The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, recently launched by Samsung Electronics, has undergone a durability test to see how well it holds up against accidental drops. Popular tech reviewer PBKreviews performed his signature drop test and teardown to evaluate the durability and repairability of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone.
The test revealed that while the Galaxy S26 Ultra can survive several drops and remain functional, it does experience some visible damage during the process.
Aluminum Frame Raises Durability Questions
One of the biggest design changes in the Galaxy S26 Ultra compared to its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, is the switch from a titanium frame to an aluminum frame.
Titanium is known for its superior strength and durability, so the change to aluminum naturally raised questions among tech enthusiasts about whether the new model would be less resistant to physical damage.
The S26 Ultra also introduces more rounded corners and a slightly more exposed camera island compared to last year’s model. These design differences could potentially affect how the phone absorbs impact when dropped.
Strong Glass Protection
Despite the frame change, Samsung continues to use premium protective materials on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The smartphone features:
- Corning Gorilla Armor 2 protection on the front display
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back panel
These materials are designed to provide better scratch resistance and impact protection during everyday use.
What Happened During the Drop Test?
During the first drop test, the Galaxy S26 Ultra landed on one of its corners. The impact caused visible damage to the aluminum frame, particularly on the left corner. However, the display remained intact and fully functional.
The second drop caused more serious damage. This time, the glass covering the 5x telephoto camera lens cracked after hitting the ground.
By the third drop, the lens glass was completely shattered, and additional scratches appeared around the frame of the device. Despite this damage, the phone itself continued to work normally.
Overall, the device proved to be durable enough to survive multiple drops, although it performed slightly worse than the previous model in similar tests.
Inside the Galaxy S26 Ultra
In addition to the drop test, PBKreviews also released a detailed teardown video of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The teardown provides a closer look at the internal design and components of the smartphone.
Interestingly, the internal layout of the phone appears very similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The disassembly process is nearly identical, suggesting that Samsung has maintained a familiar internal structure.
However, there are a few small improvements.
Improved Thermal Management
Samsung appears to have added more thermal paste behind the motherboard, which helps improve heat dissipation during heavy usage such as gaming or video recording.
The teardown also revealed a redesigned vapor chamber cooling system. While the vapor chamber is roughly the same size as the one used in the S25 Ultra, its shape has been slightly modified to improve heat distribution across the device.
These improvements help keep the phone cooler during intensive tasks.
Repairability Score
One of the most positive aspects of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is its repairability. According to the teardown analysis, the smartphone received a 9 out of 10 repairability score.
This score is the same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, meaning the device remains relatively easy to repair compared to many other modern smartphones.
Components such as the battery, display, and internal modules can be accessed using a similar process to last year’s model.
Final Thoughts
The Galaxy S26 Ultra proves to be a durable and well-engineered flagship smartphone, even though the switch to an aluminum frame makes it slightly more vulnerable to damage compared to the previous titanium design.
While the device suffered some cosmetic damage and a broken camera lens during the drop test, it remained fully functional throughout the experiment. Combined with strong glass protection and a high repairability score, the Galaxy S26 Ultra continues Samsung’s tradition of building reliable premium smartphones.
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