Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Gets First Hands-On Unboxing Before Official Reveal

Photo credit: Karoul Sahil
The surprise arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in some stores has got people really excited, with one very good unboxing video from a customer that allegedly shows the device in hand a good few days before the official Unpacked event on February 25, 2026.

The S25 Ultra’s elevated camera module replaces the flat camera layout, bringing back some of the concepts seen in previous Samsung phones but with a more modern feel this time. The corners are slightly rounded, making the enormous phone easier to hold. Despite its substantial size and weight, it feels the same as before, with only a few small changes to the measurements. It’s still a huge phone, but you wouldn’t notice.

The build still utilizes premium materials, thus it’s most likely the same titanium frame as in previous models, providing more durability without adding bulk. As for colors, we have the white variant from the leaks, as well as the black units seen in some of the early film. Despite the large camera housing on the back, the rear panel features a rather clean design that manages to include all of the extra gear without dominating the phone’s appearance.

The screen size remains at 6.9 inches, but it is still a top-of-the-line Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The M14 10-bit display has replaced the M13 version from the S25 Ultra, and it has an even better anti-reflective coating, allowing you to see what you’re doing in bright conditions. They have added a new feature called Privacy Display mode. When you switch it on, the screen goes dark from the side, so you can’t see what’s on it unless you stare directly at it.

The camera layout is a familiar quad setup similar to the last few Ultras. The 200MP primary sensor remains the star of the show, but it now has a larger aperture, which should allow it to produce better low-light shots. The periscope telephoto lens has also been redesigned, and it is now a bit rounder than previously; it will provide 5x optical zoom. The other two sensors on the back are the 50MP ultra-wide and 10MP 3x telephoto, while the selfie camera has a wider lens, making it simpler to capture everyone in a group image. The hardware modifications aren’t exactly revolutionary, but the improvements to optics and processing should make a visible impact, particularly in zoomed photographs and video. Samsung has also hinted at doing something clever with video zoom, which might let you to move even further away from your subject without compromising quality.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will handle processor duties across all markets, earning the ‘For Galaxy’ badge in the process, however there are some rumored minor clock speed increases as well. The RAM has also been increased to 16GB in the top-tier versions, while storage starts at 256GB and goes all the way up to 1TB, eliminating the old 128GB base models in the process. As you’d expect from a high-end Ultra device, all of this should provide you with the performance you need to tackle whatever demanding tasks come your way, from gaming to AI features that are now integrated into One UI 8.5.

Battery capacity should remain at 5,000mAh, but the real change is charging, as wired speeds have finally begun to receive the upgrade we’ve been waiting for, jumping from 45W to a whopping 60W, which must be a welcome relief for anyone tired of slow top-ups. Meanwhile, wireless charging has reportedly increased to 25W.
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