Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra tops Consumer Reports smartphone rankings
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung Electronics’ latest flagship smartphone has taken the top spot in the newest smartphone evaluation by the influential U.S. consumer magazine Consumer Reports, the company said Wednesday.
According to Samsung Electronics, the Galaxy S26 Ultra earned an overall score of 88 in the April rankings, securing first place on its own. The result marks the third consecutive year that the Galaxy S Ultra lineup has topped the magazine’s smartphone ratings, following earlier wins by the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra received perfect five-point scores in seven of the 10 performance categories, including display, camera rear image quality, battery and charging, durability and performance.
Consumer Reports described the device as “overall excellent, not only in performance, battery and camera quality but also in user convenience,” adding that “despite its large 6.9-inch screen, it maintained one of the longest battery lives tested at 51.5 hours.” It was the only device among the top 30 smartphones to receive a perfect score in the battery category.
In the latest ranking, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra tied for second place with 87 points. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max placed fourth with 86 points, matching the score of the Galaxy S25 Plus, Samsung’s premium model positioned just below the Ultra.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has also been named the best smartphone by seven major European consumer organizations, including the United Kingdom’s Which?, France’s Que Choisir, Italy’s Altroconsumo, Spain’s OCU, Portugal’s Deco Proteste, Belgium’s Test Achats and Sweden’s Rad&Ron.
Consumer Reports, the largest consumer goods magazine published by the American Consumer Federation, provides monthly comparisons of product performance and prices across a wide range of consumer goods and is widely regarded as highly credible.
Samsung Electronics is also ramping up global marketing campaigns centered on the Galaxy S26 series. In the United States, the device has been selected as the official smartphone of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, promoting experiences that connect athletes and fans through Galaxy technology. The company also staged a partnership celebration drone show in Philadelphia in March.
In the U.K., Samsung is emphasizing its privacy display feature, reflecting European consumers’ sensitivity to privacy in public spaces. The company said its survey found that 56 percent of Europeans have seen others’ smartphone screens in public places.