Samsung's new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra may be mere weeks away, according to rumors, and I've got a few things I especially want to see.
In my 14 years as a CNET reviewer, I've tested every generation of Samsung's Ultra range. I've taken thousands of photos across all Galaxy models, played countless hours of games and scrolled through pictures of cakes on Instagram. So I've learned a thing or two about what makes these phones so good -- but also, where they can be improved.
Over all that time, I've watched Samsung remain a dominant phone-maker, consistently out-selling brands like Apple, Google and Motorola. But that doesn't mean Samsung can rest on its dominance. I've also tested amazing phones from brands like Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei that are more innovative and cutting-edge than what Samsung has been doing with its Galaxy S-line. And it's time for Samsung to show us all what it can do.
The S25 Ultra isn't much of an upgrade over the S24 Ultra. They even look pretty much the same. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
So with the Galaxy S26 Ultra almost upon us, here's what I want to see from Samsung's next super phone.
Galaxy S26 Ultra cameras need bigger sensors
Samsung's Ultra phones have always been up there with the best when it comes to taking photos. Its Galaxy S phones have excelled with night-time imagery, and it was among the first companies to really wow us with telephoto zooms. But the camera hardware hasn't changed much over the last few generations of Ultra phones, and it feels like it's time to go big.
Xiaomi's 14 Ultra blew me away with its photography skills, thanks to its 1-inch type image sensor, which is physically larger than the sensors you'll find in almost any other phone camera. A bigger image sensor can capture more light, theoretically allowing for better dynamic range and more detail without relying as hard on software image processing.
Taken on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and slightly edited in Adobe Lightroom, I love how the phone captures natural-looking images that maintain deep shadows rather than trying to create an overly fake HDR look. It's one of the few phones that I think can truly rival mirrorless cameras. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
I love the shots I've taken with Xiaomi's recent phones, and I want to see Samsung create a camera that's truly tailored to pro photographers like myself. Sure, the Galaxy S25 Ultra's zoom is good, and the extra resolution we got added to the ultrawide is nice to see. But slap in a bigger main camera sensor for the S26 Ultra and let me snap glorious images that look like they were taken on a mirrorless camera, and yeah, you'll be onto a winner there, Samsung.
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