Galaxy S26 Ultra won’t be winning any awards for repairability

Source: Android Authority

Highlights

• iFixit teardown of the Galaxy S26 Ultra
• Back plate, battery, rear cameras, USB‑C port, etc. were easy to remove
• The display and selfie camera proved very difficult to service

Overview

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra was praised as one of the best Android phones of last year, but its repairability score was only 5 / 10 from iFixit. With the launch of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the question was whether Samsung had improved its design. iFixit’s recent teardown shows a mixed result: some components are straightforward to replace, while others are nearly impossible to service without damage.

Positive Repairability Findings

• Back panel – A simple heat application and a pick around the edges cleanly separates the rear glass.
• Battery, USB‑C port, rear cameras, and motherboard – Removal was described as “hassle‑free.”
• Power and volume buttons – Identified as “among the easiest buttons in the business to remove.”

Negative Repairability Findings

• Privacy display – iFixit could not remove the screen without breaking it, calling the repair path “one of the ugliest screen repair paths in a flagship phone.”
• Selfie camera – The module sits under the motherboard and is held with an excess of adhesive. The heat required to free it risks separating the lens from the sensor, potentially ruining the camera.

Repairability Score

Despite the improvements in component accessibility, the problematic display and selfie‑camera designs dragged the overall score down to 5 / 10, the same rating as the S25 Ultra. This contrasts with the more favorable assessment from JerryRigEverything’s teardown, which found the phone to be relatively repair‑friendly.