Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung's best foot forward
Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra will undoubtedly be one of the best Android flagships in 2026. Leaks point to a slimmer and lighter design, new display tech, improved performance, and maybe even better cameras.
Pros
- Privacy Display feature looks promising
- New design should make it more ergonomic
- Will be supported for a long time
- Could have native Qi2 charging with built-in magnets
- Will have Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC
Cons
- Price could increase
- S Pen might ditch Bluetooth again
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max
The power of two
The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is basically a foldable — that doesn't fold. It has a massive Razr-Ultra-like display around the rear cameras that doubles as a viewfinder or a place to use widgets for calls, music, and more. It's pricey, but not as much as what the S26 Ultra might cost.
Pros
- Wild dual-screen functionality for a candy-bar phone
- Impressive main display
- Flagship Qualcomm chip
- Triple 50MP rear cameras
- Massive battery with very fast charging
Cons
- Only available in China (for now)
- Long-term OS upgrades not as lengthy as Samsung
