The Pros and Cons of itel S26 Ultra (Super 26 Ultra)

In 2024 and 2025, more people are talking about itel. The brand dares to sell phones with premium-style features at low prices. One of the most popular ones is the itel S25 Ultra, released at the end of 2024.

The phone became famous because it cost around USD 150 but gave more than what people expected for that price. After that, itel released the next version, the itel S26 Ultra, which is said to be better and more complete.

Compared to the S25 Ultra, the itel S26 Ultra clearly brings improvements. In this article, I will line out the pros and also the cons of this phone.

But before we begin, I want to tell you that this phone is known by two names; itel S26 Ultra and itel Super 26 Ultra. For this article, I will use “itel S26 Ultra” to keep it simple.

Pros of itel S26 Ultra

The name S26 Ultra can be a little confusing because it sounds similar to a Samsung flagship phone. However, if we ignore the name, this phone has many interesting features. Let’s take a look at some of the good things of the itel S26 Ultra.

1. 144Hz 3D-Curve AMOLED Display

The screen is one of the best features of the itel S26 Ultra. It uses a 6.78-inch 3D-Curve AMOLED screen with 1.5K resolution. Actually, the resolution is not exactly 1.5K. The real screen resolution is 1080 x 2400 pixels, also called Full HD+. The phone reaches 1.5K through software adjustment, not hardware.

Even so, the screen is still great. It shows sharp colors and clear visuals. It also gives a smooth experience when scrolling or playing games. The refresh rate is 144Hz, which is very fast. It also adjusts automatically depending on the app you are using. This helps save battery life when a high refresh rate is not needed.

itel claims that the screen can reach a brightness of 4500 nits. This means you should be able to see the screen clearly under bright sunlight. But in some tests, the screen only reached around 2000 nits. Still, this is quite bright for a phone in this price range.

Another great thing is the Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection. This makes the screen stronger and more resistant to scratches or damage.

The 3D curved screen on the left and right sides makes the phone look more premium. It also feels nice when you hold it. I think this design is very impressive, especially for a phone at this price.

Usually, phones under USD 150 do not have a curved AMOLED screen like this. That’s why the itel S26 Ultra gives a better experience when watching videos or playing games. It really feels more exciting and different from other phones.

The screen also has an AI Rainproof Touch feature. This makes it easy to use even when the screen is wet. It’s helpful for people who live in rainy areas or who often do activities outdoors. It also helps prevent wrong touches on the screen when it is wet, so you can still use the phone properly in these situations.

2. Long-Lasting 6000 mAh Battery

Today, many smartphones already come with a 6000 mAh battery. A few years ago, 5000 mAh was considered large, but now it is more common. But still, having a big battery doesn't always mean the phone will last long. The system must also use power efficiently.

In the itel S26 Ultra, the Unisoc T7300 chipset is built using 6-nanometer technology. This chipset works well with the 6000 mAh battery. As a result, the phone can last around 1.5 to 2 days with normal use like browsing, watching videos, using social media, or chatting.

Even though some phones in the same price range offer 6000 to 7000 mAh, the way this phone combines battery and chipset makes it more efficient.

There is also a bypass charging feature that helps reduce heat during charging. itel also says the battery can stay above 80% health for up to four years, which makes it a good long-term choice.

3. Premium-Looking Design

The itel S26 Ultra has a design that looks like a premium or flagship phone. It has a matte finish on the back and a vertical camera layout that reminds people of expensive Samsung phones.

Although the phone uses plastic, the matte surface and shiny frame make it feel solid and strong. It doesn’t look or feel cheap. Many people might even think this is a high-end phone.

Even with a big battery, the body is only 6.8 mm thick. That is quite slim and impressive for a phone with this size of battery.

For protection, the itel S26 Ultra has an IP65 rating, which means it is safe from dust and low-pressure water spray. It also has TitanShield technology that helps protect the phone if it falls from up to 1.5 meters.

The phone includes modern security features like an under-display fingerprint scanner and face unlock, so users can unlock their phone quickly and safely.

4. Fast Performance with UFS Storage

For performance, the itel S26 Ultra uses the Unisoc T7300 chipset, built with 6nm technology. It has two fast Cortex-A78 cores running at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores for power saving at 2.0 GHz. It also comes with a Mali-G57 MP2 GPU at 950 MHz for graphics.

I have explained this chipset in another article. Its performance is almost the same as Helio G99 and is close to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. In AnTuTu v10, the phone scores around 490,000 to 510,000 points. In AnTuTu v11, the score goes up to nearly 700,000.

For everyday use, this phone works smoothly for light tasks and casual games like Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, and apps like TikTok. It has 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and fast UFS 2.2 storage, with a choice of 128 GB or 256 GB space.

Based on several reviews and tests, the Unisoc T7300 is one of the best 4G chipsets in the budget phone category. It competes with other chipsets like the Helio G99, G100, and G200.

5. Good Camera with Stabilisation and Dual Video Features

The itel S26 Ultra has a strong camera setup for its class. On the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a large f/1.5 aperture, and a 2 MP macro camera. On the front, there is a 32 MP selfie camera.

One of the phone’s best features is its video recording. Both the front and rear cameras can record up to 2K resolution (1440p) at 30 frames per second. To reduce shaking in videos, itel includes a video stabilisation feature called Ultra Steady. It turns on automatically and works with both front and rear cameras.

There is also a High Frame Rate (HFPS) mode at 1080p resolution. However, this mode doesn't record at 60 FPS. It usually records at a variable rate between 40 and 50 FPS. Another interesting feature is Dual Video, which lets users record from both front and back cameras at the same time.

To support creativity, itel includes several AI tools inside the AI Studio in the gallery. The AI Eraser helps remove unwanted objects from photos quickly. Other features like AIGC Portrait and AI Sky Enhancer can automatically improve your pictures.

In good lighting, the main camera produces sharp photos with nice colors. The 32 MP front camera is also great for selfies to give clear and natural results. The AI Beautification helps you look your best in video calls or social media.

You can also try different modes like Night Mode, Pro Mode, Panorama, and Slow Motion for more creative photos and videos.

6. Modern Software: Android 15 and itelOS 15

The itel S26 Ultra is not only good in terms of hardware. It also runs on Android 15 with the latest itelOS 15.1.2. This is impressive because it is still rare for budget phones to come with such a new version of Android.

itelOS 15 gives users a clean and light interface. It has several features like personalisation tools, gaming mode, a dynamic bar, and an AI-powered assistant. These make the phone easier and more enjoyable to use, especially for people who often use social media and productivity apps.

One of the best things about itelOS 15 is the use of AI features. These tools are helpful and go beyond what other phones in the same price range usually offer.

Some of these smart features include live phone call translation, tools to summarize meeting recordings or documents, photo editing tools, and AI subtitles that can translate video content. There are also two digital assistants, Sola and Gemini.

Another nice software feature is Always On Display (AOD). But this needs to be activated first by tapping the screen when it is dim or off.

7. Complete Sensors: With NFC, Gyroscope, and Infrared Blaster

The itel S26 Ultra has a functional NFC feature. You can use it to check or top up e-money cards. It also works with special accessories that come as a bonus with the phone.

One example is the DIY Digital Case, which is included in the box. This special case uses E-Paper technology and shows images sent through NFC using the IRM app. The images will stay on the case screen without using the phone’s battery.

The phone also includes other useful features like an in-display fingerprint scanner and an infrared blaster, which lets the phone act as a remote for TVs or air conditioners. This is especially helpful when your regular remote is missing.

For daily use, itel includes all the basic sensors such as:

• Accelerometer, for automatic screen rotation
• Proximity sensor, to turn off the screen during phone calls
• Ambient light sensor, to adjust brightness based on lighting
• Compass, for navigation and maps

Gamers may also like the hardware gyroscope. This is a real physical sensor, not a virtual one, so it gives more accurate and faster response. It helps make games feel more real and exciting.

Cons of itel S26 Ultra

The itel S26 Ultra isn't a perfect phone; it certainly has its inherent flaws. What are those shortcomings? Check out the points below.

1. Slow Charging Speed

One downside of the itel S26 Ultra is its slow charging speed. The phone only supports 18-watt charging, which feels a bit disappointing, even though the battery itself lasts quite long.

With this speed, charging the 6000 mAh battery can take more than 2 hours to reach 100%, based on some tests. This may feel too slow for users who need faster charging in their daily routine.

2. No 3.5mm Audio Jack and No MicroSD Slot

Following the trend of flagship phones, the itel S26 Ultra does not have a 3.5mm audio jack. This may not be a problem for users who use wireless earbuds, but it can be annoying for people who still use wired earphones or affordable audio devices.

Even more disappointing is the lack of a microSD card slot. Many users in the budget segment still use microSD cards to store photos, videos, or other data. Without this slot, users must rely only on the phone’s internal storage.

3. Mono Speaker only

Another weakness of this phone is its audio quality. The itel S26 Ultra only uses a single speaker at the bottom, so the sound feels average.

While this is not a big issue for everyone, it is worth mentioning because many other phones in the same price range already have stereo speakers, which give better sound for music, games, and videos.

4.  No Clear Information About 1.5-Year OS Update

The itel S26 Ultra comes with a new version of Android. However, the company has not clearly stated if the phone will get a major Android update in the future.

itel has only said that the S26 Ultra will receive 1.5 years of updates, but it is unclear if these are just security updates or full system (OS) updates. This lack of information may be a concern for users who want long-term software support.

5. No Support for 5G Networks

This is something users may need to consider carefully. It would've been great if the itel S26 Ultra could support 5G networks, but the chipset only supports 4G LTE. So, this phone cannot connect to 5G.

Conclusion

The itel S26 Ultra gives users a lot of great features for the price. It has a beautiful 144Hz curved AMOLED display, a powerful 6000mAh battery, smooth performance for daily tasks, and useful features like NFC, infrared blaster, and a hardware gyroscope.

However, there are also some points to think about. The 18-watt charging is quite slow, there is no 3.5mm audio jack or microSD slot, and the phone only supports 4G. The promise of software updates is also not clear, whether it will include full Android updates or just security patches.

Even with these weaknesses, the itel S26 Ultra is still a good choice for people who care about a great display and long battery life. I recommend this phone for users who enjoy watching videos, using social media, and casual gaming. But if you need 5G support or faster charging, you may want to consider other options.