5 phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Galaxy S26 Ultra brings a slimmer design and Privacy Display to block people from peeking.
• AI features are more capable, too, but the phone's high price will give some pause.
• This list highlights mobile device models like the iPhone 17 Pro Max as solid alternatives.

Samsung recently held its first Unpacked event of 2026 in San Francisco, CA. As expected, the spotlight was firmly on the new Galaxy S26 series, which includes the base Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the flagship model. We saw the refresh coming a mile away, but the upgrades are meaningful than what the leaks suggested.

Also: Samsung Unpacked 2026 live blog: Galaxy S26 Ultra specs, Buds 4 Pro, preorder deals, more

The Galaxy S26 is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor ...