Out of all of Samsung’s newest S26 suite upgrades, these left me flawed
Samsung’s newest fleet of S range smartphones has officially launched, and while consumers start making pre-orders on the S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, I’ve been putting its new camera upgrades to the test, and these left me wowed.
As the flagship device in the newest range, the S26 Ultra stands out from the other models in Samsung’s latest fleet thanks to its larger 6.9-inch display, S Pen and unique Privacy Display – which I’ve already raved about over on The Daily Star.
Among the reasons to upgrade from an older Galaxy Device is the range of features that have been added to its camera system. Best yet, these aren’t unique to the Ultra model but are available across the entire S26 range.
Despite models having varying camera hardware – with the S26 Ultra having an impressive five back cameras – new features like Enhanced Now Nudge, Photo Assist and Creative Studio can be tapped in by all S26 users.
The catch? Across the entire new range, the S26 Ultra’s hardware enhancements mean the device will run smoother in the background, making everyday tasks feel easier for the average user but that comes at a much higher cost.
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I do, however, have my favourites. Out of the entire new AI photography and videography rollout, my top picks are the Horizontal Lock, AI photo Assist and the Creative Studio, as I feel they make a substantial difference to content.
Horizontal Lock on Samsung’s new S26 range
Starting with arguably the most impressive, this is Samsung’s own version of Apple’s Action Mode – and I will say that the Galaxy brand has beaten its rivals. When filming a video, this keeps the Horizon completely steady, so a user can tilt, turn, and rotate the device and the end result of the video will look steady – even if it has been rotated 360 degrees.
In the above video, you can see I’m rotating the device but the video looks completely straight. The only fiddly thing is tapping on the feature each time I want to use it.
Creative Studio and Upgraded Photo Assist
A new feature that uses AI to transform images in the camera roll. This makes editing and creating personalised content easier. It relies on prompts added to guide the extensive AI under the hood of its new devices.
As you can see above, the before version of the photo was taken in the pitch dark. I used an AI prompt to make the photo look as though it had been taken in the daytime.
Another example below, I used at the Casa Battlo in Barcelona while trying out the S26 Ultra. The attraction’s stained glass window pattern is mollusc-like (on the left) but I used AI to turn it into a swirly pink and red pattern – in a matter of seconds, and I was surprised just how realistic it looks.
Another brand new feature is the Enhanced Now Nudge. It’s an AI feature that’ll scan the device for you and recommend photos to send onto friends – say you’re chatting away about a holiday or event in a message, it’ll suggest a photo from your camera roll to send with it. I can see how this will be a useful feature to some, however, the always-on necessity will cause it to guzzle up battery life, which is worth considering.
Where to buy a Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra
Samsung dishes out double storage
As part of its pre-order offer on the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung is handing out double the amount of handset storage for the price of the smaller model. This sees the 512GB S26 Ultra cost the same as the 256GB.
Mobiles.co.uk is selling the standard S26 with 100GB of data from £34.99 a month with a £9 upfront fee. At Three, £35.89 monthly plus £40 upfront gives consumers unlimited data, while the S26 Ultra is available at £46.89 monthly plus £50 upfront.
EE’s prices are, however, slightly higher, with the S26 priced at £47 monthly plus £30 upfront for a 125GB data package, though this grants access to EE’s boosted 5G+ network for a speedier connection. For outright shoppers (those who prefer ditching a lengthy contract), pre-order pricing is the same at both Samsung.com and Amazon.
Sky’s monthly charges begin at £30 for the S26, increasing to £38 for the S26+ and £44 for the S26 Ultra. But there is a huge perk hard to find elsewhere.
When placing a pre-order by March 10, shoppers will get a free Galaxy Watch8 valued at £319 with their S26 and S26+, while the S26 Ultra includes a free Galaxy Watch8 Classic, which usually retails for £449. Sky notes its prices ‘may change’ throughout the 36-month minimum contract period, which is one main thing to consider.
