Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
4 questions both answer, side by side. Every answer is backed by the dated sources at the bottom.
Side by side
Can your phone screen unknown and spam calls for you?
Galaxy S26's AI-powered Call Screening identifies unknown callers and summarizes why they called.
Good to know: Has to be switched on manually; languages vary.
The S26 Ultra has the S26 series' AI-powered Call Screening, which identifies unknown callers and summarizes why they called.
Good to know: Samsung describes it for the series; has to be switched on manually.
Can your phone's AI assistant do things in your apps for you?
Galaxy S26 offers Gemini and Perplexity alongside Bixby and can handle multi-step tasks in the background, such as booking a taxi with Gemini after you review the details.
Good to know: Maker's description; features vary by region and language.
As part of the Galaxy S26 series, the S26 Ultra offers Gemini and Perplexity alongside Bixby and can handle multi-step tasks in the background, such as booking a taxi with Gemini.
Good to know: Samsung describes this for the whole S26 series; features vary by region and language.
How long does a new phone's battery last?
Samsung rates Galaxy S26 at 30 hours of video playback from a 4300 mAh battery.
Good to know: Video playback rating; S26+ is rated at 31 hours.
Samsung rates Galaxy S26 Ultra at 31 hours of video playback from a 5000 mAh battery.
Good to know: Video playback rating.
How many years of updates does a new phone get?
Samsung says the Galaxy S26 series gets seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from its global launch.
Good to know: Counted from the February 2026 launch; timing may vary by carrier.
Samsung says the Galaxy S26 series, including the S26 Ultra, gets seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Good to know: Counted from the February 2026 launch; timing may vary by carrier.
Only checked for one of them
Can you edit a photo on your phone just by describing the change?
Galaxy S26's Photo Assist adds or changes things in a photo from a typed description, and marks the saved result as AI-generated.
Good to know: Samsung says accuracy of the generated output isn't guaranteed.
Can your phone translate a phone call live?
Samsung's Live Translate translates calls in real time in the Samsung Phone app on a Galaxy S26, in 22 languages.
Good to know: Samsung describes it on its Galaxy Buds4 Pro page, with the translation playing in your ear.
How we know (3 sources)
Samsung's US launch release for the Galaxy S26 series: seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch. Alongside Bixby, it offers agents including Gemini and Perplexity, and can handle multi-step tasks in the background, such as booking a taxi with Gemini. AI-powered Call Screening identifies unknown callers and summarizes why they called (needs manual activation; languages vary). General availability from March 11, 2026.
Read the sourceUS Galaxy Buds4 Pro page (read Oct 22, 2026): from $249.99. Interpreter and Live Translate in 22 languages: real-time translation in your ear on calls through the Samsung Phone app on a Galaxy S26, or face-to-face with your words shown on the phone for the other person. Interpreter needs a Galaxy AI phone on One UI 6.1.1 or later; basic Galaxy AI features are free.
Read the sourceUS Galaxy S26 and S26+ page (read Oct 23, 2026): from $899.99 before trade-in. Photo Assist edits photos from a text description and marks the result as AI-generated. Galaxy S26 has a 4300 mAh battery rated at 30 hours of video playback (S26+ 31 hours); the page also lists Galaxy S26 Ultra with a 5000 mAh battery and 31 hours of video playback. Bixby understands natural-language requests to change device settings or search the web.
Read the source