The Galaxy S26 Ultra is still, seven months after its release, the most complete Android phone in Samsung’s catalogue, but it is only really worth buying at its discounted price. Launched at €1,469 (around 964,000 FCFA) on 11 March 2026, it now sells for between €860 and €1,000 at several retailers. At that price, its Privacy Display screen, its stylus and its seven years of updates carry a lot of weight. For night photography and battery life, the Chinese brands do better.
Introduction: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, seven months after its release
Samsung unveiled its S26 series on 25 February 2026 and put it on sale on 11 March. The Ultra model sits at the top of the range, above the Galaxy S26 and the S26+. The Galaxy S26 Ultra sticks to the house recipe: a 6.9-inch screen, the S Pen stylus, four cameras and the fastest Qualcomm chip of the moment.
The real novelty is called Privacy Display: built into the panel, this filter makes the screen unreadable for the person sitting next to you on the metro or in a taxi. Samsung has also reworked charging, widened the aperture on two cameras and swapped titanium for aluminium. The rest changes little, which is what several reviewers hold against it.
This guide is aimed at anyone wondering whether to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra now that its price has melted, at owners of an older Ultra and at readers in West and Central Africa. Our newsroom has not handled the phone: the analysis relies on Samsung’s own data and on published reviews, cited throughout the text.
Verdict in brief: an excellent Ultra, as long as you do not pay full price
Verdict in 30 seconds
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a very accomplished phone: a screen with a built-in privacy filter, top-tier power, a stylus and seven years of software support. Its 5,000 mAh battery and its night photography still trail the best Chinese rivals, according to published reviews.
For whom Anyone who wants a big screen, a stylus, long software support and a phone that stays discreet in public, and who buys it at around €900.
Avoid if You already own a Galaxy S25 Ultra, or you are mainly after a big battery and the best zoom on the market.
We like
- Privacy Display, a genuine exclusive that is useful every day
- Very fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- 60 W wired charging: 75% in 30 minutes according to Samsung
- Seven years of Android and security updates
- Street price sharply down since launch
We like less
- 5,000 mAh battery, far from the 7,000 mAh of the competition
- Night photography and 3x telephoto are a step behind
- No charger included, no magnets for wireless charging
- Few new features compared with the Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S26 Ultra specs
| Écran | 6,9 pouces Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1 440 x 3 120 px, 1 à 120 Hz |
|---|---|
| Luminosité max | 2 600 nits, verre antireflet, Privacy Display |
| Processeur | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (3 nm), 4,74 GHz |
| Mémoire vive | 12 Go (16 Go en 1 To) |
| Stockage | 256 Go, 512 Go, 1 To |
| Appareil photo principal | 200 Mpx, f/1,4 |
| Ultra grand-angle | 50 Mpx, f/1,9 |
| Téléobjectif | 10 Mpx 3x + 50 Mpx 5x périscope |
| Batterie | 5 000 mAh |
| Recharge | Filaire 60 W (75 % en 30 min) ; sans fil 25 W |
| Dimensions et poids | 163,6 x 78,1 x 7,9 mm, 214 g |
| Étanchéité | IP68 |
| Sortie en France | 11 mars 2026 |
| Launch price | 1 469 € |
Three numbers sum up the Galaxy S26 Ultra. At 7.9 mm, it is the thinnest Ultra Samsung has made. Its 60 W charging closes part of the brand’s gap on recharging. Its 5,000 mAh capacity has not moved for several generations, while Chinese rivals often exceed 7,000 mAh. That is its real compromise.
Design of the Galaxy S26 Ultra: aluminium replaces titanium
Samsung is dropping the titanium of the two previous generations and going back to its Armor Aluminum alloy, which is supposed to dissipate heat better. French site Presse-citron sees it more as a step down in class and reports micro-scratches on the glass back after two days of use.
A large phone that is a little easier to live with
The Galaxy S26 Ultra measures 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm and weighs 214 g. Its more rounded corners are kinder to the palm, but it is still hard to handle with one hand. The vertical camera island sticks out: buyers note on Samsung’s website that the phone rocks when it is laid flat.
The IP68 rating protects against dust and immersion in fresh water, which is reassuring in the rainy season. Four colours are sold everywhere (black, white, cobalt violet, sky blue), and two more are reserved for Samsung’s online store.
The S Pen is still here, and still without Bluetooth
The stylus still slots into the body. Its shape now follows the rounded corners: it only goes in one way round, which is irritating for the first few days according to Presse-citron. As on the S25 Ultra, it has no Bluetooth. So there is no way to trigger the camera remotely.
Display: 6.9 inches and a built-in privacy filter
The Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel shows 3,120 x 1,440 pixels, with a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz and an advertised peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The anti-reflective treatment on the glass has been kept. The lab at L’Éclaireur Fnac gives it 10 out of 10 for contrast and colour accuracy.
Privacy Display: what it is really for
The Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra narrows the viewing angle by using two types of pixels, narrow and wide. When it is switched on, the image stays sharp from the front and darkens heavily from the sides. You can hide the whole screen or only the notifications, and have it kick in for certain apps, such as your banking or mobile money app.
The benefit is concrete on a bus, in a shared taxi or in a queue: you can type in a code without your neighbour taking advantage.
The limits flagged by reviewers
This technology comes at a cost. On the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Tom’s Guide measures a panel that is slightly less bright than the one on the S25 Ultra, even with the filter turned off. Samsung acknowledged on 17 March 2026 that variations are visible at certain angles and at maximum brightness, while judging the effect negligible in normal use. Some users who are sensitive to flicker mention eye strain: if that applies to you, try the phone in a shop first.
Performance: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 wants for nothing
Everywhere in the world, the Galaxy S26 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a variant clocked slightly higher. Samsung claims a 19% gain for the processor, 24% for graphics and 39% for AI-related computing compared with the S25 Ultra.
Chart-topping scores, heat kept better in check
Clubic records around 3.59 million points on AnTuTu, then 3,709 points in single-core and 11,375 in multi-core on Geekbench. That puts the Galaxy S26 Ultra among the fastest Android phones of 2026. Under sustained load, the same review notes a drop in performance of around 40%, which is common on these chips.
No game on the Play Store gives it any trouble. In a hot climate, expect a warm back after a long session: Presse-citron describes heat that is well managed but noticeable.
Memory: 12 GB, except on the 1 TB version
The 256 and 512 GB versions have 12 GB of RAM, and the 1 TB version moves up to 16 GB. There is no microSD slot. With memory prices soaring, Samsung froze the price of the base model and raised that of the other two. For ordinary use, 256 GB is enough.
Camera: the Galaxy S26 Ultra improves without catching the best
Samsung carries over the sensors from the S25 Ultra and changes the lenses. The labs penalise that caution: DxOMark gives the Galaxy S26 Ultra 157 points, which put it 18th in its ranking in mid-March 2026. Phototrend, which scores it 8.6 out of 10, praises the versatility of the four focal lengths but regrets a lack of boldness.
200 MP main sensor: brighter than before
The 200 MP main sensor (1/1.3-inch type, 23 mm equivalent) gets a lens that opens to f/1.4, against f/1.7 previously. Samsung talks of 47% more light. By day, reviews describe pleasing colours, reliable white balance and a wide dynamic range.
Night shots are more divisive. DxOMark notes progress over the S25 Ultra on noise and detail, but points to focusing that is sometimes slow when the light drops. Phototrend is harsher: sharpening that is too heavy and a rendering that looks unnatural.
Zoom and ultra-wide: the 5x convinces, the 3x disappoints
The 50 MP periscope telephoto (5x, 115 mm equivalent) now opens to f/2.9 and captures 37% more light according to the brand. It is the most successful secondary focal length in Phototrend’s view. The 10 MP 3x module relies on a smaller sensor than the one in the S25 Ultra, and its output looks artificial.
The 50 MP ultra-wide (f/1.9, 13 mm) does its job well outdoors. Against a camera phone like the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max and its three 200 MP cameras, Samsung is clearly behind on hardware. The duel with the previous Oppo generation, the Find X9 Pro, is covered in a separate comparison on the French edition of Wanda-techs.
Video and selfies: stabilisation is the strong point
Video goes up to 8K at 30 frames per second, including on the ultra-wide and the 5x, and 4K at 60 frames per second works on every module. A horizon lock keeps the picture level when you are moving. For filming a wedding or content for social media, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a safe bet. The 12 MP front camera is decent and no more.
Battery and charging: 60 W at last, 5,000 mAh again
A full day, sometimes more
The published measurements do not agree. The lab at L’Éclaireur Fnac records 19 hours 40 minutes of use and mentions close to three days with moderate use. Tom’s Guide reports 16 hours 10 minutes in its browsing test. Presse-citron, in real-world use, ends its days with 25 to 35% of battery left.
The takeaway: the Galaxy S26 Ultra lasts a long day, rarely two. Where power cuts are frequent, that is acceptable without being reassuring. Chinese models with 7,000 mAh offer more headroom, and a power bank remains a good investment.
Wired and wireless charging: what you need to buy on top
The Galaxy S26 Ultra moves up to 60 W over a cable. Samsung promises 75% in 30 minutes, and Presse-citron gets a full charge in around 45 minutes with a suitable adapter. The Fnac lab posts 1 hour 19 minutes, a gap that probably comes down to the charger used. Wireless charging climbs to 25 W with Qi2.2 compatibility, and reverse charging powers earbuds at 4.5 W.
Good to know — No charger is supplied in the box. To make the most of the 60 W, you need a compatible USB-C Power Delivery adapter and a suitable cable, which have to be added to the budget. Since there are no built-in magnets, Qi2 magnetic accessories require a magnetic case.
Software: One UI 8.5 at launch, One UI 9 and seven years of support
The Galaxy S26 Ultra shipped with One UI 8.5, based on Android 16. Samsung promises seven major Android updates and seven years of security patches, which means support until 2033. It is one of the best commitments on the market, and an argument when the time comes to resell.
Since mid-September 2026, One UI 9 and Android 17 have been arriving on the S26 series, on a schedule that varies by region. The update notably brings My FanCam, which tracks and reframes a subject in video, and new Galaxy AI features that come with the stable version of One UI 9.
Galaxy AI relies more and more on agents that can chain several actions on your behalf. Some of these features require a connection and a Samsung account.
Galaxy S26 Ultra or Galaxy S25 Ultra: what really changes
The list of real differences is short:
- Privacy Display, absent from every previous model;
- 60 W wired charging instead of 45 W, and 25 W wireless;
- brighter lenses on the main sensor (f/1.4) and the 5x zoom (f/2.9);
- an aluminium frame that is thinner (7.9 mm) and a little lighter (214 g);
- a faster chip and beefed-up cooling.
The battery, the sensors, the screen size and the stylus do not move. If you have an S25 Ultra, keep it: it will get One UI 9 too. Coming from an S23 Ultra or older, the gain becomes clear in charging and in length of support. Back Market even recommends a refurbished S25 Ultra, from €673 on its platform, to those who are not interested in Privacy Display: a €15 privacy screen protector does much the same job.
Galaxy S26 Ultra price and availability: France and French-speaking Africa
Official launch prices in France
At launch, the Galaxy S26 Ultra cost €1,469 (around 964,000 FCFA) with 12 + 256 GB, €1,669 (around 1,095,000 FCFA) with 12 + 512 GB and €1,969 (around 1,292,000 FCFA) with 16 GB + 1 TB. The base model did not go up compared with the S25 Ultra, while the other two rose by €80 and €140. The official Samsung France page lists the configurations.
The real price in October 2026
Nobody should be paying that much for the Galaxy S26 Ultra today. As early as June, Samsung was selling the 256 GB model for €869 (around 570,000 FCFA) by combining a promo code and a payment discount, according to Phonandroid. At the end of August, the 512 GB model fell to €861.99 (around 565,000 FCFA) from a seller on French marketplace Cdiscount, according to Ariase. On 20 September, Kimovil recorded a floor of €760 (around 499,000 FCFA) on a marketplace.
Be careful with these rock-bottom prices. The lowest ones often come from third-party sellers and imported models, which are not always covered by the Samsung France warranty. A price of €900 to €1,000 from a well-known retailer, sold and shipped by that retailer, remains the best compromise.
Where to buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra at the best price
Smartphone 5G haut de gamme de Samsung avec Galaxy AI, 256 Go, version française.
- AmazonSee at Amazon
- CdiscountSee at Cdiscount
- FnacSee at Fnac
- DartySee at Darty
Some links on this page are affiliate links: Wanda-techs may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our opinion.
Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal: availability and imports
Samsung lists the Galaxy S26 Ultra on its website for French-speaking Africa, in four colours, with a link to its points of sale. No public price in FCFA appears there, and no verifiable official price was found for Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal. In Douala, Abidjan or Dakar, prices depend on where the batch comes from (official distribution, Dubai, Europe) and on customs. Ask for the invoice and the origin.
Good to know — The Samsung warranty is in principle regional. A phone bought in France or imported from another continent will not necessarily be handled by a local authorised service centre: put the question to the seller before paying.
On the network side, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is 4G and 5G compatible, with dual SIM and eSIM. 5G is still thinly rolled out in the region, but 4G from local operators works. Having one brought over from France by a relative or friend is often the cheapest option, at the cost of more complicated after-sales service.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built-in Privacy Display that can be switched on app by app.
- Top-tier power and improved cooling.
- 60 W wired and 25 W wireless charging.
- Seven years of updates, with One UI 9 already rolling out.
- Built-in S Pen, very stable video, street price sharply down.
Cons
- 5,000 mAh battery, unchanged.
- Night photography and 3x zoom behind the best.
- Screen slightly less bright than the S25 Ultra’s according to Tom’s Guide.
- No charger included, no Qi2 magnets, S Pen without Bluetooth.
- Very high official price, uncertain warranty on imported models.
These Galaxy S26 Ultra ratings are a synthesis of published reviews, with no testing on our part: 9 out of 10 from Clubic, 8.6 out of 10 from Phototrend, 4 out of 5 from Back Market. Value for money is scored at the price seen in October 2026.
Alternatives to the Galaxy S26 Ultra
For photography and battery, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max lines up three 200 MP sensors, but its French release is only expected on 21 October, at an announced price that is higher. From Apple, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is the natural rival, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max remains worth a look next to the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you are aiming for one of last year’s models. Finally, the Galaxy S26 offers the same software in a pocket-sized format, and the Galaxy S26 FE brings the bill down further still.
Conclusion: should you buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Yes, if you pay less than €1,000 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and if its private screen, its stylus or its seven years of support meet a specific need. At that price, few Android phones offer such a coherent package: power, video, build quality and software are all at the expected level.
No, if you are coming from an S25 Ultra, if you judge a phone by its night photography, or if your daily life means two days away from a socket. Keep the calendar in mind too: rumours relayed by The Gadgeteer place the S27 series in early 2027, with a silicon-carbon battery. Nothing is confirmed, but that should pull prices down even further.
Our pick
Galaxy S26 Ultra with 256 GB — the most versatile of Samsung’s phones, to be recommended at around €900 to €1,000 from a retailer that honours the warranty, for those who want a large, discreet screen, a stylus and support until 2033.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in France?
The official launch price is €1,469 for 256 GB, €1,669 for 512 GB and €1,969 for 1 TB. In practice, the price has fallen a great deal since March 2026. Price comparison sites record offers between €860 and €1,000 for the base model, sometimes less from third-party sellers offering imported versions. Always check who is selling and which warranty applies.
How much does the Galaxy S26 Ultra cost in Cameroon?
Samsung does not publish prices in FCFA on its website for French-speaking Africa. As a guide, the French launch price is equivalent to around 964,000 FCFA for 256 GB, and the current discounted prices to roughly 570,000 FCFA, excluding shipping and customs. In Douala or Yaoundé, the amount varies with where the device comes from. Insist on an invoice and ask whether an authorised service centre will cover it.
Can the Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra be turned off?
Yes. The privacy filter switches on and off on demand. You can limit it to the notification area or have it kick in only in certain apps, such as your banking app. With the filter off, the screen returns to ordinary viewing angles. Tom’s Guide does, however, measure slightly lower brightness than on the previous model, and Samsung acknowledges small variations at certain angles.
Does the Galaxy S26 Ultra come with a charger?
No, the box does not contain a power adapter. To reach the advertised 60 W and recover 75% in half an hour, you have to buy a compatible USB-C Power Delivery charger. With an old 25 W adapter, charging works but takes noticeably longer. Wireless charging at 25 W also requires a suitable pad.
Galaxy S26 Ultra review round-up: is it better to wait for the S27 Ultra?
If your current phone works well, waiting a few months is by no means absurd: the next generation is expected in early 2027 according to rumours, and prices for the current model will keep falling. If you have to change now, go ahead. The 2026 model will be supported until 2033, it is already getting One UI 9 and it costs far less than it did at launch.
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