Does the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra have wireless charging issues?

The Quick Answer

256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. No microSD slot—what you buy is what you get.

Prices and What You Actually Get

| Storage | Price | RAM | Usable Space | |---------|-------|-----|--------------| | 256GB | ,299 | 12GB | ~220GB | | 512GB | ,419 | 12GB | ~475GB | | 1TB | ,659 | 16GB | ~950GB |

The 1TB model is the only one with 16GB RAM—worth noting if heavy multitasking matters to you.

How to Pick the Right Size

256GB Is Fine If:

• You stream music and movies instead of downloading
• Photos back up to the cloud automatically
• You're not installing tons of apps or games
• You've been fine with 128GB on your current phone

512GB Is the Sweet Spot If:

• You have a decent photo library
• You download shows for flights or commutes
• You play a few games
• You want room to grow

This is what most people should get.

1TB Makes Sense If:

• You shoot a lot of 8K or 4K video
• You keep large music or movie libraries locally
• You're a mobile gamer with lots of big titles
• You plan to keep this phone for 4+ years

No MicroSD Means Choose Wisely

Unlike older phones, you can't add storage later. Check your current phone's usage—go to Settings > Storage. I

What Can the AI Actually Do?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is packed with AI features. Some are genuinely useful daily tools; others are neat tricks you'll use occasionally.

The Features You'll Use Most

Circle to Search

See something on screen you want to search? Draw a circle around it. Works anywhere—social media, texts, websites, photos. Genuinely one of the most useful AI features.

Photo Assist

You can:

• Remove photobombers or distracting objects
• Move people around in a photo
• Turn a daytime photo into a nighttime scene (new)
• Add things that weren't there (new)

Results are usually convincing enough for social media.

Note Assist

Write messy handwritten notes with the S Pen, and it converts them to clean, formatted text with structure—headings, bullet points, proper organization. Actually useful for meeting notes.

Live Translate

Have a phone call with someone who speaks a different language. The AI translates in real-time, and both sides hear their own language.

Fun S Pen Features

Sketch to Image

Draw a rough sketch and the AI transforms it into actual artwork. Choose styles like photog

The Quick Answer

Yes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is water-resistant. It has an IP68 rating, meaning it can handle being submerged in fresh water up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) deep for 30 minutes.

What Does IP68 Actually Mean?

• The 6 means it's completely sealed against dust
• The 8 means it can survive underwater—not just splashes

Real-World Translation

You're Fine Doing This:

• Getting rained on
• Dropping it in a puddle or sink
• Cooking with wet hands
• Hanging out by the pool
• Washing it under the tap briefly

Don't Do This:

• Swimming with it
• Taking it in a hot tub (heat destroys the seals)
• Bringing it to the ocean (salt is corrosive)
• Using pressure washers nearby
• Dunking it for fun

The Catch: Not All Liquids Are Equal

IP68 is tested with fresh water. Other liquids can still damage your phone:

Saltwater corrodes the seals. If you drop your phone in the ocean, rinse it with fresh water immediately and dry thoroughly.

Pool water has chlorine that degrades seals over time. Brief splashes are probably fine; don't let it sit in pool water.

Soapy water can bypass water

The Honest Take

These are the two best phones you can buy in early 2026. Both are excellent. Your choice comes down to priorities and ecosystem preference.

The Numbers Side-by-Side

| | Galaxy S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max | |-|-----------------|-------------------| | Price | ,299+ | ,199+ | | Screen | 6.9", brighter (2,600 nits) | 6.9", still great (2,000 nits) | | Weight | 214g (lighter) | 234g | | Thickness | 7.9mm (thinner) | 8.6mm | | Battery | ~16 hours | ~18 hours (winner) | | Charging | 60W (faster) | 45W | | Stylus | Yes, included | None |

Where Samsung Wins

Cameras are more versatile. Two telephoto lenses (3x and 5x) compared to the iPhone's single 4x. In low light, testing shows the Samsung producing sharper, more contrasty images.

The screen is brighter. 2,600 nits vs 2,000 nits matters in direct sunlight.

Privacy Display is genuinely unique. Nothing on iPhone prevents people from peeking at your screen.

Faster charging. 60W vs 45W mea

The Full Color Lineup

Samsung offers six colors for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but not all are available everywhere.

Colors You Can Get Anywhere

Cobalt Violet – This year's signature color. A deep purple-blue that shows up in all the marketing. Eye-catching without being too flashy.

Sky Blue – A softer, lighter blue. Premium vibes without demanding attention.

White – Classic, clean, goes with everything. Shows fingerprints more than darker options, but the matte finish helps.

Black – The safe choice. You know what you're getting.

Buy these from your carrier, Best Buy, Amazon, or Samsung directly.

Colors Only Samsung Sells

Silver Shadow – A subtle metallic silver. Understated and elegant.

Pink Gold – Rose gold vibes. Popular if you want something warmer than the standard options.

These two are exclusive to Samsung.com and tend to sell out faster.

What They're All Made Of

Every color gets the same build quality:

• Armor Aluminum frame – Samsung switched back from titanium this year
• Gorilla Glass Armor 2 – Front and back
• Matte finish – Resists fingerprints nicely

The Quick Numbers

Wired (60W): 75% in 30 minutes, full charge in ~55 minutes Wireless (25W): Full charge in ~90 minutes Reverse wireless (4.5W): For topping off earbuds and watches

Wired Charging: Faster Than Before

Samsung bumped wired charging to 60W this year, up from 45W on the S25 Ultra. A 30-minute charge during lunch gets you to 75%—usually enough to finish the day.

One catch: The box includes a USB-C cable but no charger. You'll need a USB-PD 3.0 charger rated at 60W or higher. Samsung sells a 65W adapter, but any third-party USB-PD charger from Anker, Belkin, or similar brands works fine.

Wireless Charging: Decent Speed

The S26 Ultra supports 25W wireless charging, but you need a Qi2.2 charger to hit that speed. Older wireless chargers still work—you'll just get 10–15W instead.

Full wireless charge takes about 90 minutes at 25W. If you drop your phone on a charger overnight, speed probably doesn't matter much. But for quick wireless top-ups, the faster speed helps.

Cases work fine with wireless charging, though extra-thic

Quick Answer

If you're in the US: yes, you get mmWave. If you're buying an international model: no mmWave, but you still get 5G.

What US Buyers Get

The US version of the Galaxy S26 Ultra includes the full 5G package:

• Sub-6GHz 5G: Works almost everywhere
• mmWave 5G: Ultra-fast speeds in select locations

You're covered on every major carrier—AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile—with full 5G support across their networks.

International Models

You still get 5G, just without mmWave. This matters less than marketing suggests.

Does mmWave Actually Matter?

Here's the honest truth: mmWave sounds amazing in ads but has significant limitations:

Where it works great:

• Sports stadiums
• Convention centers
• Major airports
• Some downtown city blocks

Where it doesn't work:

• Inside most buildings
• In suburbs or rural areas
• More than a few hundred feet from a tower
• Behind pretty much any obstacle

When you do hit a mmWave signal, speeds can exceed 1Gbps. But Sub-6GHz 5G—which both US and international models have—delivers 100–500Mbps reliably across much wider areas.

Which Carriers Work?

All of the

Short Answer: Really, Really Well

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is genuinely impressive in low light. Samsung made meaningful hardware upgrades, and the AI processing is smart without going overboard.

The Hardware Story

The numbers tell the story. That 200MP main camera has an f/1.4 aperture—wider than the f/1.7 on the S25 Ultra. Translation: the sensor sees 47% more light. The telephoto improved too, going from f/3.4 to f/2.9.

More light in = better photos with less noise.

Night Mode Is Different Now

If you're looking for a Night Mode button, it's not there by default. Samsung decided the phone is smart enough to know when you need low-light processing.

Here's how it works: A small moon icon appears in your viewfinder when the camera activates enhanced night processing. Just take the shot—no mode switching required.

If you prefer the old dedicated button, you can restore it in camera settings.

Why Photos Look Better

The AI processing is actually smart this time:

• It analyzes faces, backgrounds, and objects sepa

The Headline Change: Bluetooth Is Gone

Samsung removed Bluetooth from the S Pen on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If you loved using it as a remote camera shutter or to control presentations, that feature is gone.

The upside? The S Pen never needs charging. Store it in the phone, pull it out when needed, done.

What Actually Got Better

Writing Feels Amazing Now

Samsung dropped latency to 2.8 milliseconds—essentially instant. Writing and sketching feel like using an actual pen. If you take handwritten notes or sketch regularly, you'll immediately notice the improvement.

AI Features Are Legitimately Useful

Note Assist does your formatting: Write messy notes by hand, and Samsung Notes converts them into clean, organized text with proper headings and bullets.

Math Assist solves equations: Write out a math problem and watch AI work through it step-by-step. Great for students or anyone who needs to verify their work.

Sketch to Image is surprisingly fun: Doodle a rough house, face, or landscape. The S26 Ultra converts it into a polished image—choose photographic, watercolor, anime, or other styles. The qua

Quick Answer

Yes, the S26 Ultra has full eSIM support, and you can run two phone numbers at once. Whether you want to keep work and personal separate, travel internationally without swapping SIMs, or just have a backup number—you're covered.

What You Get Depends on Where You Are

In the US: One physical nano-SIM slot plus support for two eSIMs. Use any combination for two active lines.

International models: Two physical SIM slots plus dual eSIM support—even more flexibility.

In China: Dual physical SIMs only (no eSIM) due to local regulations.

How Two Numbers Actually Work

Calls and texts: Both lines stay active. When someone calls either number, your phone rings. You can set different ringtones so you know which line is ringing before you answer.

Data: Only one line handles data at a time. You pick your default data line, but switching takes seconds when needed.

Your options: Mix and match—one physical SIM plus one eSIM, two eSIMs (ditching physical cards entirely), or two physical SIMs on international models.

Setting Up an eSIM

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Connections, th