Samsung is preparing to launch Galaxy S26 Ultra, its most premium flagship model to date.

The device has received largely positive early reactions.

Even so, it still needs genuinely compelling features to persuade users to open their wallets.

Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to introduce several notable upgrades.

These include display-integrated security features and a camera system with larger-aperture lenses.

However, many Samsung fans argue that these improvements still miss the core priorities of high-end users.

Below are the three most important features that could convince buyers the moment Galaxy S26 Ultra reaches store shelves.

A bigger battery: 5,000mAh is no longer enough

According to current rumors, Galaxy S26 Ultra will support fast charging of up to 60W.

This would allow the battery to charge from zero to 50% in roughly 15 minutes.

On the surface, that sounds impressive.

The real issue lies in the battery capacity itself.

The device is still expected to retain a 5,000mAh battery.

This is the same capacity used in the previous generation and several generations before that.

In today’s smartphone landscape, 5,000mAh is no longer considered a “large” battery.

Fast charging can reduce waiting time, but the capacity itself has remained virtually unchanged for years.

Samsung appears to be lagging behind in battery technology.

Chinese manufacturers have already introduced silicon–carbon batteries approaching, and in some cases exceeding, 10,000mAh.

Samsung is reportedly developing solid-state batteries.

Even in the most optimistic scenario, this technology would only appear in wearable devices toward the end of 2026.

That leaves almost no chance for Galaxy S26 Ultra to benefit from it.

At present, many smartphones already offer batteries close to 7,000mAh.

Two-day battery life is quickly becoming an expected standard.

For Galaxy S26 Ultra to truly stand out, it would need at least a 6,000mAh battery based on silicon–carbon technology.

Unfortunately, this scenario appears highly unlikely.

A better camera system, not more lenses

The Galaxy Ultra line has long been among the best smartphone cameras on the market.

However, Samsung’s camera strategy still feels inefficient.

The dedicated 3X telephoto camera on Galaxy Ultra devices is increasingly redundant.

The phone would be far more compelling if it were equipped with a 200MP periscope telephoto camera instead.

Leaks suggest Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue with a familiar camera configuration.

This includes a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope camera with 5X optical zoom, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP 3X telephoto lens without periscope optics.

The key question is whether users truly need a separate 3X telephoto camera.

With a 200MP main sensor, high-quality 2X cropped photos are already easily achievable.

Removing the 10MP telephoto lens would free up space for a larger periscope sensor.

Competitors such as Vivo with the Vivo X200 Ultra and Xiaomi with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra have already adopted 200MP telephoto cameras.

These systems deliver superior detail at 5X zoom and even enable hybrid 10X shots that come close to true optical quality.

The 10MP 3X telephoto camera is clearly a relic of the past.

It no longer belongs on Galaxy S26 Ultra.

A combination of a 200MP main camera and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera would be more than sufficient for a flagship of this caliber.

Better software: One UI is becoming cluttered

Samsung continues to modify One UI with each new version.

Even users who have grown accustomed to its sometimes unusual behavior often find that everything changes again in the next update.

In One UI 7, Notifications and Quick Settings are separated by default.

Widgets and icon designs have also been altered.

This has led many users to feel that Samsung is trying too hard to make Android resemble iOS.

Complaints about this experience frequently appear on Reddit.

Many users describe the interface as frustrating and lacking refinement.

There is hope that Galaxy S26 Ultra will deliver a cleaner, more streamlined interface.

The focus should be on performance and productivity rather than visual decoration.

Historically, the Galaxy Ultra series has been positioned as a “business” phone.

It is designed to maximize work efficiency.

A minimal, uncluttered interface would align far better with that philosophy.

Galaxy S26 Ultra is drawing ever closer.

This article reads like a collection of “what if” scenarios.

It is almost certain that the device will not feature a 200MP telephoto camera.

It is also unlikely to arrive with a 6,000mAh battery.

A fully redesigned, simplified One UI experience also seems improbable.

Nevertheless, if Samsung wants to remain competitive and avoid further loss of market share, it must raise its game.

This pressure is especially clear as Apple has surged ahead thanks to strong sales of the iPhone 17 lineup.

Hai Phong