, and leadership within the Australian and New Zealand technology industry.