'This is a gimbal inside a smartphone' — Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Super Steady Horizontal Lock really can handle a 360-degree turn
Go ahead, spin it
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While everyone is buzzing about Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's impressive Privacy Display, I'm currently losing my mind over the upgraded Super Steady with Horizontal Lock video mode. It's essentially a digital gimbal inside your smartphone.
As advertised by Samsung and announced during Galaxy Unpacked in February 2026, this new mode, an upgrade from the previous motion-control Super Steady mode, can lock your video to a smooth, horizontal plane, even if you turn the camera a full 360 degrees.
Better yet, the feature doesn't require post-processing; you simply choose the setting, start shooting your subject, and move the camera as needed. The S26 Ultra's gyroscope and accelerometer track all movement, and then some clever, real-time image processing applies corrective adjustments to the video.
That all sounded pretty good, but I was anxious to try it out and, to be honest, it would be part of my final Galaxy S26 Ultra review, anyway.
I also wanted to be able to show the world proof that this works. You see, if I just shoot the video on the S26 Ultra while moving the camera all around and then upload it, all you'll see, I think, is smooth, horizontally correct video.
To prove this works, I set up my iPhone 17 Pro Max (which has its own "Action" video setting for motion control) on a tripod and made sure the Galaxy S26 Ultra was in full view. I filmed the S26 Ultra as I captured the Super Steady Horizontal Lock video.
As I filmed, I turned the S26 Ultra from side to side. Then I rotated it 180 degrees and finally spun it 360 degrees, all while shooting video.
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To show the results, I combined the clips from the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the footage from the Galaxy S26 Ultra into a single, incredible TikTok.
The results are really shocking. I'm not saying the video doesn't move at all. It bounces around a little, but never tilts left or right, let alone turns over, even though I did turn the phone upside down.
Compare this to the iPhone 17 Pro Max's Action video setting, which is adept at smoothing out bumpy video, but if I turn the camera left, right, or tip it nearly 180-degrees, that is reflected in the final video.
I still have a long way to go in my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review process, but the results of this test are undeniably impressive.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 deals in the US
Samsung Galaxy S26: get up to $900 off with a trade-in, or $150 credit at Samsung
Looking for an unlocked device? Look no further than Samsung's excellent opening deal on the Galaxy S26 series. Available right now is an impressive trade-in rebate of up to $900 off - a discount that can result in a seriously cheap phone. Alternatively, if you're not looking to trade, then you can instead get up to $150 in store credit today - a very handy little bonus indeed for cheap accessories on the side.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: free with a new unlimited line, plus free tablet at T-Mobile
T-Mobile's strongest opening offer has to be the carrier's deal on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Impressively, you don't even need to trade-in to be eligible for here, although you do need a line on the higher-end Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans. If you're looking for a cheaper line, then you can instead get the standard Galaxy S26 on the Experience More or Go5G Plus plans without having to trade. And, as a side note, you can also bundle in a Galaxy Tab A11+ for free if you take out an additional tablet cellular line.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: free with a new unlimited line at Verizon
My favorite deal at Verizon today is on the Galaxy S26 Plus - a device that's currently available for free if you pair it up with either the high-end Ultimate or mid-tier Plus plan. More interested in the Welcome Unlimited plan? Then you can simply get the device for just $10/mo, which is a great price. Alternatively, you can instead trade-in an old device to get the Galaxy S26 Ultra alongside an Ultimate unlimited plan.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: free with a trade-in and unlimited line, plus cheap accessories at AT&T
AT&T's best opening deal is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra in my opinion, as you can get this high-end device for free with a trade-in and unlimited line. All the devices require trades for discounts today, so why not go all-out and pick up the best of the best? Sweetening the deal further today is the option to bundle in a tablet and smartwatch for just $0.99 per month each if you're willing to pay a little extra for accessory cellular lines.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series: free storage upgrade, plus gift card of up to $200 value at Amazon
Amazon's deal on the devices is pretty darn good if you need an unlocked device. Not only is there a free storage upgrade, but the retailer is also throwing in a gift card of up to $200 in value. Note, you need to buy the Ultra to get the full amount, but you can still get $150 and $100 with the Plus and Galaxy S26 respectively.
Mint Mobile: get 12 months of unlimited data for $30 $15/mo at Mint Mobile
Looking to pair up your shiny new Galaxy S26 with a cheap cell phone plan? Mint Mobile's latest deal offers new customers the carrier's unlimited plan for half price for an entire year this week. That's just $180 upfront and $15/mo on average for a plan with unlimited talk, text, and data. If you were thinking about making the switch, then this is the perfect opportunity to save a whole chunk of cash at Mint Mobile.

A 38-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, before that, Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He also wrote a popular, weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade.
Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and the BBC.
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