In brief: Samsung and Apple continue to lead the pack when it comes to global smartphone sales, but the tech giants are at the bottom in the area of phone repairability. Samsung fared slightly better than its rival with a score of D (E being the lowest), while Cupertino managed a D-.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung refining rather than reinventing its flagship formula. Reviewers are positive about the excellent cameras, a Snapdragon processor that benchmarks neck-and-neck with Apple's latest, and the standout Privacy Display. Faster charging, improved low-light photography, and Super Steady video round out an update that moves the needle without raising the price.