Skip to main content

Don’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. 4 reasons to wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung’s latest Unpacked event has wrapped up, and with it, we’ve been introduced to the Galaxy S25 series. As expected, the lineup includes the standard Galaxy S25, the middle-tier S25 Plus, and the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra. Packed with impressive hardware like the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, AI-driven features, and camera enhancements, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly a powerful device.

But is it worth upgrading to right now? Depending on your current phone, you might find these updates more incremental than groundbreaking. There are compelling reasons to consider holding off until next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra. Let’s break down why waiting might be the smarter move.

Recommended Videos

A massive 200MP periscope telephoto camera

Galaxy S25 Ultra camera array closeup
Jason Howell / Digital Trends

The Galaxy S25 Ultra brings some improvements to its camera system, but much of it feels like a continuation of what we’ve already seen. For instance, while most of the cameras remain unchanged from last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, there is one notable upgrade: the ultra-wide camera now features a 50MP sensor, replacing the 12MP sensor from its predecessor. This means sharper and more detailed wide-angle shots—a welcome improvement for anyone who frequently uses this lens.

However, if you’re someone who relies heavily on telephoto photography (as I do), there’s an exciting rumor that could make waiting for the Galaxy S26 Ultra worthwhile. According to leaker DigitalChatStation, Samsung is exploring an unannounced 200MP sensor for a periscope telephoto camera. This 1/1.5-inch sensor could debut on the S26 Ultra and would represent a significant leap forward in zoom capabilities. Not only would it enhance optical zoom performance, but it could also deliver superior crops when zooming digitally—offering more usable results even when relying on software-based zooming.

For photography enthusiasts or anyone who values cutting-edge camera technology, this potential upgrade alone might justify holding out for one more year.

New battery technology and faster wired charging

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra charging port
Jason Howell / Digital Trends

The Galaxy S25 Ultra sticks with a tried-and-true formula when it comes to battery capacity: a 5,000mAh cell—the same size Samsung has used since the Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020. While this capacity is sufficient for most users, it doesn’t represent any real advancement in battery technology.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, however, could change that entirely. A leak posted by Jukanlosreve on X, referring to leaker Ice Universe suggests that Samsung may adopt silicon-carbon battery technology for its next flagship. This type of battery offers higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion cells, potentially increasing capacity by around 13% without requiring additional physical space. For context, devices like the OnePlus 13 and Honor Magic 7 Pro have already implemented this technology with impressive results.

What does this mean for the S26 Ultra? Samsung could either increase battery capacity while maintaining its current slim profile or keep capacity steady while making the device even thinner.

On top of that, another rumor by @kro_roe on X suggests that the S26 Ultra might support up to 65W wired charging—a significant jump from the 45W charging speed that Samsung has stuck with since the Galaxy Note 10 series. Faster charging combined with a more advanced battery could make a tangible difference in daily usability for all users.

Thinner and brighter display

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra front display
Jason Howell / Digital Trends

The display on Samsung’s Ultra models has always been a standout feature, and while the Galaxy S25 Ultra continues this tradition with its high-quality OLED panel, next year’s model could take things even further.

A report from the Korean publication The Elec indicates that Samsung is exploring a display technology called “Color-filter-on-thin-film-encapsulation” (CoE). This innovation replaces traditional polarizing layers in OLED screens with color filters and black layers to define pixels. The result is a thinner display that’s brighter and more power-efficient.

Currently, polarizing layers reduce reflections and improve visibility but also limit brightness levels and require more power to achieve higher luminosity. CoE would address these drawbacks while contributing to a slimmer overall design. Given that Samsung has already used CoE technology in its foldable devices starting with the Galaxy Z Fold 3, it wouldn’t be surprising to see it make its way to next year’s flagship Ultra model.

Advanced face scanning akin to Apple’s Face ID

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra punch hole camera with Google Maps overlay
Jason Howell / Digital Trends

One area where Samsung has lagged behind competitors like Apple is facial recognition technology. While Apple’s Face ID relies on advanced hardware such as infrared light and dot projection for secure 3D face mapping, Samsung’s facial recognition system depends solely on its front-facing camera—making it less accurate and secure by comparison.

That could change with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. A leak from Haizaki Ryouhei initially suggested that Samsung was working on a new feature called PolarID—a polarized facial identification system that doesn’t require additional sensors but instead leverages Qualcomm Snapdragon processing and Samsung LSI hardware integrated into the display design. Although early rumors pointed to PolarID debuting with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, leaker SawyerGalox later clarified that it would likely appear first on next year’s model.

If true, PolarID could bring Samsung’s face-scanning tech closer in line with Apple’s Face ID in terms of security and reliability—another reason why waiting for the S26 Ultra might be worth considering.

Even more Ultra than before

Samsung Galaxy S25 series in front of Galaxy AI sign
Jason Howell / Digital Trends

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is undoubtedly an impressive smartphone with meaningful upgrades over its predecessor—but many of these improvements feel iterative rather than transformative. If you’re using an older device or are eager to upgrade now, you’ll likely be satisfied with what Samsung has delivered this year.

However, if you’re someone who values innovation or simply wants to future-proof your investment as much as possible, holding out for the Galaxy S26 Ultra seems like a smart move. 

Jason Howell
Jason Howell is a YouTube creator and host of the AI Inside, Techsploder, and Android Faithful podcasts.
The Galaxy S25 Edge will ditch a glass black for a lighter material
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge cameras

At the Galaxy S25 launch, Samsung also teased -- and confirmed -- its upcoming slim phone. Rumored to be less than 6mm in thickness, the Galaxy S25 Edge is set to be Samsung's thinnest candy bar phone, and potentially pull our attention away from the iPhone 17 Air, which is still at the rumor stage. Ahead of the launch, new details have emerged on how the Galaxy S25 Edge could be lighter, and it has to with Samsung revisiting an older design choice.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is said to ditch glass for its back for the sake of durability. Instead, SamMobile claims to have exclusive information about the material it uses instead. According to the report, Samsung is instead opting for a ceramic material, which will be complemented by an aluminum frame.

Read more
Samsung starts bringing Galaxy S25 camera tricks to Galaxy S24 phones
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra's cameras.

Samsung’s previous-gen flagship phones are yet to get a taste of Android 15, but for the adventurous few who signed up for beta testing, they finally have some consolation coming their way. Samsung has started the rollout of One UI 7’s fourth beta update for the Galaxy S24 series smartphones.

Multiple users on X, Samsung’s Community Forum, and YouTube have shared news of the latest beta update arriving on their Galaxy S24 series phones in India and Korea. The update also brings the February Android security patch, but the most notable addition is a key camera trick that Samsung introduced with the Galaxy S25 series earlier this year.

Read more
The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera crushed its old rival in our test
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra's cameras.

Is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra worth an upgrade if you own the last Ultra phone? Equally, if the Galaxy S25 Ultra is on your buy list, understanding how Samsung has improved the camera this time around will be an important point to understand before splashing out on it. To help answer these questions, we put Samsung’s latest Ultra phone against its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, in a serious camera battle.
Camera specs
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The first thing to understand is not much has changed on the hardware front. Both have a 200-megapixel main camera with an f/1.7 aperture, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). It’s joined by a pair of telephoto cameras on both, one 10MP telephoto with OIS for a 3x optical zoom, and another 50MP telephoto with OIS for a 5x optical zoom.

Read more