Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra surprised in a merciless durability test! The display seems indestructible

The transition from a titanium frame to an aluminum one is among the less visible changes of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra compared to last year’s S25 Ultra. Less visible, but potentially important – titanium is a harder material, and its absence logically raises questions about durability. YouTuber PBKreviews answered them with his traditional drop test and subsequent phone teardown.

Display holds, camera doesn’t

The phone was repeatedly dropped from head height onto bare concrete. The display protected by Gorilla Armor 2 remained intact after all drops – without cracks, without damage to the touch layer. Corning’s protective glass did an excellent job and confirmed that Samsung’s investment in a more durable front panel makes sense.

The aluminum frame made of Armor Aluminum 2 material sustained cosmetic scratches and dents – according to the test, slightly deeper than on the titanium frame of the S25 Ultra, but without structural damage. The fourth drop even ejected the S Pen from its slot, but the pen remained fully functional.

The camera module proved to be a minor issue. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a more prominently protruding camera island with a smaller protective bezel around individual lenses. Already on the second drop onto its back, the glass in front of the 5× telephoto lens cracked. The third drop completely shattered it. Despite this, the phone remained fully functional – the display, touch, calls, and other cameras worked without problems.

Almost unchanged inside, but with better cooling

PBKreviews also published a teardown video showing the internals of the S26 Ultra. The component layout is almost identical to last year’s model, and the disassembly process is the same. However, Samsung added more thermal paste around the motherboard, which should improve heat dissipation under load – a definitely welcome change for a phone with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.

The vapor chamber has also been redesigned; although it has the same size as in the S25 Ultra, its shape has been slightly modified. The overall repairability score remained at 9 out of 10 points – an identical result to last year’s model.

Aluminum instead of titanium: a problem, or not?

The drop test essentially shows that the transition from titanium to aluminum is not as dramatic as it might seem. The frame withstands drops solidly, only sustaining more visible cosmetic marks. The true Achilles’ heel of the S26 Ultra lies elsewhere – in the design of the camera module, which this year is more exposed and vulnerable, regardless of the frame material.

For most users who carry their phone in a case, this will be irrelevant. However, anyone planning to carry the S26 Ultra without a case should at least invest in a case with camera protection. Otherwise, the first unplanned contact with the pavement could cost more than just nerves.

How do you like the Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Source: PBKreviews