Post
An iPhone User's Honest Review After Switching to Galaxy S26 Ultra: Will They Really Be Satisfied?A YouTuber who used the iPhone 17 Pro Max shares their honest experience after switching to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. They compare it with the iPhone across various aspects like design, display, battery, camera, and performance, providing a detailed analysis of the S26 Ultra's strengths and drawbacks. Positive evaluations of its video features and AI performance are particularly noteworthy.
1. ✨ Galaxy S26 Ultra Design and Durability Improvements
· Similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but with rounded corners for improved grip, making it much more comfortable to hold.
· While not as comfortable as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra still offers an excellent grip.
· The camera design is improved over the S25 Ultra, boasting a better appearance.
· The Sky Blue color is a much more vibrant blue than the iPhone Air's blue.
· It adopts an aluminum body like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I didn't feel a significant difference from titanium.
· Thanks to its sharp angles, it feels more durable than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· While not as comfortable as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra still offers an excellent grip.
· The camera design is improved over the S25 Ultra, boasting a better appearance.
· The Sky Blue color is a much more vibrant blue than the iPhone Air's blue.
· It adopts an aluminum body like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I didn't feel a significant difference from titanium.
· Thanks to its sharp angles, it feels more durable than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
00:30 - 02:15
1. ✨ Galaxy S26 Ultra Design and Durability Improvements
· Similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but with rounded corners for improved grip, making it much more comfortable to hold.
· While not as comfortable as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra still offers an excellent grip.
· The camera design is improved over the S25 Ultra, boasting a better appearance.
· The Sky Blue color is a much more vibrant blue than the iPhone Air's blue.
· It adopts an aluminum body like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I didn't feel a significant difference from titanium.
· Thanks to its sharp angles, it feels more durable than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· While not as comfortable as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the S26 Ultra still offers an excellent grip.
· The camera design is improved over the S25 Ultra, boasting a better appearance.
· The Sky Blue color is a much more vibrant blue than the iPhone Air's blue.
· It adopts an aluminum body like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I didn't feel a significant difference from titanium.
· Thanks to its sharp angles, it feels more durable than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
02:16 - 03:33
2. 📱 Vivid Display and Innovative Privacy Features
· The S26 Ultra's display is very clear and vibrant, with natural and beautiful colors.
· With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits outdoors and an anti-reflective display, it's more visible than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· Overall display quality is very similar to the iPhone, making it hard to notice a big difference in daily use like watching YouTube.
· The new privacy display feature slightly degrades display quality, but I think it's a great feature that all smartphone companies should adopt.
· With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits outdoors and an anti-reflective display, it's more visible than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
· Overall display quality is very similar to the iPhone, making it hard to notice a big difference in daily use like watching YouTube.
· The new privacy display feature slightly degrades display quality, but I think it's a great feature that all smartphone companies should adopt.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.9 inches |
| Type | QHD Dynamic AMOLED 2x |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz Adaptive |
| Peak Brightness | 2,600 nits (Outdoor) |
03:36 - 05:58
3. 🔋 Powerful Battery Performance and Regrettable MagSafe Absence
· Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, it's sufficient for all-day use.
· Even during indexing, it could be used for over 12 hours, from 6 AM to 6:37 PM.
· For light users, the battery life is excellent, with over 70% battery remaining by the end of the day.
· The absence of MagSafe is still a drawback, and I believe the iPhone is superior in this aspect.
· Supports 60W fast charging and 25W wireless charging, allowing for quick recharges when needed.
· Battery performance is almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I was surprised by the S26 Ultra's battery endurance even with heavy camera use.
· Even during indexing, it could be used for over 12 hours, from 6 AM to 6:37 PM.
· For light users, the battery life is excellent, with over 70% battery remaining by the end of the day.
· The absence of MagSafe is still a drawback, and I believe the iPhone is superior in this aspect.
· Supports 60W fast charging and 25W wireless charging, allowing for quick recharges when needed.
· Battery performance is almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I was surprised by the S26 Ultra's battery endurance even with heavy camera use.
05:59 - 10:13
4. 📸 Innovative Video Features and Improved RAW Photos
· Video features have been greatly improved, allowing Log recording directly on the device without an SSD, and offering 5 built-in Log presets.
· The new APV recording feature enables cinematic video capture, which is very useful for vlogging or shooting cityscapes.
· The horizon lock feature allows the S26 Ultra to be used like a gimbal without one, enabling stable video recording.
· RAW photo quality is excellent, with good brightness and HDR adjustments, making photography more satisfying this year.
· 8K recording is provided, but its actual usage frequency is low.
· 4K 60fps recording is excellently supported by both phones.
· I did not experience any lens fogging issues.
· The new APV recording feature enables cinematic video capture, which is very useful for vlogging or shooting cityscapes.
· The horizon lock feature allows the S26 Ultra to be used like a gimbal without one, enabling stable video recording.
· RAW photo quality is excellent, with good brightness and HDR adjustments, making photography more satisfying this year.
· 8K recording is provided, but its actual usage frequency is low.
· 4K 60fps recording is excellently supported by both phones.
· I did not experience any lens fogging issues.
| Camera | Details |
|---|---|
| Rear Wide | 200MP, F1.4 |
| Rear Ultra-Wide | 50MP |
| Rear Telephoto | 10MP (3x Optical Zoom) |
| Rear Periscope Telephoto | 50MP (5x Optical Zoom, 100x Digital Zoom) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (Needs improvement compared to iPhone 17 Pro Max's 18MP) |
10:14 - 12:11
5. 🚀 Excellent Performance and Impressive Gemini AI Experience
· Overall performance is excellent, with apps launching instantly and smooth multitasking.
· Social media uploads and browsing are seamless, and 4K video editing can be handled without issues.
· Gemini AI is very impressive, on par with ChatGPT, and demonstrates much better conversational abilities than Siri.
· Support for Apple Music and Apple TV is convenient for iPhone users as well.
· I felt the keyboard typing experience was not as good as Pixel.
· There was an overheating issue only on the first day, and it hasn't occurred since.
· Social media uploads and browsing are seamless, and 4K video editing can be handled without issues.
· Gemini AI is very impressive, on par with ChatGPT, and demonstrates much better conversational abilities than Siri.
· Support for Apple Music and Apple TV is convenient for iPhone users as well.
· I felt the keyboard typing experience was not as good as Pixel.
· There was an overheating issue only on the first day, and it hasn't occurred since.
12:12 - 15:43
6. 🤔 iPhone User's Honest Review and Switch Advice
· I personally don't use the S Pen much, and I think an iPad is more suitable.
· Haptic feedback feels better than on the iPhone.
· Android's detailed customization features (e.g., showing remaining time when setting an alarm) are very useful.
· Disadvantages include the iPhone feeling more comfortable to hold, and the S26 Ultra being more expensive than the iPhone.
· The disappearance of the free storage upgrade option in North America is a regrettable point.
· Some apps still feel better on iOS, but this time, I didn't miss iOS much.
· Being tied to the Apple ecosystem with an iPad, Apple Watch, Mac Mini, etc., can make it difficult for iPhone users to switch.
· If you are an iPhone 14 Pro Max or 15 Pro Max user, you won't be disappointed by switching to the S26 Ultra.
· If you are an iPhone 17 Pro Max user, there's no compelling reason to switch to the S26 Ultra.
· For S24 or S25 users, I recommend switching to the S26 Ultra with good trade-in conditions.
· Haptic feedback feels better than on the iPhone.
· Android's detailed customization features (e.g., showing remaining time when setting an alarm) are very useful.
· Disadvantages include the iPhone feeling more comfortable to hold, and the S26 Ultra being more expensive than the iPhone.
· The disappearance of the free storage upgrade option in North America is a regrettable point.
· Some apps still feel better on iOS, but this time, I didn't miss iOS much.
· Being tied to the Apple ecosystem with an iPad, Apple Watch, Mac Mini, etc., can make it difficult for iPhone users to switch.
· If you are an iPhone 14 Pro Max or 15 Pro Max user, you won't be disappointed by switching to the S26 Ultra.
· If you are an iPhone 17 Pro Max user, there's no compelling reason to switch to the S26 Ultra.
· For S24 or S25 users, I recommend switching to the S26 Ultra with good trade-in conditions.