I walked into Unpacked, the event in San Francisco where the company unveiled its Galaxy s26 lineup, as … well, not quite a card-carrying Apple fan, but let’s just say my iPhone, iPad, Airpods, and Macbook came with. I was there to report on the launch, not to be tempted by anything an Android phone could offer.
The last thing I expected was the Galaxy S26 Ultra giving me a really compelling reason to switch to the Samsung side. But that’s exactly what happened when I spent some hands-on time at Unpacked with the top-of-the-range device.
It’s not about the thinness and lightness of the S26 Ultra, though that is noticeable. The deep, shiny “cobalt violet” shade is very much my vibe, though even the most alluring purple color isn’t likely to make me end a 17-year relationship with iPhones.
And it isn’t about the Ultra’s camera, as undeniably fantastic as its specs are. I did think I might prefer that slim 3-camera notch on the back to the hideously large bump (which we’re supposed to call a plateau) on the iPhone 17 … until I put the Galaxy S26 Ultra on a table, screen up … and it tilted noticeably to one side. Oh, I found myself thinking, so that’s why Apple went with the bump.
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