Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Welcome back to RoXolid Productions! Today is a very special day in the studio—it is officially new glasses AND new cell phone day! After being an incredibly reliable daily driver for content creation and everyday use, it is finally time to retire our trusty Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We just picked up the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and I couldn't wait to get it out of the box, set it up, and see exactly what this new flagship Android device brings to the table. As someone who has always loved diving into the latest cell phone tech, bringing this hardware onto the channel is a big plus, especially since these flagship devices are essentially the backbone of how we capture and create content for all of you.
Design Changes & UI Setup
Let's talk about the initial setup and the physical hardware changes. Right out of the gate, the very first thing I did was install Nova Launcher. It has always been my absolute favorite Android launcher for keeping my home screen clean, organized, and customized exactly how I like it. Navigating the UI with Nova is overall very, very smooth, and the massive, vibrant display looks absolutely incredible for media consumption.
However, Samsung has made some noticeable physical design changes this year. They have significantly altered the camera hump on the back of the phone—it is now actually larger than the main chassis of the phone itself. It's a bold, chunky physical design choice that will definitely take some getting used to when holding it naturally or setting it down flat on a desk.
The S Pen Downgrade: A Step Backward?
Now, we have to talk about the S Pen, because this is where I ran into one of my biggest bummers with the S26 Ultra. Yes, it still docks nicely into the bottom of the phone, but Samsung has fundamentally changed how the stylus works. The S Pen is no longer Bluetooth-enabled. For a content creator, this is honestly kind of stupid. I used to rely heavily on that Bluetooth button to remotely start and stop my video recordings when I was filming by myself. Removing that wireless functionality feels like a massive step backward for productivity and camera control, and it's a huge letdown for the way I use my device.
Gaming & Emulation: Paired with the GameSir G8 Plus
But enough about the camera—how does this beast actually handle games? We are a gaming channel, after all! To test out the S26 Ultra's potential as a dedicated gaming handheld, we went ahead and connected our GameSir G8 Plus controller. The ergonomics of a good controller are absolutely crucial for long play sessions, and pairing this massive phone screen with a solid D-pad and responsive sticks is an absolute game-changer.
So can The Samsung S26 Ultra Play Nintendo Switch Games? We loaded up the Eden emulator and Super Mario Bros wonder and man, does this look and sound great!! I did notice a tiny bit of lag initially during the capture, but I am very confident that once I get in there and fine-tune the emulator settings, we can speed things up and get that perfectly smooth performance we expect for retro gaming. I
Next, we booted up some classic Altered Beast (because it has been far too long since I've played some Altered Beast!) to see how the emulation actually handles the hardware. Overall, the game looks and sounds fantastic on this display. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra definitely works great as a modern, high-end emulation station!
What Do You Think?
This is definitely a slightly different sort of video for the channel, taking a break from the standard console hardware to look at mobile tech. But mobile gaming and emulation are massive parts of the modern retro experience!
I want to hear from all of you! What ecosystem are you currently rocking? Are you a dedicated Android user, or are you firmly planted in the Apple ecosystem? And if you are an Android fan, did you happen to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for yourself? Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments!
#SamsungGalaxyS26Ultra #GalaxyS26 #Samsung #Android #MobileGaming #GameSirG8Plus #RetroGaming #Emulation #RoXolidProductions #TechReview #NovaLauncher #AlteredBeast #Smartphone
Welcome back to RoXolid Productions! Today is a very special day in the studio—it is officially new glasses AND new cell phone day! After being an incredibly reliable daily driver for content creation and everyday use, it is finally time to retire our trusty Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. We just picked up the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and I couldn't wait to get it out of the box, set it up, and see exactly what this new flagship Android device brings to the table. As someone who has always loved diving into the latest cell phone tech, bringing this hardware onto the channel is a big plus, especially since these flagship devices are essentially the backbone of how we capture and create content for all of you.
Design Changes & UI Setup
Let's talk about the initial setup and the physical hardware changes. Right out of the gate, the very first thing I did was install Nova Launcher. It has always been my absolute favorite Android launcher for keeping my home screen clean, organized, and customized exactly how I like it. Navigating the UI with Nova is overall very, very smooth, and the massive, vibrant display looks absolutely incredible for media consumption.
However, Samsung has made some noticeable physical design changes this year. They have significantly altered the camera hump on the back of the phone—it is now actually larger than the main chassis of the phone itself. It's a bold, chunky physical design choice that will definitely take some getting used to when holding it naturally or setting it down flat on a desk.
The S Pen Downgrade: A Step Backward?
Now, we have to talk about the S Pen, because this is where I ran into one of my biggest bummers with the S26 Ultra. Yes, it still docks nicely into the bottom of the phone, but Samsung has fundamentally changed how the stylus works. The S Pen is no longer Bluetooth-enabled. For a content creator, this is honestly kind of stupid. I used to rely heavily on that Bluetooth button to remotely start and stop my video recordings when I was filming by myself. Removing that wireless functionality feels like a massive step backward for productivity and camera control, and it's a huge letdown for the way I use my device.
Gaming & Emulation: Paired with the GameSir G8 Plus
But enough about the camera—how does this beast actually handle games? We are a gaming channel, after all! To test out the S26 Ultra's potential as a dedicated gaming handheld, we went ahead and connected our GameSir G8 Plus controller. The ergonomics of a good controller are absolutely crucial for long play sessions, and pairing this massive phone screen with a solid D-pad and responsive sticks is an absolute game-changer.
So can The Samsung S26 Ultra Play Nintendo Switch Games? We loaded up the Eden emulator and Super Mario Bros wonder and man, does this look and sound great!! I did notice a tiny bit of lag initially during the capture, but I am very confident that once I get in there and fine-tune the emulator settings, we can speed things up and get that perfectly smooth performance we expect for retro gaming. I
Next, we booted up some classic Altered Beast (because it has been far too long since I've played some Altered Beast!) to see how the emulation actually handles the hardware. Overall, the game looks and sounds fantastic on this display. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra definitely works great as a modern, high-end emulation station!
What Do You Think?
This is definitely a slightly different sort of video for the channel, taking a break from the standard console hardware to look at mobile tech. But mobile gaming and emulation are massive parts of the modern retro experience!
I want to hear from all of you! What ecosystem are you currently rocking? Are you a dedicated Android user, or are you firmly planted in the Apple ecosystem? And if you are an Android fan, did you happen to pick up a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for yourself? Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments!
#SamsungGalaxyS26Ultra #GalaxyS26 #Samsung #Android #MobileGaming #GameSirG8Plus #RetroGaming #Emulation #RoXolidProductions #TechReview #NovaLauncher #AlteredBeast #Smartphone
