Tom's Guide editor tests Galaxy S26 Ultra against Galaxy A17 in week-long comparison
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Apr 29
Tom's Guide editor tests Galaxy S26 Ultra against Galaxy A17 in week-long comparison
2 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Apr 29
Senior editor John used the $1,299 Galaxy S26 Ultra and then switched to the $199 Galaxy A17 for a week to assess their differences.
He found the A17 surprisingly offers 5G, a large screen, and six years of software support, but suffers from sluggish performance, short battery life, and weaker cameras compared to the flagship.
While the A17 delivers strong value for its price, the S26 Ultra's premium features and speed justify its higher cost for users who rely heavily on their phones.
Can the A17's budget hardware actually survive its six-year software support, or will performance fail first?
Beyond cameras and speed, what intangible benefits like 'peace of mind' justify the S26 Ultra's $1,100 price gap?
Is the S26 Ultra's new Privacy Display a game-changer for security or just a battery-draining gimmick?
How much daily frustration will the A17's slow processor cause for average social media and banking app users?
If a $200 phone gets six years of updates, is buying expensive flagships becoming a waste of money?
With AI editing, does the S26 Ultra's camera hardware matter less than its advanced software?