The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has arrived with plenty of fanfare.

While Samsung’s latest flagship tries to reinvent the wheel with a privacy screen, a lighter and thinner design, and other goodies, my Galaxy S24 Ultra proves that you don’t need to upgrade every two years.

When you factor in a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, boxy design, long-term software policy, and a premium Titanium build, the case for upgrading to Galaxy S26 Ultra starts to crumble.

Here is why the Galaxy S24 Ultra is still the superior daily driver and why the S26 Ultra is an easy skip for me this year.

The boxy design still screams premium

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a statement piece for power users

In my hands, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still feels like a statement piece, whereas the S26 Ultra has started to feel like a generic compromise.

That boxy silhouette is the DNA of the Note legacy, and in 2026, it remains the only phone that looks like it belongs to the big leagues.

By rounding off the corners to make the phone more ergonomic, Samsung has stripped away the very thing that made the Ultra stand out in the crowd.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra now shares the same softened, organic curves as every mid-range A-series phone or entry-level flagship on the market.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t trying to be comfortable for everyone; it’s built to be a tool for power users, and the design is exactly why it still feels more expensive and purposeful two years later.

The software update situation is strong

The Galaxy S24 Ultra gets bragging rights on updates

One of the strongest arguments for sticking with my Galaxy S24 Ultra is the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s software commitment.

When I bought this phone, it launched with the Android 14-powered One UI 6.1 skin. Since then, my S24 Ultra has already received two major OS updates. The best part is that this journey is barely getting started.

Because of the seven-year update promise, I know my device is guaranteed to receive every major version all the way up to Android 21.

While the S26 Ultra might be the new kid on the block, my S24 Ultra is receiving the same core security patches and many of the same One UI features that the newer models brag about.

The performance and camera setup are still excellent

The Galaxy S24 is a beast

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in my S24 Ultra remains a beast in 2026. Whether I’m multitasking between heavy work apps or running the latest mobile titles, I have yet to find a ‘lag’ that justifies a $1,300 exit strategy.

The camera story is much the same. My 200MP main sensor continues to capture excellent detail, and the quad-lens setup still feels like the most versatile kit in any pocket.

Sure, the S26 Ultra introduced a wider aperture for better low-light shots and other video tricks, but my S24 Ultra is already a low-light champion.

Overall, I don’t feel like I’m holding old tech.

A downgraded S Pen and build material

The Galaxy S24 is a tank with an awesome stylus

When looking at the Galaxy S26 Ultra, I’m seeing a step back from the luxury and utility that make the S24 Ultra so special. In two very specific ways, the new model is actually a downgrade.

First, let’s talk about the build. My S24 Ultra feels like a tank thanks to that Titanium frame. It has a high-end heft and a textured finish that just feels indestructible.

Samsung used Armor Aluminum on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While Samsung will tell you it’s for thermal management or weight reduction, the reality is that titanium is a superior, more premium material.

Then there is the S Pen. My S24 Ultra has a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, which means I can use it as a remote shutter for my camera or a clicker for presentations.

On that S26 Ultra, that Bluetooth functionality is simply gone. It’s been replaced with a passive stylus that can only write and draw.

Galaxy S26 Ultra is underwhelming

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the same battery power

Make no mistake, the new Privacy Display is a genuine, game-changing innovation that solves real-life problems. The ability to hide your screen at a hardware level is the kind of tech that will move millions of units for commuters and office workers.

But here is the reality for a freelancer like me: I work from home. My office is my quiet home desk, where the only person peeking at my screen is my two-year-old son.

For my lifestyle, that headline feature is a solution to a problem I simply don’t have.

When you strip away Privacy Display, the S26 Ultra starts to feel underwhelming. Under the hood, we are looking at the exact same 5,000mAh battery size that I already have in my S24 Ultra.

While the new chip is technically more efficient and powerful, it’s not giving me the multi-day revolution I was hoping for.

Don’t trade in your S24 Ultra yet

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is an impressive piece of tech, but ‘new’ doesn’t always mean ‘necessary.’

When I look at my Galaxy S24 Ultra, I don’t see a two-year-old phone; I see a Titanium-built powerhouse that still defines what a premium flagship should be.

Upgrading just for the sake of the number on the box feels like a step back, especially when it means trading premium materials for aluminum and a boxy identity for something less distinct.

My S24 Ultra was built to last, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually going to let it.

It's not an overhaul by any means, but even small changes like (finally) swapping back to a flat touchscreen and seven years of system updates help the Galaxy S24 Ultra stand apart from its predecessors. Galaxy AI's suite of features are front and center, as well as Google's latest utilities like Circle to Search, and this AI craze even brings its magic to the Ultra's cameras for after-the-fact super slo-mo.