What the Galaxy S26 Ultra Speed Test Measures
A Galaxy S26 Ultra speed test that compares Samsung’s latest flagship against five earlier Galaxy S Ultra models is a benchmark-based analysis of how generational upgrades in processors, memory, and software translate into real-world performance across demanding and everyday tasks. PhoneBuff’s in-depth run pits the Galaxy S21 Ultra through Galaxy S26 Ultra in a standardized app-opening and workload loop, timing how quickly each phone completes the same tasks. The goal is to see whether on-paper improvements like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and refined cooling in the S26 Ultra lead to meaningful speed gains, especially in AI and graphics-heavy operations. For readers, this Galaxy S Ultra benchmark offers a clear, practical way to judge smartphone speed improvements, revealing not only which generation is fastest, but also how big the performance gaps are between each step in Samsung’s flagship line.
Benchmark Results: Six Galaxy S Ultra Models, One Winner
PhoneBuff’s results show a clear ranking across the six phones, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra finishing the test in 4 minutes and 42 seconds, ahead of the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 4 minutes and 52 seconds. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in at 5 minutes and 1 second, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra records 6 minutes and 28 seconds. Older models stretch further: the Galaxy S21 Ultra completes the run in 6 minutes and 53 seconds, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra in 6 minutes and 56 seconds. The smallest deltas appear among the three most recent generations, where even demanding tasks differ by fractions of a second. According to Wccftech, “the Galaxy S26 Ultra being the unsurprising victor of this gauntlet with a 10-second victory over the Galaxy S25 Ultra” highlights how Samsung has raised the performance ceiling without massive RAM changes.
Why the S26 Ultra Pulls Ahead: Chipset, RAM and AI Workloads
Despite most Galaxy S Ultra models sticking with 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and upgraded GPU give it a clear edge in the latest tests. The phone widens its lead in heavy workloads, especially when running AI models that stress both CPU and NPU performance. Wccftech notes that earlier devices like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra are held back by older chipsets and less capable cooling systems, even though they share the same RAM capacity. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is an interesting outlier: it carries 8GB of RAM, yet still comes close to its 12GB siblings thanks to a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Taken together, these results show that modern smartphone speed improvements in Samsung’s flagships now hinge more on silicon and thermal design than on simply adding more memory.
Generational Performance Jumps: Where Upgrades Matter Most
Looking across five generations, the biggest leap in the Samsung flagship performance comparison appears between the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra, where total time drops from 6 minutes and 28 seconds to 5 minutes and 1 second. That improvement continues with the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 4 minutes and 52 seconds and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at 4 minutes and 42 seconds, but gains become smaller and more incremental. By contrast, the older Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra sit close together near the 7-minute mark, reflecting how early Snapdragon 8-series chips and less refined cooling struggled under sustained loads. This pattern suggests that users on the S21 Ultra or S22 Ultra will notice a stronger jump in responsiveness, AI processing and app load times, while those already on the S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra will see more subtle refinements rather than dramatic changes.
Should You Upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
Whether the Galaxy S26 Ultra is worth it depends on how old your current Galaxy S Ultra is and how you use it. If you own a Galaxy S21 Ultra or S22 Ultra, the roughly two-minute gap in total test time indicates a clear real-world benefit: smoother multitasking, faster photo processing and quicker AI-enhanced features. Galaxy S23 Ultra owners will see improvements, but the smaller gap may not justify an immediate upgrade unless you frequently push your phone with heavy gaming or AI workloads. For Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra users, the Galaxy S26 Ultra speed test shows only modest time savings, measured mainly in seconds. These refinements still matter for power users chasing every possible edge, but everyday performance will feel similar. Future models, likely with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and possibly 16GB of RAM, may offer a larger step up again.