Oppo A38 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Oppo A38 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: MediaTek Helio G85 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 5000mAh vs 5000mAh battery…
Oppo
Oppo A38
$699
2categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
9categories won
2 categories tied · 13 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Oppo A38, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Oppo A38 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes battery honors offering 5,000 mAh alongside 60W charging.
Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.
Oppo A38 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1299.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Oppo A38 vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.56" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 269 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 720 nits | 2400 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G85 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | — | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 260,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 1390 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | — | 16 GB |
| Maximum storage | — | 1TB |
Camera
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | — | 200 MP |
| Rear cameras | — | 4 |
| Optical zoom | — | 5x |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP | 12 MPWinner |
| Max video | 1080p@30fps | — |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 33 W | 60 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | No | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 190 gWinner | 214 g |
| Thickness | 8.2 mm | 7.9 mm |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP68 |
| Build | — | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 13 (Upgradable to 14, ColorOS 14) | Android 16 |
| OS updates | — | 7 years |
| Security updates | — | 7 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Oppo A38 | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | — |
| Storage expansion | microSD | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $1,299 |
Oppo A38
Oppo A38 brings 33W flash charging rarely seen in the ultra-budget class, coupled with a 50MP AI camera, 90Hz sunlight screen, and IP54 dust and splash resistance.
- Display
- 6.56"
- Chipset
- MediaTek Helio G85
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
- Software
- 13 (Upgradable to 14, ColorOS 14)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a premium 6.9-inch flagship built for power users and creators. Priced at $1299, it pairs a heavily upgraded Snapdragon processor and 60W charging with a versatile quad-camera array and the signature built-in S Pen stylus.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Main camera
- 200MP
- Battery
- 5,000mAh