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| The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with numerous apps from Meta and Microsoft. |
If you’re planning to spend $1,299 on a new Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, you might want to set aside some time for digital spring cleaning as soon as you unbox it.
The latest flagship from the South Korean tech giant has officially hit retail channels, and early adopters are discovering that the premium price tag doesn’t guarantee a clean software experience. According to a recent report from Android Authority and corroborated by numerous user threads on Reddit, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is arriving with a significant amount of pre-installed third-party software—colloquially known as "bloatware."
Despite being one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, Samsung is apparently continuing the controversial practice of cashing in on partnerships with Meta, Microsoft, and other tech giants to fill the device’s storage before users even open the box.
The "Out of the Box" App List
Reportedly, purchasers of the S26 Ultra are finding no fewer than eight applications from three major third-party providers installed directly from the factory. While the exact selection may vary depending on the region where the device is sold, the initial batch of devices surveyed includes the following lineup:
- Meta: Facebook, Instagram
- Microsoft: Microsoft 365 (Copilot), OneDrive, LinkedIn, Outlook, Link to Windows
- Music Streaming: Spotify
While some users may find apps like Outlook or LinkedIn useful for work, the issue lies in the lack of choice. During the initial setup process, Samsung does not currently offer a "skip" or custom selection menu for these additions. Instead, the OS forces these applications onto the device, taking up space and clogging the app drawer immediately upon first boot.
Redundancy and Storage Drain
Beyond the sheer number of third-party apps, critics are pointing out the significant overlap in functionality. The S26 Ultra ships with two of nearly everything:
- Browsers: Samsung Internet vs. Google Chrome
- App Stores: Samsung Galaxy Store vs. Google Play Store
- Email Clients: Microsoft Outlook vs. Gmail
For a user who is deeply embedded in the Google ecosystem, the inclusion of Microsoft’s suite—or vice versa—creates confusion and digital clutter that the average consumer shouldn't have to manage on a brand-new, high-end device.
The storage impact is also staggering. Early estimates suggest that these factory-installed applications consume roughly 17 GB of internal storage right out of the box. That is on top of the approximately 24 GB already reserved for the Android operating system and Samsung’s One UI skin. Combined, a user is losing over 40 GB of the base storage model before they have taken a single photo or downloaded a single song.
Community Backlash and Privacy Concerns
The discussion has moved beyond mere annoyance. On social platforms, tech enthusiasts are raising flags about privacy and background data usage. A popular thread on Reddit, which you can view here, highlights a user's frustration upon receiving their S26 Ultra and immediately beginning the "debloat" process.
"S26 Ultra arrived today. Debloat time!" a user posted, sharing screenshots of the apps they were disabling before even setting up their home screen.
Furthermore, users on Reddit have noted that Samsung enables numerous background services by default. While some of these are tied to the device’s new on-device AI features—requiring constant server communication to function—others are less transparent. Given Samsung’s history of shipping devices with pre-installed services that have raised privacy concerns in the past, security-minded users are advised to dive deep into the system settings.
If you store sensitive work documents, financial data, or personal photographs on your device, it is highly recommended to audit the list of active applications. Disabling or restricting background data for services you do not intend to use can help mitigate unwanted data transfers to third-party servers.
Is There a Way to Clean It Up?
While you cannot permanently delete some of these system-integrated apps without rooting the phone (which voids the warranty), you can usually "Disable" them. This removes them from the app drawer and halts background processes, effectively freeing up system resources, even if the storage space remains technically reserved.
For those who have already purchased the device—or are considering picking one up via retailers like Amazon—managing these apps will be the first hurdle in the unboxing experience.
Have you received your S26 Ultra yet? What was the first app you disabled? Let us know in the comments below.