Samsung Galaxy S26 announcement and owners

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#3468729 11-Mar-2026 12:03

Mine failed (S26 Ultra 1TB) after 3 days.

I got home after dinner, put it on my desk. Heard notification sound, went to check - display no longer functioned at all.

I went to see the local 2d store, couldn't do anything in store but they called up whoever (guessing the online store people??) and they sent me a courier bag which I've sent it back.

grantius

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#3468751 11-Mar-2026 12:38

SanchoNZ:

Mine failed (S26 Ultra 1TB) after 3 days.

I got home after dinner, put it on my desk. Heard notification sound, went to check - display no longer functioned at all.

I went to see the local 2d store, couldn't do anything in store but they called up whoever (guessing the online store people??) and they sent me a courier bag which I've sent it back.

Guess that's one way to get maximum screen privacy mode

Thorak

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#3468754 11-Mar-2026 12:43

What chargers are people using to take advantage of the slighter faster than snail 60w?

Thorak

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#3468755 11-Mar-2026 12:44

networkn:

I managed to get the S26U and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for a net cost of around $900 incl s24U trade in. Says ETA 30th of March though! Hopefully not.

Can really complain at that price can you, especially with the buds inclusion.

catspyjamas

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#3469211 11-Mar-2026 23:25

SanchoNZ:

Mine failed (S26 Ultra 1TB) after 3 days.

I got home after dinner, put it on my desk. Heard notification sound, went to check - display no longer functioned at all.

I went to see the local 2d store, couldn't do anything in store but they called up whoever (guessing the online store people??) and they sent me a courier bag which I've sent it back.

Woah. That's very concerning. Hopefully just a lemon & not something we'll be hearing other cases of.

catspyjamas

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#3469212 11-Mar-2026 23:43

Decided to upgrade from my S22U which has been an outstanding phone, & in many ways still performs & looks as new. However it's now on quarterly security updates & the battery life far from ideal.

Got an excellent deal on a white S26U 1Tb from Spark. Traded in a Note 9 & got the S26U for $1983.40 on an interest free 36mth term. Extremely happy with this, but it does mean I will not be able to buy a new phone for 36mths (this is fine - I update 4-5years usually), & it means I'm locked into a $75 or above plan with Spark for the same length of time (also OK with this).

Just hoping I'm at least as happy with it as I have been with my S22U. It's currently on order. Unsure when it'll get there; she said a week to ten days (6 days ago).

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#3469219 12-Mar-2026 05:12

Thorak:

What chargers are people using to take advantage of the slighter faster than snail 60w?

My 100w DJI drone charger does the trick. So does the laptop charger.

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AP's: 2x U6-Pro, 1x U6-Lite, 1x UK-Ultra, 1x AC Mesh Pro

Phone: S26 Ultra

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#3469305 12-Mar-2026 10:37

catspyjamas:

Just hoping I'm at least as happy with it as I have been with my S22U. It's currently on order. Unsure when it'll get there; she said a week to ten days (6 days ago).

I expect the S26U will blow your mind.

The S24 was a generational jump, the S25 was an decent upgrade, the S26 is pretty average as far as upgrades go, but from S22 (which I agree was an excellent phone) to the S26 should be quite eye opening.

catspyjamas

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#3469596 13-Mar-2026 00:40

networkn:

I expect the S26U will blow your mind.

The S24 was a generational jump, the S25 was an decent upgrade, the S26 is pretty average as far as upgrades go, but from S22 (which I agree was an excellent phone) to the S26 should be quite eye opening.

I hope so! The 6-10 days ETA has been changed to "hopefully in 3 weeks, but unsure at this stage". Looking forward to the extra battery life, flat screen, brighter display outdoors, improved speakers, & improved video recording. Not fussed on all the AI stuff, & any other camera improvements will be the icing on the cake. I will miss the Bluetooth functionality of the S Pen though. I used it more for it's BT functions that to write with. Tried taking some pics via my watch instead this afternoon to see what sort of alternative that is, but it wasn't such a good experience, as after a while the app will close on the watch, & you have to hit the right bit of the watch face else it thinks you're trying to change the focus lock somewhere. Also, it's not something I would wear with non-casual outfits.

I undid the S26U case I got & realised the camera lip may prevent it from being changed on any wireless charging pad I own, which is a bit of a nuisance. I have one of the old Samsung ones that has a flat pad & standing pad that allow for landscape or portrait viewing. It won't quite sit on either. Went to look at the new Samsung one with a triple set up for watch, buds, & a magsafe pad for the phone (the same one that is in one of the pbtech bundles), but then noted many the reviews for that charger said the phone charging bit was very hit & miss (buds & watch all fine).

Would like to hear from others about successful case & magsafe charging combinations with their S26 ultras! Also which cases come up over the height of the camera lens on that camera bump. Some look level with & some only a hair higher.

networkn

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#3469606 13-Mar-2026 08:42

So after 24 hours the biggest difference I notice is the absolutely obscene camera bump. It's the worst it's ever been for being stable on a flat surface which is how I use it. I have never used a case in my 25+ years of smart phone ownership, and I am not keen to start now.

Other than that, I don't see much difference.

amanzi

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#3469622 13-Mar-2026 10:20

networkn:

So after 24 hours the biggest difference I notice is the absolutely obscene camera bump. It's the worst it's ever been for being stable on a flat surface which is how I use it.

I ended up swapping my S25 for the new S26. My biggest annoyance is also the camera bump. I got the basic transparent case with the S26 order, but even with the case on I can't use this device flat on a table. Currently looking to get a different case that will hopefully make the bump less noticeable. Apart from that, not much difference from the old phone.

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SanchoNZ

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#3471178 17-Mar-2026 17:33

SanchoNZ:

Mine failed (S26 Ultra 1TB) after 3 days.

I got home after dinner, put it on my desk. Heard notification sound, went to check - display no longer functioned at all.

I went to see the local 2d store, couldn't do anything in store but they called up whoever (guessing the online store people??) and they sent me a courier bag which I've sent it back.

Update - 2degrees has had it longer than it actually worked for. No acknowledgement, no ETA.

networkn

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#3471181 17-Mar-2026 17:46

SanchoNZ:

Update - 2degrees has had it longer than it actually worked for. No acknowledgement, no ETA.

Excercise your rights to reject items not fit for purpose based on a significant and fundamental failure, and insist they immediately refund or replace. (Consumer Guarantees Act).

There is no reason to need to wait at all. It failed significantly, you are entitled to a timely resolution.

It should have been replaced on the spot, or at the least, a replacement arranged. If they couldn't arrange a replacement, you should have been offered a refund.

SanchoNZ

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#3471182 17-Mar-2026 17:57

networkn:

SanchoNZ:

Update - 2degrees has had it longer than it actually worked for. No acknowledgement, no ETA.

Excercise your rights to reject items not fit for purpose based on a significant and fundamental failure, and insist they immediately refund or replace. (Consumer Guarantees Act).

There is no reason to need to wait at all. It failed significantly, you are entitled to a timely resolution.

It should have been replaced on the spot, or at the least, a replacement arranged. If they couldn't arrange a replacement, you should have been offered a refund.

Yeah that is what I thought,

however in their words, i purchased it online it had to go back to the online store as the real stores are apparently not the same thing.

Unfortunately they have it, I've spoken to customer care about it who couldn't offer any useful information apart from yeah we have it.

I genuinely have no idea who to contact about it.

Linux

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#3471194 17-Mar-2026 19:35

@SanchoNZ Contact the actual Samsung service agent in Albany Auckland

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