OnePlus 13 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The OnePlus 13 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are both premium Android phones, but they chase different goals. The OnePlus is the value flagship, undercutting the competition while packing a huge battery and the fastest charging around; the Galaxy is Samsung's no-expense-spared Ultra, with a stylus, more cameras and its newest chip. Both run Android, so this is a question of priorities rather than platform. Here is how they compare, drawn from independent expert reviews of each, with current UK prices.

At a glance

The OnePlus 13 (around £699.99) is the value champion: a big, bright screen, a class-leading battery with very fast charging, a flagship chip and a clean, quick version of Android — for hundreds of pounds less. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (around £1,129.00) is the maximalist: an S Pen, a four-camera system with long zoom, a privacy screen and Samsung's latest silicon. If value and battery life matter most, the OnePlus is hard to beat; if you want every feature, the Galaxy delivers.

Check the OnePlus 13 price on Amazon · Check the Galaxy S26 Ultra price on Amazon

Software and experience

Both run Android, but with different skins. The OnePlus 13 uses OxygenOS, long praised as one of the cleanest, fastest and most fluid versions of Android, complete with the handy Alert Slider for switching sound modes. The Galaxy S26 Ultra runs Samsung's feature-rich One UI, which adds the S Pen stylus and a deep toolbox. If you want the simplest, snappiest software, the OnePlus appeals; if you want the most features and a stylus, the Galaxy does.

Design and build

Both are large, premium phones. The OnePlus 13 weighs 213 g and is about 8.5 mm thick, built around a 6.82-inch screen, and this year it finally adds IP69 dust and water resistance. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is a similar size at 214 g, with a 6.9-inch screen and an integrated S Pen. Both feel high-end; the main practical difference is the Galaxy's stylus, which the OnePlus does not try to match.

Screen

Both use excellent large OLED panels at 120 Hz and 2K-class resolution. The OnePlus 13's 6.82-inch display is exceptionally bright, quoted at a peak of 4500 nits, though reviewers noted its everyday brightness can feel a touch conservative. The Galaxy's 6.9-inch panel peaks lower at around 2600 nits but adds a clever hardware privacy filter that stops onlookers reading your screen. Both are superb; the OnePlus claims the higher peak brightness, the Galaxy the neat privacy trick.

Performance

Both are extremely fast. The OnePlus 13 runs the Snapdragon 8 Elite with up to 16 GB of RAM and handles anything with ease. The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the newer Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a step up in raw power. In everyday use both feel instant; the Galaxy has a slight edge on the very latest silicon, while the OnePlus is no slouch and pairs its chip with generous memory.

Cameras

The Galaxy has the more ambitious camera system. It carries four rear cameras — a 200-megapixel main and three others including two telephotos — giving it the highest resolution and the longest zoom. The OnePlus 13 counters with a triple 50-megapixel setup tuned in partnership with Hasselblad: a main sensor, an ultra-wide and a 73 mm telephoto. In good light both take excellent photos; for outright zoom range and sensor resolution the Galaxy leads, while the OnePlus offers a strong, consistent triple system for far less money. Both also capture high-quality video, though the Galaxy's extra lenses give it more flexibility for framing and reach.

Battery and charging

This is the OnePlus 13's headline win. It packs a large 6000 mAh battery and charges at a blistering 100 W wired, plus 50 W wirelessly, so it lasts well and refuels in a flash. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery and 60 W charging — good, but well short of the OnePlus on both capacity and speed. If long battery life and quick top-ups are priorities, the OnePlus is the clear winner.

Price and verdict

At the time of writing the OnePlus 13 is around £699.99 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra around £1,129.00, so the OnePlus is far cheaper — a huge part of its appeal.

Buy the OnePlus 13 if you want flagship performance, a massive battery with the fastest charging, a bright screen and clean software, at a price that undercuts its rivals by hundreds of pounds. It is the value pick, and a very strong one.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the most complete, feature-packed phone: the S Pen, the four-camera system with long zoom, the privacy screen and the newest chip. It costs a lot more, but it does more. Both are excellent Android flagships; you are choosing between the OnePlus's outstanding value and the Galaxy's everything-included ambition.