The latest Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks point to a device that does more than iterate on last year’s formula, they suggest Samsung is ready to rethink some of the Ultra line’s most recognizable design choices. From a dramatically larger front camera cutout to a reshaped frame and upgraded internals, the early information paints a picture of a flagship that could feel very different in the hand and on the screen.
If these details hold, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will not just be another spec bump, it will be a test of how far Samsung can push design changes without alienating the loyal Note and Ultra crowd that prizes sharp lines, minimal bezels and maximal camera hardware. I see a device that is trying to balance bold visual shifts with familiar performance upgrades, and the tension between those two goals is already visible in the leaks.
A bigger punch hole that signals a new front camera strategy
The most eye catching change in the leaks is the reported jump to a much larger front camera opening, a move that immediately reshapes how the display looks and feels. Instead of the tiny dot that has quietly shrunk over recent generations, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to carry a punch hole that is big enough to be noticed at a glance, which suggests Samsung is prioritizing new front facing hardware or features over the cleanest possible canvas.
One report describes the opening as a 4mm front camera hole, the largest yet on a Samsung Ultra model, and ties that change to a broader redesign of the front glass that curves the Galaxy S26 Ultra to roughly 85 degrees at the edges. Another leak links the enlarged cutout to a new feature that the iPhone 17 already handles more effectively, arguing that the bigger punch hole is meant to house more advanced camera or sensor tech but may still lag behind Apple’s implementation. Taken together, these details point to a front camera system that is more ambitious, but also more visually intrusive, which will divide opinion among users who have grown used to near invisible selfie cameras.
Rounded frame, camera island and the end of the slab sided Ultra
Beyond the display cutout, the leaks suggest Samsung is ready to soften the Ultra’s famously boxy silhouette, a decision that would mark a clear break from the Note inspired design language that has defined the series. I read this as a sign that the company wants the Galaxy S26 Ultra to feel more approachable and ergonomic, even if that means stepping away from the squared off aesthetic that power users often associate with productivity and precision.
According to a detailed design leak from Sep 16, 2025, the new rounded look appears to replace the sharp corners of the S24 Ultra, and if both rumors are true, then a camera island becomes essential. The report explains that this is because, if Samsung was to retain the same separate camera rings on a more curved back, the lenses would risk looking awkward or exposed at the end of the camera lens cluster, so a unified island helps visually anchor the module. In giving the S26 softer edges and a more conventional camera block, Samsung is trading some of the Ultra’s distinctive industrial feel for a design that may be easier to hold but could also be a disappointment for fans who loved the old slab sided profile.
Display and hardware: familiar specs with targeted upgrades
Underneath the cosmetic shifts, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up as a classic Samsung flagship that leans on a big, bright screen and cutting edge silicon. I expect the company to stick with a very large panel that keeps the Ultra firmly in phablet territory, while using incremental improvements in brightness, efficiency and refresh rate handling to keep the experience feeling premium.
One leak states that the display is expected to remain a large 6.9-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness pushing up among the best screens Samsung has ever produced, which suggests the company sees no need to shrink the device. On the performance side, rumor roundups from Nov 11, 2025 indicate that, like with the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to ship with the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the markets that typically receive Qualcomm chips, paired with faster 60 watt wired charging. That combination would keep the Ultra competitive on raw speed and charging convenience, even if the headline grabbing changes are happening on the outside.
Camera ambitions and the risk of questionable design choices
The camera system is where the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s design and hardware decisions collide most directly, and the leaks hint at a device that is trying to push imaging forward while juggling some potentially awkward trade offs. I see Samsung attempting to maintain its reputation for long range zoom and high resolution sensors, but the move to a camera island and a larger selfie cutout raises questions about how cohesive the overall package will feel.
The Sep design leak frames these as “questionable design choices,” arguing that the need for a camera island arises precisely because of the curved back and rounded corners, not because it is the most elegant way to showcase the lenses. At the same time, the report on the Samsung Ultra front camera notes that the 4mm hole and more aggressive curvature are meant to support a richer feature set, which could include improved face unlock or higher quality video calls. The tension between those goals, better photography and a cleaner design, will be central to how reviewers and early adopters judge the S26 Ultra’s camera story.
Pricing, launch playbook and what Customers can expect at release
While the leaks focus heavily on hardware and design, there are already hints about how Samsung might position the Galaxy S26 Ultra when it finally reaches stores. I expect the company to lean on familiar tactics that soften the blow of premium pricing, especially as competition from Apple, Google and Chinese brands keeps flagship costs under scrutiny.
Reporting from Nov 19, 2025 notes that Customers can also expect trade-in offers and possible free storage upgrades at launch, as seen in past campaigns for high end Samsung phones. That same overview of what to expect from Samsung’s 2026 flagship suggests the Galaxy S26 Ultra will follow a similar pattern, with aggressive pre order bundles designed to lock in early buyers before rival devices arrive. In practice, that means many buyers will experience the S26 Ultra less as a full price purchase and more as an upgrade path from an older Galaxy, which could make the radical design changes easier to swallow.
How the S26 Ultra fits into Samsung’s broader flagship strategy
Stepping back from the individual leaks, the Galaxy S26 Ultra looks like a device that is meant to reset expectations for Samsung’s top tier phones without abandoning the core formula that has made the Ultra line successful. I read the combination of a large OLED screen, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power and a heavily reworked exterior as a sign that Samsung wants to keep the spec sheet familiar while using design to signal a new chapter.
The rumor roundup from Galaxy S26 sources frames the S26 family as a potential shake up for the series, with the Ultra sharing its core chipset and charging upgrades but differentiating itself through display size, camera hardware and design. When I line that up with the Nov 12, 2025 report on the 6.9-inch OLED panel and the Nov leak about the 4mm punch hole and 85 degree curvature, a consistent picture emerges. Samsung appears to be betting that a more dramatic visual identity, anchored by a huge, bright screen and bold camera cutouts, will keep the Ultra line feeling fresh even as the underlying formula of big battery, big display and big camera numbers remains intact.
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