Misjudged First Impressions of the Galaxy S26 Ultra
When I first saw the specifications of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, I felt a bit disappointed. Although the faster charging speed was exciting, the use of the same 5,000mAh battery as the previous model made me assume the user experience wouldn't be much different. However, after several months of using this device, I have to admit I was wrong. The Galaxy S26 Ultra offers exceptional battery endurance, one of the best I've ever experienced.
A User Experience That Changed My Opinion
I initially did not intend to spend much time with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, only to test One UI 9. I hoped the device's screen would be brighter, and I was quite satisfied with the camera on my Pixel 10 Pro. However, after experiencing battery drain issues on my Pixel, I decided to switch to the S26 Ultra until Google released a fix. Or more precisely, if Google releases a fix.
Even though my Galaxy S26 Ultra runs a beta version of One UI 9, the device was able to accompany me throughout the day without worry. In fact, I didn’t need to charge the phone overnight. After a full day of use, I left the phone unplugged overnight and still had nearly 50% battery after 5 hours and 37 minutes of screen-on time. I continued using it until 7 PM on the second day, something I had never done with any other phone before.
Impressive Battery Endurance
I spent two days working from home on Wi-Fi, yet the S26 Ultra still delivered impressive performance on busy days. The phone lasted through long trips using wireless Android Auto, streaming music over data, and using GPS for navigation, and I still had more than 35% battery left when I went to bed.
While these numbers can’t be taken as absolute benchmarks, I realize my usage differs from others. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has outperformed almost every Android phone I’ve used before in terms of battery life.
Efficient Charging Speed
Besides the impressive battery endurance, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s charging speed is also commendable. Although 60W is not as fast as some competitors, this charging speed is much better compared to Google’s products and what Samsung has offered in the past. Charging on the S26 Ultra is quite fast. In one test, I plugged in the phone at 30%, and in less than 20 minutes, the battery reached 68%.
Conclusion: Galaxy S26 Ultra Is More Than Just an Update
I used to consider the S26 Ultra an ordinary update, and I’m sure many others thought the same. But I was wrong. After using this device, I experienced the best battery life to date. Even when my Pixel didn’t have battery drain issues, I found it hard to go back to a phone without battery endurance this good.
Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/i-was-wrong-galaxy-s26-ultra-battery-3679891/
