Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leaks: Can it Beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leaks: Can it Beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max? (Full Details)

Introduction:

The competition between Samsung and Apple is about to go to the next level. In February 2026, Samsung is going to launch its new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra. This time, there are some changes in the design and display that might surprise users. Let's find out about the complete features, price, and launch date of the S26 Ultra.

1. Design: Lighter and Slimmer

Build Material: According to reports, Samsung might switch back to Aluminum instead of Titanium (like iPhone did).

Design Change: The S24 Ultra had sharp corners, the S25 had rounded ones, but the S26 Ultra will have even more rounded corners to make the phone more comfortable to hold.

Dimensions: The phone's thickness will be only 7.8mm, which makes it significantly slimmer and lighter than before.

Protection: A new Gorilla Glass will be used on the front, which is said to be so strong that a screen protector won't be needed.

2. Display: Finally a 10-Bit Panel!

Samsung is the display king, and this time there are some major upgrades:

Panel: A new M14 OLED Panel will be used, which is more efficient and consumes less battery.

Colors: Finally, Samsung is bringing a 10-Bit Panel (previously 8-bit), which will further improve color accuracy.

Brightness: Due to COE technology, the brightness numbers will be high.

Privacy Mode: A new feature where the screen will not be visible when viewed from the side (best for privacy).

3. Performance: Powerhouse

Processor: It will have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for Galaxy, which is specifically optimized for Galaxy devices.

RAM: More RAM is needed for AI tasks, so Samsung is bringing back the 16GB RAM variant (along with the 12GB base variant).

Cooling: A large Vapor Chamber Cooling system will be provided to prevent heating issues.

4. Camera: Same Hardware, Software Game?  There isn't a massive jump in camera hardware, but there are refinements:

Main Camera: The 200MP sensor will remain the same, but the aperture will be f/1.4 (previously f/1.7). A wider aperture means better photos in low light.

Setup:

200MP (Main)

50MP (Ultra-wide)

50MP (5x Periscope, f/2.9 aperture)

12MP (3x Telephoto)

New Feature: A new 24MP mode will be directly available in the camera app.

Note: Samsung has canceled its plan to copy Apple's "Camera Control Button".

5. Battery & Charging

Battery Size: There's a slight disappointment here—it will still have a 5000 mAh battery.

Charging Speed: Wired charging might be increased to 60W.

Wireless: It will get new Qi2 Wireless Charging support (magnetic charging similar to MagSafe) and a 25W wireless charging speed.

6. Price & Launch Date

Launch Date: Expected February 25th, 2026.

Price: Due to increasing memory prices, its price might be high. In India, it might launch at approximately ₹1,40,000 - ₹1,45,000.

Conclusion (Verdict):

If you have the S25 Ultra, upgrading to the S26 Ultra won't make a huge difference. The hardware changes are limited. But if you are upgrading from an older phone, the S26 Ultra will be a powerful device.