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Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 Ultra launches with the usual Ultra series promise: the biggest screen, the most capable cameras, and the most features in the company’s lineup. It also launches with prices that reflects that ambition ($1,299.99 to $1,799.99). That said, Samsung is running an early promotion from March 16 through April 20 that can soften the blow. Buyers can save up to $720 with an eligible instant trade-in credit, or get $150 in credit without a trade-in to use toward other eligible Samsung devices. The deal applies directly through Samsung’s store, where the phone is also available with configuration options for storage and color.
The S26 Ultra builds on the formula Samsung has refined over the past few years. The phone keeps the large Ultra-style display, now using Samsung’s newest OLED panel with a high refresh rate and a peak brightness designed to stay readable in direct sunlight. Samsung also introduced a new privacy display feature that limits viewing angles so people nearby cannot easily see what’s on your screen. That feature was introduced alongside the phone during the company’s 2026 Unpacked event, and it is aimed at commuters or frequent travelers who often use their phone in public places. Samsung is also leaning heavily on the camera system this year. As we covered in our earlier look at the S26 cameras, the company appears confident about improvements to image processing and zoom performance.
The Ultra line still targets people who treat their phone as their primary camera, and the hardware reflects that focus. Samsung built the S26 Ultra around a large multi-sensor camera system paired with its latest computational photography tools, aimed at users who regularly shoot photos, video, or social media content from their phone. But the device remains big and expensive even with discounts. Samsung raised prices across the S26 lineup this year, which we covered in our breakdown of the price increase. That makes the launch promotion more relevant for anyone already planning to upgrade from an older Galaxy device.