Samsung’s Galaxy Ultra line used to feel like the Android phone for people who wanted the biggest, most serious slab in the room. Big display, squared-off Note energy, built-in S Pen, no-nonsense productivity flex — memang ada identity.
But based on Android Authority’s latest reader poll, a lot of Galaxy fans feel that Samsung has started sanding off the edges too much.
The poll followed an opinion piece arguing that the Galaxy S24 Ultra might be the last Galaxy Ultra that truly carried the old Note spirit. The main complaint was not just specs, but personality. The S24 Ultra still had that sharp, boxy silhouette that made it instantly recognisable beside the regular Galaxy S models. The newer Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra, according to the article’s argument, look softer and closer to the rest of the family.
In other words: the Ultra is still expensive, still powerful, still very Samsung — but maybe not as “Ultra” as before.
Fans are not subtle about it
Android Authority says thousands of readers voted, and the result was pretty one-sided. Nearly 79% of respondents agreed that the Galaxy S26 series now looks too similar across the lineup. Only 13.5% felt the Ultra design is simply evolving, while just under 8% believed the Galaxy S Ultra phones never had a strong identity in the first place.
That says a lot. For many Android fans, the Ultra name is not just about having the best camera or fastest chip. It is supposed to be Samsung’s power-user phone — the spiritual successor to the Galaxy Note line.
And yes, the S Pen came up a lot.
One of the biggest pain points in the comments was Samsung removing Bluetooth features from the S Pen. Some readers said they are still holding on to older models like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S24 Ultra, or even the Note 20 Ultra because those phones still feel more complete to them. Others specifically mentioned the older shape and Bluetooth stylus as reasons they are not rushing to upgrade.
For Malaysian users, this hits differently because Ultra phones are not casual purchases. These are premium flagship devices with premium Malaysian pricing, often costing more than a gaming laptop or a full console setup. If you are dropping serious RM money on an Ultra, you want it to feel special — not just like the biggest version of the normal S-series phone.
Samsung may not be worried, though
Here is the funny part: complaints online do not always translate into weak sales.
Android Authority notes that the Galaxy S26 series reportedly broke preorder records in South Korea, hitting 1.35 million units in one week. Even more telling, the Ultra made up 70% of those preorders. Samsung has also reportedly increased production plans for the S26 Ultra in May.
So while longtime fans may miss the old Note swagger, Samsung probably looks at the sales chart and thinks, “okay, people still buying lah.”
That is the tension here. Enthusiasts want the Ultra to be bold again — wider, boxier, more distinct, with the full S Pen experience. Samsung, meanwhile, seems to be chasing refinement, comfort, and a more consistent design language across its flagship lineup.
Some readers did defend the newer direction, saying models like the S25 Ultra are better overall and that refinement matters. A few also said the camera is the main reason they would upgrade anyway. Fair enough — cameras are still a huge flagship battleground, especially for creators, travellers, and anyone shooting food, events, or cosplay at places like Comic Fiesta and AniManGaki.
But the bigger message from the poll is clear: Galaxy Ultra fans do not just want a powerful phone. They want a phone with presence.
For SEA buyers, especially in Malaysia where flagship upgrades are a major spend, that identity matters. If Samsung wants the Ultra to keep feeling like the king of Android, it may need to bring back some of that old Note-style attitude — not just another polished glass rectangle with better cameras.
Source: Android Authority