Anyone who is still using the Galaxy S21 Ultra in 2025 might be doing so because they never agreed with the direction Samsung took with the Galaxy S22 Ultra in 2022. Some Galaxy S fans never embraced the fact that the best S-series phone essentially became a Note in disguise.But judging by leaks, next year, long-time Galaxy S21 Ultra users might get a lot closer to what they've always wanted. An Ultra sequel with stronger S-series design characteristics is just around the corner, and although not a true spiritual successor, it could be good enough.What design cues made the Galaxy S21 Ultra what it was?We could summarize the key design points that defined the Galaxy S21 Ultra as a true S-series phone in four lines. The phone had:A bold camera housing.Round corners.Curved edges and frame.No dedicated S Pen holster. Now, granted, the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra might not be the perfect spiritual successor. It will still feature an S Pen holster. And it might be (and feel) wider. Its front and back panels, along with its frame, will most likely be flat.But it at least appears to tick two out of four boxes. It may have a bolder camera housing rather than just camera rings, along with softer, rounder corners. That's the best S21 Ultra owners got so far.Besides, the S Pen seems to play a smaller role than ever for the Galaxy S Ultra series, now that Bluetooth S Pen features no longer exist. So while an S Pen holster is still there, the S Pen itself might not get the same attention as it once did. The S27 Ultra might even remove the holster. Leaked Galaxy S26 Ultra case render. But getting back to the 2026 model, beyond its shape and design, the S26 Ultra will leave the S21 Ultra in the dust. You can be certain that the upcoming flagship will boast more power, faster storage, a much brighter screen, better cameras, faster charging, newer firmware, superior build quality, better speakers, and more.All in all, even though the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra might not be the perfect S Ultra sequel for all those patient Galaxy S21 Ultra owners who have hoped for a return to form, it might be close enough to be good enough. Need a new phone? Browse Samsung Black Friday deals Samsung Shop The post The Galaxy S26 Ultra might reward all you patient Galaxy S21 Ultra users next year appeared first on SamMobile.