How does the Galaxy S26 Ultra compare to the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

The S26 Ultra can zoom up to 100x. But let's talk about what that actually means.

The optical zoom:

You have two telephoto lenses. A 3x telephoto gives true optical zoom—no quality loss. A 5x periscope lens does the same at 5x. These are the money spots for zoom photography.

Samsung claims "10x optical-quality zoom." That's using the 50MP 5x sensor and cropping. Not true optical, but there's enough resolution that the crop looks excellent.

The digital zoom:

Beyond 10x, you're in digital zoom territory. The phone crops, enlarges, and uses AI to fill in detail.

From 10x to 30x, results are pretty decent. Usable for social media.

From 30x to 100x, quality drops. Images get soft. AI artifacts can appear. The 100x "Space Zoom" is more party trick than practical tool.

The moon controversy:

Samsung's AI processing at high zoom has been controversial. Some tests suggest the phone adds moon detail that isn't really captured. Recognizable as a moon, but some detail comes from AI, not your photo.

What improved from S25 Ultra:

The 5x lens has a wider aperture—f/2.9 instead of f/3.4. That's 37% more light, making a real difference for zoom in dim conditions.

Practical advice:

For sharp, high-quality zoom photos, stick to 10x or below. Use 30x-100x when curious about something far away, but don't expect to print those shots.

The 3x and 5x optical zoom are genuinely excellent. Use those.

Compare Galaxy S26 Ultra camera specs and pricing.

DeX on the S26 Ultra can't extend your desktop across multiple monitors. If you plug into two screens, they just mirror each other.

What actually works:

One external monitor works great. You can also use your phone as a secondary display alongside that external monitor. So you have DeX running on a TV while your phone shows different apps beside it.

That's technically two screens, just not two external screens.

The virtual desktop workaround:

Samsung added four virtual desktop spaces on the S26 Ultra's DeX. Each space holds up to five apps. Quickly swipe between spaces to access different workflows.

Not the same as three physical monitors, but it helps manage multiple tasks.

Why this limitation exists:

USB-C can theoretically support multiple displays. Samsung just hasn't implemented extended multi-monitor mode for DeX yet.

What DeX is good for:

Think of it as a portable workstation that outputs to one big screen. Hotel room TV? Perfect. Conference room monitor? Great. Your office with three monitors? Not the right tool.

With the S26 Ultra's processor, DeX runs smoother than previous versions. Wireless DeX has lower latency. Window management is better.

For multi-monitor setups:

If you need to stretch across two or three screens, you need a laptop or desktop. DeX is designed for portable productivity with one external display.

Samsung might add multi-monitor support in a future update, but it's not available now.

Compare Galaxy S26 Ultra productivity features across retailers.

Ocean Mode is one of those features that sounds cooler than it actually is for most people.

What it does:

When you're underwater, water absorbs red and orange light first. That's why underwater photos look blue-green. Ocean Mode is Samsung's color correction that brings back natural colors in underwater footage.

It was originally a Galaxy Watch Ultra feature. Samsung brought it to the S26 Ultra through the Expert RAW camera app.

The awkward part:

Samsung added this underwater photography mode but tells you not to take your phone underwater. At least not in ocean water (salt damages the phone) or pool water (chlorine damages seals).

IP68 is tested in fresh, still water for 30 minutes. Not the ocean. Not a pool. So you've got a feature named "Ocean Mode" on a phone you shouldn't bring to the ocean.

When you can actually use it:

If you put your phone in a waterproof housing or pouch, Ocean Mode makes sense. The housing protects the phone while Ocean Mode corrects colors.

Looking through aquarium glass? That works. Phone stays dry, Ocean Mode fixes color cast.

How to find it:

Ocean Mode isn't in the regular camera app. Download Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store. It's free, with manual controls and RAW capture.

The realistic take:

If you want underwater photography, get a GoPro or waterproof pouch. Don't rely on IP68 in environments it wasn't tested for.

Ocean Mode is useful with additional protection. Otherwise, it's a color tool you'll probably never use.

Check Galaxy S26 Ultra camera features and pricing.