The Galaxy S26 Ultra ships with dozens of features disabled or poorly configured by default. Samsung made battery efficiency choices that sacrifice experience — the screen resolution defaults to 1080p, for example — and buried some of its best AI tools in unintuitive menus. This guide brings them all to the surface.
Display and privacy
1. Use Privacy Display only when you actually need it
Privacy Display is the S26 Ultra's headline feature: using the OLED panel's pixel matrix, it switches off the wide-spectrum pixels so the screen is only visible from directly in front. It works for specific apps, for password and PIN entry, and for notifications. The trick is not to leave it always on — it reduces brightness and contrast — but to toggle it from Quick Settings when you're on public transport or in a crowded space. Settings → Privacy Display.
2. Raise the screen resolution to QHD+
The phone ships at FHD+ (1080p) to save battery. To see the display at its full potential, go to Settings → Display → Screen resolution and switch to QHD+. If you notice faster battery drain, you can drop it back to FHD+ at any time.
3. Enable touch sensitivity under a screen protector
If you've applied a screen protector, the fingerprint reader can become unreliable. Fix it at Settings → Display → Touch sensitivity. Do this before re-enrolling your fingerprint for the best results.
4. Move Privacy Display to the top of Quick Settings
The S26 Ultra has one of the most customizable Quick Settings panels ever put on a phone. Move Privacy Display to the first slot so you can toggle it with a single swipe. Pull down Quick Settings → tap the pencil icon → drag elements wherever you want. You can also make sliders vertical and resize buttons.
5. Hide notification content on the lock screen
By default, message and email content is shown on the lock screen. To protect your privacy in public go to Settings → Notifications → Hide content when locked and change "Always show" to "Hide when locked".
Camera
6. Record in APV at 8K — Android's answer to ProRes
APV (Advanced Professional Video) is the S26 Ultra's exclusive professional codec, comparable to Apple's ProRes but royalty-free. Unlike Log, it doesn't flatten the tone curve — instead it captures higher bit depth, reducing banding and delivering sharper images. Enable it in the camera app with the APV button at the top of the screen, next to the Log option.
7. Use Horizon Lock for footage that's impossible to stabilize
Standard stabilization has limits. Horizon Lock goes much further: it uses the S26 Ultra's high-resolution sensors to crop and stabilize video in real time, even if you turn the phone completely upside down. You can shake it far more than any normal person would while recording and the result is still smooth. Enable it in the video options of the camera app.
8. Enable 200MP mode for maximum detail shots
The 200MP main sensor normally combines pixels to produce brighter images with better dynamic range. To capture full resolution — ideal for large prints or aggressive cropping in post — enable 200MP mode directly in the main sensor options.
9. Expert RAW: the Virtual Reflector feature almost nobody uses
In the Expert RAW app (available on Galaxy Store), open the Labs menu by tapping the flask icon. The far-left option is Virtual Reflector: it uses computational photography to mimic physical studio reflectors. Choose between Gold (warm, natural light) or Silver (bright, sharp light), and adjust angle, direction and intensity.
10. Night mode and astrophotography
The S26 Ultra's improved night mode captures sharper, less noisy images in low-light conditions. For astrophotography, there's a dedicated mode that requires a tripod and long exposure times to capture stars and the Milky Way in genuine detail.
11. Slow motion recording at 240fps
For ultra-slow motion capture, the S26 Ultra records at 240 frames per second. The result is high-quality slow-motion video for sports, nature or any scene with fast movement.
Audio and video
12. Audio Eraser on Netflix, YouTube and Instagram in real time
This is the feature that surprises new users most. Audio Eraser no longer only works on videos recorded with the phone: on the S26 Ultra it now extends to third-party apps including YouTube, Netflix, Instagram and Prime Video. While playing a video, pull down Quick Settings and enable the Audio Eraser tile. The system analyzes the audio, separates it into categories — voices, music, ambient noise, crowd — and you can adjust each one independently. To reduce stadium crowd noise during a match and hear only the commentators, or to boost dialogue in a series with low audio, it works in real time directly on the device.
13. Live captions for any video
The S26 Ultra can generate automatic real-time captions for any video you're watching, even in third-party apps. Particularly useful for videos in a foreign language or situations where you can't use headphones.
S Pen
14. Configure the S Pen to open Notes automatically when removed
By default, removing the S Pen opens the Air Command menu. If you take notes frequently, change this at Settings → Advanced Features → S Pen → Action when S Pen is removed → Create note. Saves two taps every single time.
15. Lock screen notes without unlocking the phone
Remove the S Pen with the screen off and you can write directly on the lock screen without unlocking the phone. Notes save automatically to Samsung Notes.
16. The S Pen as a remote camera trigger
With the S Pen out of its slot, use the pen's button as a remote camera shutter. One click takes a photo, holding it starts recording video. Useful for selfies or when the phone is on a tripod.
17. Air Actions: gesture controls without touching the screen
With the S Pen in hand, make gestures in the air without touching the screen to advance slides, change songs, browse photos or control compatible third-party apps. Configure it at Settings → Advanced Features → S Pen → Air Actions.
18. Math Solver: solve equations directly in your notes
Inside Samsung Notes with the S Pen, write any equation by hand and Math Solver solves it automatically. Works with algebra, basic calculus and equations with variables.
19. Sketch to Image 2.0: turn sketches into AI images
Draw a basic sketch with the S Pen and Galaxy AI converts it into an AI-generated image. Version 2.0 better recognizes simple sketches and produces results more consistent with the original drawing's intent.
20. Customize the S Pen insertion orientation
If you use a case with your S26 Ultra, the S Pen slot can end up in an awkward position. Change the insertion orientation at Settings → Advanced Features → S Pen so it works comfortably with any type of case.
Galaxy AI and productivity
21. Filter spam calls with AI before you answer
Enable the AI call screener at Settings → Apps → Samsung app settings → Call settings → Call screening. When an unknown call comes in, the AI answers on your behalf, asks who's calling and why, and transcribes the conversation on your screen. You decide whether to pick up — without having said a word.
22. Now Nudge: contextual suggestions in real time
Now Nudge analyzes what's on your screen and offers autocomplete suggestions and quick access to related apps. In a messaging conversation, it can surface your calendar or gallery with a single tap if it detects you need them.
23. Photo Assist: add elements to photos with AI
The 2026 version of Photo Assist doesn't just remove objects from photos — it can now add them. Open a photo in Gallery, tap the AI editing icon and select the add element option. Describe what you want to add in text and the AI generates it in context.
24. Creative Studio: create images and stickers with AI
From Settings → Galaxy AI → Creative Studio, type any description in text — "a giraffe wearing a beret holding an S26 Ultra" — and Creative Studio generates the image. You can also create personalized sticker packs based on your own photos.
25. Live Translate: real-time translation during calls
During a phone call, Galaxy AI can translate the conversation in real time. You speak in English, the other person hears in Spanish (or vice versa), and both see the transcription on their screens. Activate it from the active call menu.
26. Bixby as an LLM: control your phone with natural language
Bixby returned in the S26 Ultra with full LLM capabilities. You can ask it things like "lower brightness to 30%, enable do not disturb and set an alarm in 40 minutes" in a single instruction and it executes all three. It also has Perplexity integration for real-time web searches activated with "Hey, Plex".
27. Transcript Assist: transcribe and summarize audio recordings
Record a meeting, a class or any audio with the Voice Recorder app. Transcript Assist then automatically transcribes the audio, translates it if needed and generates a summary with the key points.
Battery and performance
28. Switch to the Light performance profile for better battery life
At Settings → Device Care → Performance Profile, choose between Light, Optimized and High Performance. The Light profile doesn't affect noticeable performance in everyday use but significantly improves battery life.
29. Filter background activity notifications
The semi-permanent "app running in background" notifications in the status bar are unnecessary for most users. Disable them at Settings → Notifications → Advanced settings → Filter notifications → Background activities.
30. Stop apps from opening links in their own in-app browsers
By default, many apps open links in their own internal browser instead of your real browser. To force all links to open in your preferred browser go to Settings → Apps → Default apps → Opening links and disable "Open links in apps". More control, less fragmented browsing experience.
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