5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung’s latest flagship Android phone, is finally here. It has a slightly refreshed design, some new colors, and the impressive Privacy Display feature. It’s not the biggest upgrade we’ve ever seen, but the S26 Ultra is still a new Samsung flagship. For some people, that’s all that matters.

However, before you rush out and spend $1,300+ on Samsung’s latest, it’s worth considering your other options. The S26 Ultra is far from a bad smartphone, but there are a ton of other great Android handsets to choose from — many of which you’d probably be happier with.

Here are my picks for five other Android phones you should buy instead of the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

For many people reading this, the most sensible Galaxy S26 Ultra alternative is its predecessor: the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the S25 Ultra may no longer be the newest and flashiest Samsung phone, it delivers about 90% of the same smartphone experience as the S26 Ultra for less money.

Both phones have the same 6.9-inch AMOLED displays with the same refresh rate, resolution, etc. The S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra share the same camera setups, battery capacity, and RAM/storage amounts. Both phones also come with an included S Pen and Samsung’s One UI software with a seven-year update guarantee. In so many regards, these are effectively the same smartphones.

Of course, not everything is the same. The S26 Ultra has a newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and faster 60W wired charging. While the camera system is largely identical, the S26 Ultra has a much brighter primary and telephoto camera — likely resulting in better low-light photos. And only the S26 Ultra features Privacy Display, which hides the contents of your screen from prying eyes.

Are those nice upgrades? Absolutely. But they also aren’t game-changers. If you can find the Galaxy S25 Ultra at a nice discount — which should be very easy now that the S26 Ultra has arrived — I’d recommend saving a few hundred dollars and buying last year’s phone instead.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

The S25 Ultra is a great choice, but what if you aren’t fully committed to buying a Samsung phone? What if you’re open to a phone from another brand? In that case, I’d urge you to consider the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. At this point in 2026, the Pixel 10 Pro XL and Galaxy S26 Ultra are two of the top choices for a big, flagship Android phone. And if it were my money, I’d choose the Pixel 10 Pro XL every single time.

There are a few reasons for this, one of which is software. While Samsung’s One UI has its fans, I find Google’s Pixel software to be so much more enjoyable. Not only is the interface cleaner and easier to navigate, but Google’s Pixel-exclusive features — such as Now Playing and the various calling tools — are unmatched. And while both phones have a seven-year update guarantee, Pixels will always be updated faster than Galaxies.

And it’s not just the software that makes me prefer the Pixel 10 Pro XL. I think Google’s hardware design is a lot more stylish. I really love the Pixel camera experience, and the Pixel 10’s built-in magnets are a huge convenience that the S26 Ultra unfortunately lacks. Samsung has the upper hand with raw performance and charging speeds, but for what I value in a smartphone, Google is a much better fit.

To make things sweeter, the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s retail price is $100 less than the S26 Ultra, and you can often find it on sale, too.

OnePlus 15

On the flip side, let’s say software and cameras are less important to you, and instead you want a phone with the biggest and best specs possible — and you also want to spend a few hundred less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In that case, I think you’d be happy with the OnePlus 15.

Like the S26 Ultra, the OnePlus 15 also has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with your choice of 12 or 16GB of RAM. OnePlus’s 7,300mAh battery blows away the 5,000mAh battery in the S26 Ultra, and the OnePlus 15 delivers that much extra capacity in a design that’s a couple of grams lighter than the S26 Ultra. Charging speeds are better, too, with the OnePlus 15 supporting 80W wired and 50W wireless speeds. OnePlus also delivers a faster 165Hz display refresh rate and more durable hardware with four IP ratings (IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K).

Those monster specs come with a couple of catches. Although OnePlus’s OxygenOS 16 software isn’t terrible, it is more cluttered and less feature-rich than One UI. The OnePlus 15 is also promised just four years of major Android updates, and its camera isn’t as impressive as the S26 Ultra.

Those are big things to consider before buying the OnePlus 15, but the price really helps. At just $900, it’s $400 less expensive than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. For that much in savings and for the specs you’re getting, the OnePlus 15 might be a perfect choice for some of you.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The OnePlus 15 is a great deal compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but if you want to stretch your dollars even further, you should consider the Galaxy S25 FE. This is Samsung’s latest “value flagship” smartphone, and while it may not have all the same bells and whistles as the S26 Ultra, it’s also probably all the phone you really need.

The S25 FE’s 6.7-inch display isn’t as sharp or bright as the S26 Ultra’s, but it’s still an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Exynos 2400 chip is more than powerful enough for most people, battery life is great, and the 45W wired charging is solid, too. You also get Samsung’s One UI software in all of its glory, plus the same seven-year update policy as the S26 Ultra.

The Galaxy S25 FE’s cameras are fine for casual use, but the S26 Ultra is much better-equipped here. You also get a lot more RAM and storage with the S26 Ultra, and, paired with its more capable Snapdragon chip, it’s the best choice for hardcore power users. Then again, you’d expect that for a phone that costs $1,300.

By comparison, the Galaxy S25 FE retails for $650, and you can often find it for even less. Just a few days ago, it was on sale for a mere $450 — a whopping $850 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The S26 Ultra is undeniably a cooler and fancier phone, but for that significant a price difference, is it really worth it? I’d argue not.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

But let’s say you are comfortable spending $1,300 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra — whether because you have the money to burn or because you just have to have the latest and greatest tech. You could go ahead and buy the S26 Ultra, but why not spend just a little more for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 instead?

Although the Fold 7’s $2,000 retail price is more than “a little” pricier than the S26 Ultra, you can regularly buy the Fold for considerably less. At the time of publication, Amazon is selling a new Fold 7 for as little as $1,649. And as recently as a few days ago, it was down to $1,600.

If you can find a Z Fold 7 at a sale price like that, I think there’s a strong case for spending ~$300 more on it instead of the S26 Ultra. The S26 Ultra may be Samsung’s newest handset, but it’s still just a traditional slab phone that’s not all that different from Galaxy S Ultra releases of the last few years. By comparison, the Fold 7 is one of the most impressive foldables you can buy today — delivering an excellent phone and mini-tablet experience in one slim, lightweight package.

Foldables aren’t for everyone, but if you’re planning to spend a substantial amount of money on a new Samsung phone — and you’re OK taking the foldable leap — I think you’ll be much happier with a Fold 7 than an S26 Ultra.