Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra has appeared in hands-on photos and videos ahead of its official launch, revealing a surprisingly thick camera bump and new display features despite minimal sensor changes.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has surfaced in the wild four days before its official Galaxy Unpacked debut, with tech YouTuber Sahil Karoul purchasing a white unit in Dubai for approximately $3,300. The early appearance provides our first real-world look at Samsung's latest flagship, revealing some unexpected design choices and hardware configurations.
The hands-on images show the S26 Ultra being compared directly with its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, as well as Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Vivo X300 Pro. This side-by-side comparison immediately highlights one of the most surprising aspects of the new device: its camera bump appears significantly thicker than the already substantial module on last year's model.
This thickness is particularly noticeable in the side profile view, where the camera module protrudes prominently from the phone's body. What makes this design choice unexpected is that Samsung reportedly made minimal changes to the sensor hardware compared to the S25 Ultra. The company has instead focused on improving the optics, making them noticeably faster, which typically wouldn't necessitate such a dramatic increase in camera bump size.
Another interesting detail revealed in the hands-on photos is the apparent change in the periscope telephoto camera's shape. The module has transitioned from a rectangular design to a round configuration, though the practical implications of this change remain unclear at this early stage.
Beyond the camera system, Sahil Karoul has also uploaded an initial hands-on video focusing on what appears to be the S26 Ultra's most significant upgrade: its display. While specific details about the new display features weren't elaborated in the initial report, this suggests Samsung has prioritized screen technology improvements for this generation.
The early appearance of the Galaxy S26 Ultra in Dubai raises questions about Samsung's launch strategy and regional release timing. The fact that the device is already available for purchase in some markets, albeit at premium prices, indicates either a coordinated early release or potential supply chain leaks that have allowed certain retailers to get units ahead of the official announcement.
For consumers considering the upgrade from the S25 Ultra, the visible changes appear relatively modest from an external perspective. The camera bump redesign and display improvements seem to be the primary hardware updates, with the internal specifications and performance enhancements yet to be fully revealed.
The comparison with competing devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Vivo X300 Pro provides valuable context for understanding where Samsung positions the S26 Ultra in the current flagship smartphone market. These direct comparisons will likely become even more relevant once the official specifications and pricing are announced during the Galaxy Unpacked event.
As the official launch approaches, these early hands-on images and videos offer a tantalizing preview of what Samsung has in store. The combination of a thicker camera bump despite minimal sensor changes, the redesigned periscope module, and the focus on display upgrades suggests a device that prioritizes refinement and specific feature improvements over radical redesign.
The tech community will undoubtedly scrutinize these early reveals closely, analyzing every detail to piece together the complete picture of Samsung's 2026 flagship strategy before the official unveiling.
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