Second day impressions of Samsung’s flagship smartphone are much better than the first. I found the somewhat reduced antiglare coating to be more than sufficient, combined with auto-screen brightness, for using the device outdoors on another sunny San Diego afternoon.
The S26 Ultra feels better in the hand than its predecessor. Differences are subtle but noticeably pleasing. So far, battery life is exceptional. I started setup around 12:30 p.m. PDT yesterday. That process, which can continue for many, many hours, is a notorious battery drain. Yet, at around 7:30 p.m. tonight, when I decided to recharge for the first time, battery level was still about 30 percent.
The camera got a simple street shot test, and I am most satisfied by the final result. While walking about the neighborhood, I spotted the big bear along Alabama Street. The Featured Image is the first photo taken with Galaxy S26 Ultra. May there be thousands more. Vitals: f/1.4, ISO 64, 1/5000 sec, 23mm (film equivalent); 1:34 p.m.