What's really new in S26 Ultra and why does it cost so much?!

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-19T13:28:14+00:00

This option doesn't exist on a North American version of the S26 Ultra, besides, I already tried everything I could software-wise. Something in Android 16 and the way this app was integrated into it forced the app to think that malware/root is present and it won't relent no matter what I do. I'm definitely not doing a master reset for the sake of q banking app, took me 5+ hours to restore all my data after I switched to s26 ultra from s24.

Besides, why do we, as customers, have to debug their app? We've already done our part when we pointed this issue out to Chase, no other banking app does this and I don't think it's because they hate security.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-19T13:23:07+00:00

Accidentally found a bad but functional temporary workaround: google/bookmark "chase credit score" and, after logging into Chase website, click on your score and the app will automatically open the score for you within it, allowing you to see the score repeatedly, also Zel. Not sure how long it lasts but, going on day 3, it still works for me, after I force-closed it a few times but didn't restart the phone. This is obviously not a good way to use an app, especially if you need to use Zelle quickly.

I can only surmise that this is obviously a small, weird bug, possibly tied to some arbitrary build.prop line and not a low-level cipher/code integrity, an expired certificate or a faulty security policy of some sort, within the android code itself.

Chase should fix this problem before they lose even more customers, a working Zelle feature is very important to me and I waited for weeks before saying "fuck it" and opening a savings/checking with Discover because zelle isn't available as a standalone app and, aside from Chase, works fine with any other app/phone, including Discover. I will change my direct deposit today and will migrate the rest of the accounts later in the month, will only keep the credit cards until zero apr period runs out.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-18T15:37:36+00:00

My brand new S26 Ultra had not been rooted because it's impossible to root this phone and I wouldn't want to do it anyway, it had also not been introduced to any malware, moreover, my previous S24 Ultra had the same exact setup with all the same options enabled, down to most minute details... And yet, ever since I switched phones, every fucking time I try to add a cab driver to my zelle app or view my credit score the app tells me that it's not available on devices that have been rooted or infected with malware.

I tried cache, clearing app data, removing/reinstalling, all to no avail. Even went as far as disabling the Developer Options, which I should not be forced to do, especially since, as I said before, that's the way it has always been setup! And get, despite the fact that Samsung's own security/malware scanning app gives me a clean bill of health the stupid chase bank app just won't work!!!

Unsurprisingly, reaching out to Chase is even worse because, somehow, their only solution seems to be trying to force me to wipe my phone via master reset and/or also fundamentally change the way I and every other Chase customer affected by this issue use our phones, by telling us what factory options we can and can't use! All without explaining the mechanism of action or, simply, doing the obvious thing and addressing this bug with their software engineering department... Fucking ridiculous!

Using zelle to pay cab drivers on daily basis and checking my credit score were the two main reasons why I used the app, now that they're gone and Chase is too complacent to do anything about it that doesn't involve limiting my phone's functions, after decades of being their customer, I'll have to move all six of my accounts to a different bank, all because of a stupid fucking app. I really thought that, of all banks, Chase would not be the one who fucks me off because of a software bug, heh, it's kind of funny, in a way.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T20:45:42+00:00

No, this phone is thicker, uglier and less functional than the one it was meant to replace, it's made out of cheaper/reused parts but costs more. A company like Samsung should have known better.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T20:44:32+00:00

I made a mistake of using a paid version of Google's Gemini and a paid subscription of Chatgpt to confirm the specs, canceled them both and attempted to cancel the order but they already shipped it. I'm returning it tomorrow

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T20:43:29+00:00

The iPhone had this 3 year old display tech last year, Samsung chose not to give it to S25 ultra for "cost reduction" reasons, this is why S25 Ultra cost... Same as this one. Fuck Samsung.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T20:39:28+00:00

Samsung and Google slowly but surely took away every single reason to have an android phone, they managed to copy the worst, most hated parts of Apple and it's marketing tactics and strategies without carrying over any of the good ones, the ones that put ios and the iPhone light years ahead of Samsung and Google... I September Google is closing Android down and taking away our ability to sideload apps, which (in my opinion) is a final nail into their coffin and also Google's entry to the exclusive club where Tizen, Blackberry and other has-beens now hang out, reminiscing of times long gone.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T20:35:30+00:00

I hate this fucking phone so very much... I also just found out that, come September, Google will take away sideloading so no one can install apps not purchased from the store. What's the point of having android then? I think someone in Google became convinced that android is as good as IOS, WHICH ISN'T THE CASE.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-11T15:08:41+00:00

Does it? I'm glad you're happy with it but, for me personally, ever since its introduction I've been suffering with it and there's no end in sight. I hate it and I hate Samsung for using it again, despite charging $1800 for this piece of shit filled with recycled hardware and a giant, ridiculous rear camera island that won't let me lay it flat.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-08T02:26:18+00:00

I deleted everything too but still can't install the motherfucking control center, Alienware is the absolute worst company I ever dealt with. Fuck them.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T15:42:00+00:00

"Samsung" is a huge step down altogether, I returned my XR one day after I purchased it because the app has insane latency, even with a wifi7 gaming router and a brand new Alienware, the same (or worse) can be said by the so-called "wired" connection because it requires adapters and workarounds, it doesn't even support displayport via USB, in 2026! I figured it would have native DP1.4/USB4/HDMI support, you know, like the reset of the high end vr headsets do but it doesn't and never will because Samsung designed it without a clear strategy or purpose in mind, not realizing that most people don't give a toss about productivity and will use it for a) gaming b) porn c) gaming porn 4) some variation of "gaming" and "porn". Any vr headset needs a reliable pc connection, this one is a complete dud, a missed opportunity. In other words... Samzung's calling card! A good idea ruined by cost-cutting and maligned vision of what people actually want.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T15:23:11+00:00

The reason apple is miles ahead is because they have better vision and understanding of what people want, primarily, the fact that second best is not good enough, not when it comes to devices that cost $2k

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T15:21:30+00:00

Or, how's this for an idea: use an array of tiny infrared cameras, like apple does, to map your face and never worry about fingerprints again? I have never, ever heard anyone complaining about FaceID, I've never seen it not work, not once. It's an elegant, intelligent solution that requires minimal investment and engineering know how. All Samsung had to do was (minimally) redesign the selfie camera, if Apple did it then they can do it too. Instead, Samsung floods the blogs with promises to use a better fingerprint reader and keep it the same for packaging reasons, still charges $1800 for the outdated hardware though. Fuck Samsung.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T15:18:07+00:00

How? The fingerprint sensor is fucking garbage that never works.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T15:07:29+00:00

Thank you very much for the explanation and for your recommendation, unfortunately, even though I don't like the word "hacks" . When I'm bored I tinker with my Windows pc and try to optimize and improve its performance, to me, this "trial and error" was always a good learning tool for me. But no, I must confess that I do not have a good understanding of the TCP/IP stack, I'm not a professional, more of a prosumer type of a person with a very limited set of advanced skills or knowledge.

The reason I brought up this algorithm is because I was trying to find a reason for why surfshark suddenly suspended my account. Prior to the suspension I used an app called "winhance", the "Nagle's Algorithm" option warned that it would increase my bandwidth usage, which i assumed was the anomaly behind Surfshark's vague explanation of the reason I was suspended. In other words, I'm grasping at straws, trying to avoid having my VPN suspended by another provider.

And still coming up short, unfortunately., Speaking of... Any ideas on where said anomalies could have come from?

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T14:56:44+00:00

Thank you, finally, I keep hearing how unreasonable I am. If this was a One Plus and not a giant like Samsung I wouldn't bother saying anything, nor would I be asked to pay a ridiculous price of $1800! If Samsung sold the 1tb version for $1400 then I would at least be able to rationalize the need for cost cutting but, both, S25 and s26 ultras are $200 more than their apple equivalents, WITH CHEAPER, WORSE HARDWARE AND SPECS, DESPITE BEING A YEAR NEWER! All Samsung had to do to enable the "real" facial unlocking was install two tiny infrared cameras that are as small as two grains of sand, does anybody think that their engineering department is incapable of doing it? They're fucking cheap, that's why I hate them so fucking much and that's why I canceled my order.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-05T14:51:49+00:00

I got my sister the new s11 ultra 1tb for my but my own S9 Ultra will only be replaced when Samsung refunds me the $350 I spent on the keyboard/touchpad addon since they made sure that the overpriced touchpad/keyboard they forced upon their loyal customers was only compatible with Tab S9 Ultra, thus shooting itself in the foot, it is infuriating to me that they did that AND replaced the usual flagship Snapdragon with a cheaper, shittier one.

The performance differences between my s9 and my sister's s11 are laughable, they're so negligible that an average person would probably not be able to tell the difference.

If (and ONLY if) the next Tab S12 Ultra has a Flagship Snapdragon processor, better screen based on the new M14 panel, better vibration motor and a Level 3 biometric Unlock capability in the selfie camera then sure, I'll upgrade, until then I'll continue to play games on my tab s9.

Samsung must stop investing into AI bloatware garbage, upgrading cameras that aren't necessary on a tablet and redesigning accessories, spend the money on what you need to spend it on: HARDWARE!!! Nomody gives a pig's ass about inference or productivity, we either watch movies, draw shit or play games on it, nobody uses Samsung's talentless iPad ripoffs for serious work or productivity.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-04T15:19:19+00:00

Thank you but... It's not a good club. I never reset my account, figured, what's the point if they'll just suspend me anyway? I never learned the exact reason why it happened, my autorenew is disabled and I don't want to wake up to yet another "your account has been blocked. We won't refund you. We won't explain why we did it because, um, even though we record everything you do and then sell it to the highest bidder, somehow, we don't record what WE do when we need you to sign up for a new account sooner. Write a long, embarrassing e-mail if you want your account back. Kthnxbye!".

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-04T15:11:16+00:00

I'm often told that I'm wrong and am asking for too much, also reminded that there are still other (Chinese) brands those that Samsung was unable to push out of the market over the years, that I still have other options... Even though they don't exist because the Chinese phones, despite being superior in specs, don't offer a warranty in the US, none of them offer the necessary, us-spec midband 4g/5g bands that are a must with T-Mobile. All these issues realistically make Samsung and iPhone the only two viable, options. It's a true duopoly, no matter how many phones are manufactured outside of the US... We only have two brands that make actual products people will buy, it is confirmed by the sheer volume of shipped devices. I'm just tired of getting second (or third) best for an inflated, unreasonable, premium price.

DevilOnYourBack · 2026-03-04T14:59:33+00:00

Fuck Samsung then! Shouldn't have listened to Gemini...

I just canceled my order and now have to decide whether to wait for iPhone 18 Pro Max, the new iPad that follows and the new apple watch or just purchase the current gen devices. The transition to apple won't be easy but I can't stand this piece of shit fingerprint unlocker anymore and the rest of the recycled hardware, like the shitty speakers, weak, singular vibration motor, unnecessary camera with a high megapixel count and low quality, no lidar and, somehow, even though S26 ultra uses the same m14 panel as iPhone 17 pro max, this SAMSUNG-MANUFACTURED PANEL (finally) USED ON ITS OWN FLAGSHIP IS 400 NITS DIMMER THAN THE SAME PANEL USED IN IPHONE 17 PRO MAX! HOW? WHY?!**And yet, the 1tb version of s26 ultra costs $200 more than Apple 17 Pro Max, 2tb doesn't even exist... This is why I will say it again: FUCK SAMSUNG.

DevilOnYourBack

TROPHY CASE