Galaxy S26 Ultra is already a winner in my book, thanks to Samsung's rumored move

 Samsung killed the Galaxy Note 20 back in 2020, but it has only now begun letting go. For years, the S Ultra has been defined by the Note, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra is poised to break free from the shadow of that device, allowing it to truly shine on its own.

Don't get me wrong, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the raddest phones around. It was the first S series handset to start distancing itself from the Note. Not only did it have a less angular design, but it also reduced emphasis on the S Pen stylus.

Note loyalists always knew that the S Ultra was no Note, but it took Samsung more than five years to fully acknowledge that. The company has begrudgingly admitted that the Note formula cannot be replicated.

Galaxy Note didn't suffer from impostor syndrome

The Galaxy Note's success was rooted in its clear identity as a productivity powerhouse. It wasn't courting everyone willing to spend top dollar on a phone. Instead, the device only targeted those who valued serious tasks and multitasking above anything else.

The Galaxy S Ultra, on the other hand, is a general-purpose flagship that's lacking in character. Niching down is important, though, which is perhaps why the Galaxy S26 Ultra is carving out an identity of its own. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely support the S Pen, it may switch to different tech to make space for Qi2 magnets. The phone's successor may ditch the digital pen altogether.