topic Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade? in Galaxy S26

Unhappy up..downgrade?

hoohqck — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:54:11 GMT

Is it just me that feels like the screen on the s26 ultra feels like a downgrade from the s21 ultra??? Like, none of the new features seem really useful to me. Never used privacy display, reflection on the screen never bothered me, actually I used it as mirror sometimes. And square-ish designs doesn't feel fit for social media watching. Specially when scrolling on Facebook. And the punch hole for the camera is too big. And the worse part, i use glasses and i can definitely tell the screen has a really lower pixel density compared to the s21 ultra.

Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

IC0N — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:01:25 GMT

I know what you mean entirely. I came from S21 to the S25 Ultra. I still have my S21 Ultra luckily because I waited so long I just got a different model with lower storage and gave them that and kept them when I had. But I do like the more square because the S26 is more round in the Nest25. Believe it or not. Just because it gives you more screen. And I know you don't use the privacy screen but it is useful. However I agree with what you're saying for the things that you're complaining about and noticing. That's why I didn't move from this phone to that phone which is a shorter jump than what you did but I was you last year because I wanted to do the picture stuff and the sorry the camera and video better and it's way better way better for low light too. I'm not a photographer I just like to use it a lot and also the AI features four pictures helps tremendously but I also have 12 different apps because everything does a different interpretation of whatever you're trying to accomplish. But I digress maybe you should try to get it back unless it's been too long and wait till everything is maybe perfected a bit more in the S27 or or upgrade to let's say the S24 although those are sharp edges cameras better stylus has more functionality and you have a stylus. So you might want to think about that if it's doable but I totally understand what you mean and I agree just trying to give a different perspective or some help.

Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

meself — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:03:18 GMT

You're saying ghe screen is less bright or less detailed on the s26 ultra vs the s21 ultra

Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

hoohqck — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:06:44 GMT

Samsung thinks looking at the screen from 12 inches you won't notice it only has 498 pixels, but you can definitely tells. Specially when you come from a phone that has a ppi of 516 pixels and no extra layers on the screen. So even if brightness is higher on the s26 ultra, it doesn't look as sharp as the s21 ultra.

Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

meself — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:09:37 GMT

Not heard that comparison before

Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

Robin621k — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:15:23 GMT

The difference between 498 vs 512 is virtually impossible to distinguish to the naked eye.

Go to settings, display and make sure QHD+ is turned on. Check fonts too, they may be differnt.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

Robin621k — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:23:27 GMT

Virtually impossible to see the difference between 498 vs 516 PPI.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

meself — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:29:43 GMT

Not sure i agree with statement on s21 ultra being better display

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

Robin621k — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:31:11 GMT

Neither do I.

Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

Tom6068 — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:39:46 GMT

@hoohqck If it feels like a downgrade, I would send it back for a refund if still within the return window. From a PPI density perspective, visual acuity has limits and anything above 400ppi is impossible to discern. Perhaps what is noticed could be the pixel grid structure, in which some people can detect as a texture/font clarity issue as some people can detect that.

Also curious about the square-ish corners comment. The S26U actually has more rounded corners than the S25U, closer to the S21U shape. Is it possible that is from a form factor or how it sits in the hand?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

hoohqck — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:38 GMT

Nope, I'm very confident in what I'm saying. And it's 516 not 512. And although isn't much of a difference, when you add all this extra layers, it does make it look different

Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

Dunnie — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:42:43 GMT

I personal think what they are noticing is the colors aren't as saturated as the 21 ultra. Those were way more saturated punchy colors. They started going away from that on the 24 ultra to more natural colors not as colorful.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Unhappy up..downgrade?

shockey0710 — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:26:44 GMT

Exactly. It's the layering you're seeing. Not the ppi. You're eyes ain't that good if you're a human being I proved this out back when 4k came out. People still don't believe me 😊