For those who want the biggest and best Android phone with all the bells and whistles, Samsung’s Ultra phones have long been the go-to choice. Millions of people have the Galaxy S24 Ultra, S25 Ultra, or even the new Galaxy S26 Ultra. I don’t think it’s the best choice anymore, if it ever was to begin with.
It’s no secret that Samsung has enjoyed immense success with smartphones, and that success isn’t slowing down. I’ve been buying and reviewing Galaxy devices for over 14 years, and recently ranked my top 6. While several Galaxy Note models made my list, the Ultra didn’t.
It might be the best phone Samsung makes, but I don’t think it’s the best phone for most people.
The Samsung Galaxy S+ is so underrated
Not quite an Ultra, but close enough
I’d argue the best Samsung Galaxy phone for most people is the Galaxy S24+, S25+, or the latest Galaxy S26+, and not the Ultra. I actually bought the Galaxy S25 Ultra last year, but quickly returned it for a cheaper model.
And while there are several reasons for ditching the Ultra, size and ergonomics being a big one, the Galaxy S25+ did almost everything the Ultra did in a smaller, lighter, easier to hold and use package. A package that still looks great, works great, costs less, and gets better battery life.
See, the screen is only a hair smaller, the battery is only 100mAh smaller, and it still has three excellent cameras and excellent performance. Do you really need to zoom 100x and end up with a blurry photo from your Ultra? I actually picked up the Galaxy S26 Ultra, too, but ultimately decided to stick with my older Galaxy S25+.
The Samsung Galaxy S25+ (or even the S26+) offers nearly the same experience, aside from a few small things like the zoom camera; you’ll get better battery life and a better display. Here’s a quick look at the small differences.
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Galaxy S26 Ultra |
Galaxy S25 Plus |
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Display: 6.9-inch 3120 x 1440, LTPO AMOLED X2, 120Hz |
6.7-inch 3120 x 1440, LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz |
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Battery: 5,000mAh, 60W Fast Charging |
4,900mAh, 45W Fast Charging |
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CPU: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
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Cameras: 200MP f/1.4 main, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP periscope |
50MP f/1.8 main, 12MP f/2.2 120°, 10MP f/2.4,3x Optical Zoom |
Samsung’s latest and greatest notches out smaller siblings in a few small areas, but those differences aren’t very impactful. I’d rather have a phone that’s more affordable, smaller, easier to use, gets better battery life, and still has great cameras.
More importantly, when the rumored Galaxy S27 Pro arrives early next year, that could end up being the absolute best Samsung Galaxy phone to buy. If the reports are accurate, it’ll deliver the Ultra experience, performance, and cameras, all in a slightly smaller package without the S-Pen. Essentially, the Pro will be slightly smaller yet better than the Galaxy S27+, and have a bigger battery. If that’s true, I’ll be buying one.
The Samsung Galaxy A-series is the real winner
Ultra models barely break the top 10
It’s important to remember that “best” is subjective because it relies on personal feelings, individual budgets, opinions, or specific criteria that may vary from person to person. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra might be the best Samsung phone of all time for one person, another could argue that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 pushes boundaries and is so cutting-edge.
On the flip side, an easy way to decide which Samsung phone is the best is to look at the sales figures. And by that metric, Samsung’s Ultra phones rarely break into the top 10 globally.
You know what does? The Samsung Galaxy A-series of phones. For example, according to Counterpoint Research, Samsung’s best-selling smartphone worldwide in 2025 was the Galaxy A16 5G, followed by the Galaxy A06 5G, and the year before it was the Galaxy A15 5G. And for the first half of 2026, those same models top the charts along with premium mid-range phones like the Galaxy A56 and A36.
It’s not the Galaxy S26, Plus, or S26 Ultra, but more affordable phones that still have capable cameras, big and beautiful screens, yet are easier to hold, use, and afford.
A prime example is the upcoming Galaxy A27 5G, which hits U.S. shelves in about two weeks. This phone has a large 6.7-inch 120Hz display, a punch-hole front-facing camera, decent performance, 6GB of RAM, a healthy 5,000 mAh battery (yes, the same size as an Ultra), a microSD slot, and triple rear cameras, all for $349. It’s primed to be another successful budget-oriented phone.
The best Samsung phone is the one you can afford, or already have
In a time when phones change little year over year, the best Galaxy phone might be the one you already have in your pocket. The Galaxy S26 Ultra isn’t all that different than the last 2–3 Ultras. Consumers are also being more budget-conscious than ever, which means the Galaxy A-series will likely continue to top the charts, not the flagship S or Ultra phones.
On paper, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
