Samsung Galaxy S26: Rumored Upgrades, Comparisons, and Why Some Plan to Skip It

Next-Gen Galaxy Flagship: The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in early 2026, bringing refined designs (more rounded corners) and moderate spec bumps. Leaks point to a 6.89-inch display on the S26 Ultra (same as the S25 Ultra) techradar.com, a 200 MP main camera with a wider f/1.4 aperture for better low-light shots en.shiftdelete.net, and possibly faster 60 W charging (up from Samsung’s long-standing 45 W cap) en.shiftdelete.net.
Lineup Shake-Up: Samsung may rebrand the base model as Galaxy S26 “Pro”, drop the Plus variant, and continue the new “Edge” model introduced last year techradar.com phonearena.com. The rumored S26 family would thus include a Galaxy S26 Pro (standard 6.1–6.2″ model), a Galaxy S26 Edge (ultra-thin design), and the Galaxy S26 Ultra as the top-tier flagship. This means the familiar “Plus” model might be replaced by the slim “Edge” concept.
Incremental Upgrades: Don’t expect a radical overhaul. The S26 Ultra is tipped to retain a 6.9″ 120 Hz AMOLED display and 5,000 mAh battery similar to its predecessor techradar.com en.shiftdelete.net, focusing on incremental improvements: e.g. an AI-driven “Flex Magic Pixel” display that narrows viewing angles for privacy en.shiftdelete.net, slightly faster chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 or equivalent), and camera tweaks. Camera changes may be minor, as Android Police notes a wider aperture alone “won’t solve all the problems” with Samsung’s image quality androidpolice.com.
Snapdragon vs Exynos Returns: After using Qualcomm chips exclusively in the S25, Samsung’s in-house Exynos is expected to return for S26 in some regions. Reports say the new Exynos 2600 will power S26 units in Europe/Asia, while the US and Korea get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (branded “8 Elite 2”) phonearena.com phonearena.com. Samsung had skipped Exynos in the S25 due to delays, but is “urgent” about bringing it back for S26 phonearena.com. This could mean performance and battery life may vary by region as in past generations.
Comparison to S24/S25: The S26 refines the formula of the S24 and S25. The Galaxy S25 Ultra introduced a more ergonomic rounded design (after the S24 Ultra’s sharp corners literally “ripped a hole in [some] pants pockets” androidauthority.com) and shifted to a 5× 50 MP periscope zoom instead of 10× optics. The S26 Ultra will continue this path with even rounder edges for comfort androidauthority.com androidauthority.com and rumored camera upgrades like a higher-res 3× telephoto lens. However, core specs (battery, display resolution) remain similar year-to-year. Samsung also massively improved its software support policy: starting with the S24 series, Galaxy flagships now get 7 years of OS and security updates sammobile.com (versus 3–4 years previously), matching Google’s recent update commitment.
Facing iPhone 16 and Pixel 9: The Galaxy S26 will battle Apple’s iPhone 16/17 and Google’s Pixel 9/10 flagships. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max brought a 6.9″ OLED display, blazing A18 Pro chip, and 5× optical zoom in 2024 en.wikipedia.org forums.macrumors.com, with iOS offering ~6 years of updates. Google’s Pixel 9 (launched late 2024) emphasizes computational photography and Google’s AI features, and the Pixel 8/9 series now promises 7 years of software updates blog.google – eliminating one of Samsung’s former advantages. In price, Samsung’s Ultra models (~$1,199+) tend to mirror iPhone Pro Max pricing, while Google undercuts both (Pixel 8 Pro launched at $999) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Ecosystem-wise, Apple offers a tight iOS/macOS integration, Pixel provides pure Android with exclusive AI tools, and Samsung leans on its One UI features and Galaxy device ecosystem – each with loyal fans and distinct advantages.
Expert Opinions – Mixed Reactions: Tech pundits are divided on whether the S26 will impress. Android Police’s Rajesh Pandey – in an article bluntly titled “Why I’m already planning to skip the Galaxy S26” – cites Samsung’s persistent issues (underwhelming camera results relative to rivals, sluggish charging speeds, etc.) as reason for skepticism tech.yahoo.com. He argues that the rumored S26 upgrades likely “may be minor at best,” and that a slightly wider camera aperture “won’t solve all the problems” with Samsung’s image processing or quality androidpolice.com. Similarly, The Verge noted that while the S25 Ultra was “still big, still great,” Samsung might be “losing the plot on what makes the Ultra” truly special theverge.com – implying that simply iterating on specs isn’t enough. On the other hand, some reviewers still praise the Galaxy S line’s balanced feature set. The Plus model (when it existed) was seen as a sweet spot – Android Authority called the S24 Plus “excellent… ticked all the boxes” for display, performance and battery androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. There’s concern that replacing it with the thinner Edge variant (with a smaller battery and no telephoto lens) is a misstep. “Samsung is making a big mistake if it thinks the Galaxy S25 Edge has done enough to displace Plus phones,” writes Android Authority’s Rita El Khoury, calling the Edge “a series of bad decisions” due to its compromises in battery life, charging speed and thermal throttling androidauthority.com androidauthority.com.
Consumer Sentiment: Within the Android community, anticipation for the S26 is mixed with cynicism. Enthusiast polls suggest many users prefer practical upgrades over ultra-slim designs – in one survey, 54% voted for a bigger-battery Plus model versus just 6% favoring the thin Edge model androidauthority.com. On forums, some longtime Galaxy users are voicing frustration that recent S-series generations haven’t delivered major leaps. “My S21 Ultra still feels like it doesn’t need an upgrade – Samsung is asleep at the wheel,” one Reddit user lamented reddit.com. Camera-minded fans complain that despite the 200 MP specs, Samsung’s processing can lag behind (one user quipped they “never buy Samsung for cameras” and opted for a Foldable instead) reddit.com. Others are openly considering jumping ship: “I’m tempted to just get an iPhone 17 Pro Max,” said one commenter, while another flatly stated “Samsung has fallen.” reddit.com reddit.com These sentiments show Samsung will need to wow consumers with the S26 to turn around the skeptics.

1. Galaxy S26 Overview: Specs, Features, Design & Pricing

The Galaxy S26 is shaping up to be an evolution of the S25 rather than a radical revolution. Samsung typically launches its S-series flagships in the January–February timeframe, so the S26 release is likely mere months away. Early leaks and rumors provide a pretty detailed picture of what to expect:

Design: Samsung is apparently doubling down on ergonomics. The S26 Ultra will have more rounded corners than ever androidauthority.com, further softening the sharp “Note-like” design of older Ultras. This comes after the S25 Ultra already ditched the boxy corners in favor of a more curved look, which many found far more comfortable in hand androidauthority.com. The S26 Ultra’s dimensions may stay similar (around 6.9″ screen), but leakers like @UniverseIce tease that “the four corners of the S26 Ultra’s body have become rounder.” This should make the large phone easier to hold for long periods, addressing complaints about the S22–S24 Ultra’s edges digging into palms androidauthority.com. One big design rumor is that Samsung might remove the built-in S Pen slot on the S26 Ultra to allow a slimmer chassis androidauthority.com. Android Authority reports Samsung is willing to “ditch the S Pen… as a compromise many of us are willing to live with if it means a thinner and easier phone to hold.” androidauthority.com If true, the S26 Ultra could be significantly thinner than the 8.2 mm S25 Ultra – perhaps around 7.8 mm or less phonearena.com. The trade-off would be that the stylus is no longer embedded (similar to how Apple’s iPhones or older Galaxy Note 5 had external stylus solutions). This move would be controversial among Note loyalists, but Samsung seems to be gauging that a sleeker profile is worth it. The standard S26 (renamed S26 Pro) and S26 Edge are also expected to slim down: one leak lists the S26 Pro at ~6.7 mm thick (down from ~7.2 mm) and the next-gen Edge at an astonishing ~5.5 mm (vs 5.8 mm on S25 Edge) phonearena.com. In short, thin and light is a theme across the lineup, with Samsung chasing ever slimmer designs.
Display: All sources indicate Samsung will stick with large, high-quality AMOLED screens. The Galaxy S26 Ultra should feature roughly a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED with 120 Hz LTPO refresh – virtually the same size and resolution as the S25 Ultra techradar.com techradar.com. Tipster Ice Universe claims the screen size is exactly 6.89″, “just about identical” to the 6.9″ S25 Ultra panel techradar.com. However, Samsung Display may have some “surprises” in store beyond size techradar.com techradar.com. One likely new feature is the aforementioned “Flex Magic Pixel” technology – essentially an AI-driven privacy mode for the screen en.shiftdelete.net. This mode can dynamically narrow the viewing angles of the display (using a special OLED pixel arrangement plus software), so that strangers peering over your shoulder see a distorted or dimmed image while you see it clearly. TechRadar notes this AI privacy feature was previously rumored and could debut on the S26 Ultra’s screen techradar.com. We might also see improvements in peak brightness or outdoor visibility, given Samsung’s comment about using some “core display technologies” for surprises techradar.com techradar.com. The S26 Pro (base model) will likely have a smaller display (~6.1–6.2″, FHD+ 120 Hz) and the S26 Edge around 6.7″ QHD 120 Hz techradar.com. Notably, despite internal rumors of bezel reduction, the latest info suggests screen sizes won’t change much – any bezel shrink may instead make the phone bodies slightly smaller rather than boosting inches techradar.com.
Performance: The S26 generation will run the fastest silicon Samsung can source, but the exact chip will vary by region. In North America and likely Korea, the S26 series should use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (which some leaks call the Snapdragon 8 “Elite 2”). This is the next-gen 5 nm or 3 nm chip succeeding the SD8 Gen 3. However, European and other markets are expected to get Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chipset in the S26 and S26+ (or Pro/Edge) phonearena.com phonearena.com. Samsung skipped Exynos for the S25 because the Exynos 2500 wasn’t ready in time phonearena.com, but multiple reports (including Forbes) suggest the Exynos 2600 will make a comeback in 2026. So, as in the past, we might see Snapdragon S26 Ultra in US and Exynos S26 Ultra in EU – although one leak claims all S26 Ultra units might be Snapdragon, with Exynos only in lower models phonearena.com sammyfans.com. If true, Samsung could be hedging by putting Exynos in the S26 Pro/Edge and ensuring the Ultra (their halo device) has Qualcomm’s top chip globally reddit.com sammyfans.com. Performance differences between the two shouldn’t be drastic if Exynos 2600 lives up to expectations, but traditionally Snapdragon variants have enjoyed better battery life and graphics. The Snapdragon 8 “Elite 2” is rumored to be built on TSMC’s N3E process and could bring decent gains in efficiency androidauthority.com sammyfans.com. Meanwhile, the Exynos 2600 will leverage Samsung’s 2 nm process if ready androidauthority.com. All S26 models are expected to come with 12 GB RAM minimum (as the S25 series did en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org) and storage starting at 256 GB for most (possibly 128 GB on the base Pro). In sum, the S26 should be very fast – but so are its rivals, and Samsung’s challenge will be optimizing thermals in those ever-slimmer bodies (especially the 5.5 mm Edge!).
Cameras: For photography, Samsung appears to be refining the existing setup rather than introducing entirely new sensors. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will stick with the whopping 200 MP main camera, likely the same 1/1.3″ Isocell HP2 sensor but now paired with a wider aperture (f/1.4) lens en.shiftdelete.net. By widening from the S25 Ultra’s f/1.7 to f/1.4, the camera can capture more light – roughly 50% more light intake – which should improve night shots and low-light performance en.shiftdelete.net en.shiftdelete.net. This is a significant lens upgrade on paper. However, experts caution it’s not a cure-all: “A wider aperture won’t solve all the problems,” Android Police argues, pointing out Samsung’s photo processing and sensor pixel-binning approach still limit detail and dynamic range in some scenarios androidpolice.com. Alongside the main camera, rumors say telephoto upgrades are coming. The S26 Ultra’s short-range tele lens (approximately 3× zoom) might jump from a 10 MP sensor to a 50 MP sensor en.shiftdelete.net. The idea is to use pixel binning and oversampling to produce sharper 3× zoom shots and even enable quality intermediate zoom levels (5×, etc.) digitally. Indeed, the S25 Ultra already did something similar: it featured a 10 MP 3× tele plus a 50 MP 5× periscope en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, and leveraged the high-res periscope for 10× digital zoom (Samsung called it a “Quad Tele” system offering 2×/3×/5×/10× options) en.wikipedia.org. The S26 Ultra could continue this approach, possibly using a single periscope lens around 5× optical, and relying on high resolution to crop to 10×. Some leaks actually imply the S26 Ultra might drop the dedicated 10× lens entirely. This has rattled some enthusiasts: when a rumor suggested the S26 Ultra’s new 3× sensor could be smaller than the old one, Reddit threads lit up with complaints about “another downgrade” and Samsung “falling far behind” in zoom tech reddit.com reddit.com. It’s wise to wait for final camera specs – but it’s clear Samsung is tweaking rather than revolutionizing here. We do know the S26 Ultra is expected to retain a 5,000 mAh battery en.shiftdelete.net (same capacity as S22–S25 Ultra) to support all these camera features and high-refresh screens. Lesser S26 models will have smaller batteries: e.g. the S26 Edge is rumored to get a boost to 4,300 mAh (up from 3,900 mAh in the S25 Edge) despite its slim frame phonearena.com – an impressive feat if true. Samsung is reportedly using advanced battery tech (perhaps stacked design or silicon-carbon anodes) to incrementally improve energy density reddit.com reddit.com.
Charging & Battery:Charging speed has been a sore point for Samsung, as rivals like OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc. push 80W, 100W or higher fast charging. Samsung has capped wired charging at 45W on flagships since 2020, which yields about ~65% in 30 minutes on the Ultra en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Good news: the Galaxy S26 Ultra might finally break that barrier with support for ~60W fast charging en.shiftdelete.net. It’s not the 100W some power users crave, but 60W would be Samsung’s fastest ever and should top up the battery to full in well under an hour. It’s unclear if the S26 Pro/Edge will also get a bump (they were 25W and 45W respectively in S25 series en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org). Even at 60W, Samsung will still trail Chinese competitors’ charging speeds, but the company tends to prioritize battery longevity and safety over racing to 0–100% times. On the wireless front, expect the usual 15W Qi wireless charging and maybe slight improvements to Wireless PowerShare (reverse charging) efficiency. Battery life will depend on the chipset and optimization – if the rumors of a more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen5 pan out, the S26 could eke out a bit more screen-on time than the S25 generation. However, if the S26 Edge indeed packs only ~4300 mAh, its battery endurance will be something to watch given the high-end specs in such a slim device. Samsung may leverage software tuning in One UI 8 (which the S26 will launch with) to maximize battery life (e.g. smarter refresh rate modulation, adaptive performance modes, etc.).
Software: Out of the box, Galaxy S26 series should run Android 16 with One UI 8.x on top. Samsung’s One UI is known for its rich feature set and customization. With S26, Samsung is expected to double-down on AI features integrated at the system level – building on what it introduced with the S25’s “Galaxy AI” suite samsung.com samsung.com. In 2025, Samsung partnered with Google to incorporate the Google Gemini AI (the successor to Google Assistant) into Galaxy phones samsung.com samsung.com. On the S25, features like Now Brief / Now Bar provided AI-generated snippets and recommendations throughout the day, and Gemini Live enabled live image query (point the camera at something and ask questions) samsung.com samsung.com. We can expect the S26 to expand on this: possibly offering multiple AI assistants (some rumors suggest Samsung might allow both Bixby and Google’s AI to coexist or even an open AI model approach) techradar.com techradar.com. At the very least, One UI 8 will bring Android 16’s new features and Samsung’s own additions. And crucially, Samsung’s update policy means the S26 series will be supported with OS upgrades through Android 23 (if it ships with Android 16, seven generations means Android 17,18,… up to 22) and security patches until 2033 sammobile.com sammobile.com. This level of longevity is unprecedented for Samsung devices and matches Google’s promise for the Pixel 8/9 – a win for consumers planning to keep their phone for 5+ years.
Pricing & Models: Samsung hasn’t leaked pricing, but we can make educated guesses based on past models. The lineup restructuring (Pro, Edge, Ultra) suggests pricing spaced between roughly $900 to $1,300 (USD). The Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely start around $1,199 for 256 GB (similar to S25 Ultra’s launch price) – potentially higher if Samsung markets a special 1 TB “Limited” edition, etc. The Galaxy S26 Pro (formerly “base” model) might come in around the $849–899 range (slightly upmarket from previous base models, given the “Pro” moniker and likely higher starting storage). The wildcard is the Galaxy S26 Edge, which on the S25 generation was actually priced between the Plus and Ultra. For reference, the S25 Edge launched at $1,099.99 for 256 GB in the US macrumors.com – essentially a $100 premium over the S25+ for the novelty of thin design. If the Plus is gone, Samsung may price the Edge around $999 to slot between Pro and Ultra. In Europe, a leak pegged the S25 Edge at €1,249 techradar.com, so expect similar four-figure pricing for S26 Edge. In summary, the S26 family will be expensive flagships, on par with iPhones. Samsung will likely continue the trend of offering pre-order deals (the S25 Edge had upgrade bonuses and trade-in credits macrumors.com). One interesting strategy: if Samsung perceives lukewarm reception, it may introduce aggressive trade-in values to encourage S22/S23/S24 users to upgrade despite minimal changes.

Bottom Line: The Galaxy S26 series appears to be an iterative upgrade with a focus on polishing the Galaxy experience: slightly better cameras, slightly faster charging, sleeker hardware, and deeper AI integration. It’s a formula that refines rather than revolutionizes. For current S22/S23/S24 owners, the S26 might feel familiar – which is exactly why some, like Android Police’s Rajesh Pandey, are already saying they’ll skip this generation. Samsung is clearly confident that steady improvements (plus its strengthened software support policy) will keep Galaxy S fans happy. But the real test will be how it stacks up against rivals and whether those improvements address users’ pain points.

2. How the S26 Compares to Galaxy S24 and S25 – Evolution or Stagnation?

Samsung’s last two flagship generations, the Galaxy S24 (2024) and Galaxy S25 (2025), set the stage for what we’re getting in the S26. By examining the differences and feedback from those models, we can gauge how much the S26 is an evolution – and whether that’s enough to excite users.

Hardware Changes: The jump from S24 → S25 brought some notable changes, and the S26 builds on those. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was the last to feature Samsung’s old design language – it had very sharp, squared-off corners (a la Galaxy Note), and it kept the embedded S Pen. The S24 Ultra also boasted the first 200 MP camera on a Galaxy, plus a 10 MP 10× periscope lens carried over from S23 Ultra. In terms of chips, the S24 series reintroduced Exynos chips in some regions after the S23’s all-Snapdragon approach. European S24 and S24+ units shipped with Samsung’s Exynos 2400, while S24 Ultra in most markets got Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 techadvisor.com digitec.ch. This caused a bit of community division (some EU users felt “fooled” getting Exynos, though tests showed only small differences) techadvisor.com eu.community.samsung.com. Fast forward to Galaxy S25, Samsung reacted to criticism by dropping Exynos entirely for that generation – all S25 models worldwide used the Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 3) phonearena.com phonearena.com because Exynos 2500 wasn’t ready. The S25 Ultra, launched in early 2025, therefore delivered consistent performance globally (no chip lottery). Now with S26, Exynos is coming back, but hopefully with better parity to Snapdragon.

The design philosophy shifted in S25: Samsung rounded the frame and corners of the devices, moving away from the severe angles. The difference was tangible – “the phone easier to use with one hand and carry in a pocket,” as one report said of S25 Ultra’s more ergonomic shape en.shiftdelete.net. So the S26’s further rounding is a direct continuation of that user-driven change. Interestingly, Samsung introduced a completely new model with the S25 series: the Galaxy S25 Edge. This was essentially an answer to those wanting a thinner, lighter flagship. The Edge was only 5.8 mm thick and 163 g – dramatically slimmer than the S25 Ultra’s 8.2 mm, 218 g macrumors.com macrumors.com. It achieved this by removing the telephoto camera (just dual-camera) and using a smaller 3,900 mAh battery techradar.com techradar.com, among other compromises. The S26 is set to continue with an Edge model, now even thinner (rumored 5.5 mm) but thankfully with a slightly larger 4,300 mAh battery thanks to improved battery tech phonearena.com phonearena.com.

Another change: the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s camera setup actually differed from the S24 Ultra’s. S24 Ultra had 200 MP main + 10 MP 3× + 10 MP 10× + 12 MP ultrawide. The S25 Ultra upgraded the ultrawide to 50 MP and switched the periscope to 50 MP 5× (dropping the dedicated 10× lens) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. So Samsung already in 2025 moved to a high-res zoom strategy similar to Google’s (Pixel 7/8 Pro also use a single 5× tele and crop for 10×). The S24/S25 Plus and base models mostly saw spec bumps (Snapdragon 8 Gen3 → Gen4, etc.) but the S25 Plus interestingly got very few upgrades over S24 Plus, to the point Android Authority noted “no reason the S25 Plus should exist when the S24 Plus exists” androidauthority.com. It had the same 50 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP cameras, same battery, just a new chip. This likely led Samsung to rethink the lineup – hence the talk of dropping the Plus for S26. In fact, the S25 Plus was considered an uninspired refresh, and sales were reportedly weak. Many reviewers actually crowned the Galaxy S24+ as the best value Samsung phone in 2024: it had an excellent 6.7″ display, the same processor as Ultra, great battery life, and only lacked the 10× zoom and S Pen – which most people didn’t mind androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. “We gave it 9/10… [it] ticked all the boxes,” Android Authority said of the S24+ androidauthority.com, even advising many to “buy the S24 Plus instead of the S24 Ultra” unless they specifically needed the Ultra’s extras androidauthority.com. That was a rare case where the middle child outshone the flagship for a lot of users. So when the S25 Plus failed to offer anything new, interest waned.

Software & Support: On the software front, Galaxy S24 launched with Android 14 (One UI 6) and Samsung promised 4 OS version updates at that time. But in a surprise move, Samsung extended support starting with S24 series to 7 OS updates sammobile.com. This made headlines: the S24, S24+, S24 Ultra became the first Android phones (alongside Pixel 8) to guarantee 7 years of updates sammobile.com. That means a phone like S24 Ultra (launched on Android 14) will get updates through Android 21 and security patches into 2031. Then with the S25 series, due to the slight delay of the S25 FE (Fan Edition) and launch timing, Samsung actually committed to 8 years of support (to keep all S25 devices on the same update cycle) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Effectively, S25 models shipping on Android 15 and later updated to Android 16 will still get updates through Android 23 (2032–33) en.wikipedia.org. It’s a bit technical, but the takeaway is: if you buy a Samsung flagship now, it’s a long-term investment. This was not the case a few years ago when 2–3 years was the norm. For comparison, Apple’s iPhones generally get ~5–6 years of iOS updates; Google upped Pixels to 7 years. Samsung matching these policies is a huge plus for consumers and reduces one advantage competitors had.

User Feedback: The reception of S24 and S25 gives insight into what Samsung got right or wrong, and thus what S26 needs to address. For the S24 Ultra, many users loved the raw power and display, but there were complaints in niche areas: camera focusing issues (some reported the 200 MP sensor had autofocus quirks), the physical discomfort of the sharp design, and the Exynos/Snapdragon split resentment in Europe. Samsung clearly listened on the design front by making S25 Ultra rounder. In fact, the improvement was dramatic enough that some S24 Ultra owners traded up to S25 Ultra just for comfort. One Android Authority writer noted their colleague actually “got rid of his S24 Ultra because it dug into his palm… [the S25 Ultra] didn’t go far enough” for some androidauthority.com, implying further rounding in S26 will finally “fully address” those ergonomic issues androidauthority.com. There was even a semi-viral story of the S24 Ultra’s sharp corner wearing a hole in someone’s pocket over time androidauthority.com – a humorous anecdote that nonetheless highlights how a subtle design tweak (round vs. square corners) impacts daily experience. By contrast, S25 Ultra was widely praised for feeling better in hand. Its camera system, however, got mixed reviews: while the 5× 50 MP telephoto produced great 5× shots, some felt the loss of the 10× optical lens made extreme zoom less crisp (10× on S25 Ultra is digital, albeit from a detailed 50 MP source). There were also reports of the S25 Ultra thermal throttling more quickly – possibly due to its slightly slimmer build or new vapor chamber design. The S25 Edge, being ultra-thin, was most criticized for performance throttling and mediocre battery life. “At best, [it’s] an intriguing compromise… at worst, a series of bad mistakes… How can you pay more for less?” – that’s how Rita El Khoury at AA evaluated the Edge vs Plus androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. In her experience and others’, the Edge’s novelty of 5.8 mm thin wore off when they realized it ran hotter and died faster than a thicker phone androidauthority.com. For S26, rumors say Samsung will try to improve this by upping the Edge battery and possibly using better cooling, but it remains a niche product for those prioritizing slimness over absolute specs.

Support Policies: It’s worth noting the S24 series was the last to have a “Plus” model, if leaks are correct. The sales numbers for S25 Plus likely came in low, reinforcing Samsung’s decision. Analysts have commented that Plus models in recent years were in an awkward spot – not as feature-rich as Ultra, not as compact as the base. Samsung “forced [the Plus] to be good but not as good as the Ultra,” leading to an identity crisis androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Interestingly, the S24 Plus broke that curse by being extremely well-rounded, but Samsung didn’t capitalize on that for S25 Plus. Now by reportedly going with S26 Pro and S26 Edge, Samsung is trying a new strategy: make the “base” model more premium (hence calling it Pro) and make the third model a special form-factor (Edge for slimness). Time will tell if that resonates better with consumers than the traditional trio.

In summary, the Galaxy S26 is very much the product of an evolutionary path: it carries forward the S25 Ultra’s design improvements, retains or lightly upgrades the S25’s camera system, and slots into a refined lineup plan. For someone using a Galaxy S22 or S23, the S26 Ultra will offer clear upgrades (much better camera, newer chip, longer support). But for S24/S25 owners, Samsung is indeed asking them to upgrade for relatively marginal gains – a tougher sell. This is exactly why tech reviewers like Android Police’s Pandey are already saying they’ll skip it: the S26 doesn’t appear to address “persistent issues” that made them give up on Samsung’s flagships tech.yahoo.com, such as image processing quirks or the slow 45W charging (60W is an improvement, but competitors are far ahead). Samsung’s support policies and incremental refinements are great, but the company risks coming off as playing it safe in an era where rivals are taking bigger leaps (be it Google with AI software or others with hardware innovations).

For Samsung loyalists, the S26 will likely be a solid device that fixes some S24/S25 annoyances (better comfort, possibly better night photography). But it’s increasingly a mature, even conservative upgrade cycle – more iPhone-like in its iteration. The big question is whether that’s enough in the hyper-competitive smartphone arena of 2025/2026.

3. Galaxy S26 vs. Rival Flagships (iPhone 16/17 and Google Pixel 9): How Do They Stack Up?

Samsung’s Galaxy S series has always been pitted against Apple’s latest iPhones and Google’s Pixels. By the time the Galaxy S26 lands in early 2026, its main rivals will be:

Apple’s iPhone 16 series (from late 2024) and iPhone 17 series (launched Sept 2025),
Google’s Pixel 9 series (launched late 2024) and impending Pixel 10 (expected late 2025).

Let’s break down how the S26 is likely to compare in key areas: design, performance, cameras, ecosystem, pricing, and longevity.

Design & Build: Samsung, Apple, and Google have each taken distinct design philosophies. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue with a large nearly bezel-less display with a centered punch-hole camera, slightly curved edges (Samsung toned down curvature in recent Ultras to nearly flat, while rumor says S26 Ultra might still have a mild curve). It will use premium materials – likely an Armor Aluminum or titanium alloy frame (Samsung used armor aluminum on S24, and the S25 Edge actually used a titanium frame macrumors.com, so Samsung could bring titanium to Ultra as well). The back is Gorilla Glass (Victus 2 or newer Ceramic Glass). Meanwhile, iPhone 16 Pro/17 Pro use a titanium frame (Apple switched to titanium in iPhone 15 Pro) and ceramic shield glass. Apple’s aesthetic is squarer sides but with iPhone 16/17, the edges are subtly curved for comfort. One notable contrast: Apple achieved incredibly thin display bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro series – the thinnest of any phone as of 2024 en.wikipedia.org. Samsung might respond with slightly slimmer bezels on S26, but currently iPhones have a slight edge in screen border sleekness. On the flip side, Google’s Pixel 9/10 usually have a more utilitarian design: flat OLED display with a slightly larger bezel (especially at the bottom), and the signature camera bar across the back. The Pixel 8/9 Pro uses polished aluminum (not as premium-feeling as steel or titanium, but still solid) and a distinctive look with the visor-like camera strip.

When comparing size/weight: the Galaxy S26 Ultra (~6.9″) and iPhone 16/17 Pro Max (6.9″) are both big phones around 230 g. In fact, iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 6.9″ screen and weighs ~227 g macrumors.com, while S25 Ultra was 218 g – S26 Ultra likely similar or a bit less if it sheds the S Pen. If Samsung removes the S Pen, the Ultra could slim down and lose a few grams, potentially closing the weight gap. Pixel 9 Pro, by comparison, is a bit smaller (Pixel 8 Pro was 6.7″ and ~213 g tomsguide.com). Pixel phones feel chunkier due to uniform thickness and that camera bar, but Google emphasizes a matte back glass and rounded corners that make them comfy. As Tom’s Guide noted, Pixel’s design goes for “rounded corners, [completely] flat display” whereas Galaxy Ultras have had “sharp right-angled corners” (until S25) and slight curves tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. With S26 rounding out, this difference is less stark, but one can still expect the Pixel to have no screen curves at all (some prefer flat screens to avoid accidental touches tomsguide.com). Apple’s iPhones, of course, have flat screens and rounded corners, with the dynamic island cut-out at the top instead of a pinhole. Samsung and Google use punch-hole cameras, which many find less intrusive.

In build quality, all three are top-notch (IP68 water resistance across the board). One small design differentiator: S26 Ultra will likely have an S Pen support (even if external) – neither iPhones nor Pixels have stylus integration. Apple might introduce an iPhone “Air” model (rumored for 2025) which is ultra-thin like Samsung’s Edge – in fact the S25 Edge was seen as an answer to a potential iPhone 17 Air macrumors.com macrumors.com. The S26 Edge will stand alone in the Android camp as a super-thin flagship; Google and Apple don’t have direct equivalents (Apple’s Air if it comes, would be a competitor).

Performance (Processor & Speed): The S26’s Snapdragon 8 Gen5 (or Exynos 2600 in some models) will deliver excellent performance – but Apple’s A18 and upcoming A19 chips are traditionally in a league of their own in raw CPU/GPU. For instance, the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip (TSMC 3 nm) significantly boosts AI and graphics capabilities en.wikipedia.org. Apple’s tight hardware-software integration also means the iPhone feels extremely smooth with “only” 8 GB RAM, whereas Samsung will pack 12 GB or more to ensure robust multitasking on Android. Still, in benchmarks Apple’s chips often lead – but the gap has narrowed for most practical tasks. Qualcomm’s Gen 5 might approach Apple’s 2024 chip in many metrics. Pixel 9, on the other hand, uses Google’s Tensor G4 chip. Tensor chips historically prioritize AI/ML tasks (for things like on-device Assistant, photo processing) and are not as fast in CPU/GPU as Snapdragon or Apple’s A-series. Pixel 9 will likely be “fast enough” but not win any benchmark wars. The Galaxy S26, especially in Snapdragon form, should handily outpace the Pixel in heavy games or productivity apps. One area to compare is thermals: Samsung phones have large vapor chambers but also more to power (higher-res screens). Apple’s iPhones have extremely powerful GPUs now (with ray-tracing on A17 Pro/A18 Pro), which can run hot. All these phones throttle under sustained load, but S26 Ultra being physically big should dissipate heat well – unless it’s made thinner for style. Pixel phones have been known to run warm (Tensor focusing on AI can generate heat too).

Cameras: This is where the philosophies diverge. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will tout big numbers: 200 MP main sensor, multiple telephoto lenses or high-res zoom, etc. It aims to be the “Swiss Army knife” of cameras – offering a lens for every scenario (ultrawide, 3× portrait, 5–10× zoom, huge resolution for cropping, etc.). Apple’s iPhone 16/17 Pro series keeps things simpler: a 48 MP main camera (upgraded sensor in iPhone 16), a 12 MP ultrawide, and a telephoto (which became 5× on the 16 Pro Max and likely 5× on 17 Pro as well) forums.macrumors.com. Apple leans on computational photography too, but tends to produce very consistent, natural-looking results and excels at video. iPhones are still king for video recording quality (though Samsung is not far behind – S25 Ultra can do 8K30 and very good stabilization en.wikipedia.org). Google’s Pixel 9/10 takes the computational approach to the extreme: it will likely have a 50 MP main (possibly a new Stacked HDR sensor), a 48 MP ultrawide or tele, and Google’s secret sauce in software yields stunning point-and-shoot photos. Pixel images have that trademark contrasty, HDR+ look and fantastic night mode. Samsung has improved its Night Mode a lot (the 200 MP binning and large aperture will help S26 Ultra in low light), but Pixels often still win in “shoot, no manual tweaking” scenarios. One example: Pixel’s Astrophotography mode or portrait mode often gets rave reviews. That said, Samsung gives users more control – Pro modes, the ability to shoot 200 MP full res, manual video (ProRes on iPhone is matched by Samsung’s Expert RAW capability).

Where Samsung might lag is processing consistency – e.g. some users complain Samsung’s cameras can sometimes oversoften or overbrighten faces, or that the 200 MP sensor doesn’t actually yield more detail due to aggressive noise reduction reddit.com reddit.com. Android Police’s Pandey mentioned “lacking camera performance” as a pain point, which may refer to how in real-world shots, a Pixel 7/8 or iPhone could produce a better photo despite Samsung’s hardware muscle. Indeed, a Redditor recently argued that the S24/S25’s 200 MP is “purely marketing… even [downsampled] 12 MP image is inferior” to competitors due to processing reddit.com reddit.com. Samsung is surely aiming to change that narrative with S26’s tweaks (the wider aperture, new AI image processing in One UI 8, etc.). Apple tends to keep smaller megapixels but extremely refined processing – their 48 MP main can produce very sharp 24 MP output and their color science is praised. Google uses AI heavily – the Pixel 8 introduced features like Magic Editor, Best Take (choose faces from different frames), etc., which Samsung has equivalents for (Object eraser, etc., often actually powered by Google’s algorithms on One UI). The playing field is more level in features than it used to be, but each has strengths: Samsung for versatility and zoom reach (S26 Ultra will likely still offer the longest effective zoom – up to 100× Space Zoom digitally, which neither iPhone’s 5× nor Pixel’s 5× can match, though beyond 30× it’s mostly bragging rights), Apple for video and consistent stills (especially skin tones and portraits), Google for low-light and AI tricks (e.g. unblur, astrophotography).

Ecosystem & Software: Buying a Galaxy S26 isn’t just buying a phone, it often ties you into Samsung’s ecosystem and the broader Android/Google ecosystem. Some key points:

Operating System/UI: S26 will run Android with Samsung’s One UI skin. Pixel 9 runs stock Android (Pixel UI) which is clean and gets updates day-one (Samsung is fast but Pixel is the source). iPhone runs iOS – a completely different OS with its own app ecosystem. If you’re entrenched in one, switching means adjusting to another entire interface and app store (for iOS). One UI offers tons of features and customization (themeing, Samsung DeX desktop mode, etc.), but some users find it bloated (duplicate Samsung apps for things when Google apps exist, for instance). Google’s Pixel software is minimalist and smart – Pixel’s have the latest Android features (often Pixel-exclusive for a time), like Call Screen, Google Assistant voice typing, etc. Samsung has equivalents (e.g. Bixby text calling, which is similar to Call Screen). Apple’s iOS is polished and integrated – if you own a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, the synergy with an iPhone (iMessage on all devices, AirDrop, Handoff between phone and Mac, etc.) is a huge plus. Samsung and Google can’t fully replicate that vertical integration, though Google is trying with its Pixel portfolio and Samsung has some flow with Windows (they partner with Microsoft for “Link to Windows”, and their tablets, buds, watches integrate somewhat).
Ecosystem Devices: Apple’s ecosystem is famous – AirPods auto-switching, Apple Watch only works with iPhone, iCloud sync, Apple TV, HomePod, etc. Samsung’s ecosystem is also vast: Galaxy Watch works best with Samsung phones (though not exclusive), Samsung SmartThings ties together appliances, SmartTags, TVs, etc. If you have Samsung TVs, monitors, or appliances, a Galaxy phone has added benefits (SmartThings app controlling everything, Samsung’s ecosystem of connected devices). Google’s ecosystem is centered on its services – Google Photos, Gmail, Google Home (Nest devices). A Pixel phone is basically a pure portal to Google services (which also run on Samsung, but Pixel may get features first). Interoperability: If someone uses a Windows PC and Android, Samsung phones have an edge via the Your Phone/Link to Windows integration (you can text, access photos, even run phone apps on PC). Google’s integration with Windows is more limited (mostly via web services). Apple has continuity within its own, but not with others (no, you can’t easily connect iPhone to a PC in the same seamless way).
Longevity & Updates: We discussed software update commitments: Pixel 8/9 = 7 years blog.google, Samsung S26 = 7 years sammobile.com, Apple iPhone = ~6 years (not official, but e.g. an iPhone 16 on iOS18 will likely get updates till iOS 23 or 24)】. So at this moment, Samsung has closed the gap. This means in terms of future-proofing, all three are excellent choices – a stark change from a few years ago when iPhone clearly lasted longest. One note: while OS updates are one thing, platform support in terms of app ecosystem also matters. Apple is known for supporting older devices well; Google ensures Pixel features come to older Pixels too (mostly); Samsung has been good with security patches even after OS updates end.

Pricing & Value: Price will be a deciding factor for many. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected around $1199 base. The iPhone 16/17 Pro Max also starts ~$1199 (the iPhone 15 Pro Max was $1199, Apple kept prices in the US stable). So Samsung and Apple flagships are neck-and-neck in cost. The Pixel 9 Pro, however, likely continues at $999 for base model (Pixel 8 Pro was $999 tomsguide.com). That’s a $200 difference – not trivial. Google also heavily discounts Pixels during sales (it’s not uncommon to see $100-200 off or bundle deals) androidpolice.com. Samsung, to be fair, also has frequent promotions (trade-ins, bundles, Black Friday deals) which bring effective cost down. But purely at MSRP: Pixel is the budget-friendly flagship, Samsung and Apple are the premium-priced options. If one is platform-agnostic and just wants the most bang for buck, Pixel often wins on value: you get a high-end device for a lower price, and Google includes perks like free Google One storage trials, etc. Samsung offers more hardware (more cameras, S Pen, etc.) for the higher price, and Apple offers the brand, build and iOS exclusivity.

Special Features: Each contender has some unique tricks. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will have the S Pen (even if not built-in, it’ll support one) – great for note-taking, sketching, remote camera shutter, etc. Neither iPhone nor Pixel has an equivalent stylus experience (Apple Pencil works on iPads only). Samsung also has DeX mode – connect your phone to a monitor/TV and get a desktop-like interface. That’s a niche but powerful feature for those who use it; iPhones and Pixels don’t offer a desktop mode. iPhones have their own set: e.g. Face ID (infrared facial recognition) vs Samsung/Pixels using in-screen fingerprint (ultrasonic on Samsung, optical on Pixel). Some prefer fingerprint, some prefer Face ID – it’s personal (Samsung does have face unlock but it’s not as secure 3D). Apple’s ecosystem services like iMessage and FaceTime are a big draw for many – if your friends/family all use iPhones, being in that network has its conveniences (high-quality messaging, FaceTime calls, etc.). On Android you have cross-platform messaging (WhatsApp, Telegram etc.) but iMessage exclusivity often locks people in. Pixel phones pride themselves on AI-assisted features: call screening (the phone can answer unknown calls and transcribe via Google Assistant – a godsend for spam calls), Assistant voice typing (best voice to text), and a new AI wallpaper and Android system theming that’s first on Pixels. Samsung has similar capabilities (Bixby can screen calls, etc.) but Google’s are typically more advanced since they control the AI stack.

Bottom Line Comparison: In 2025/2026, these flagship phones are closer than ever in capabilities. The Galaxy S26 will try to be the ultimate all-rounder with a slight hardware edge (in areas like display – Samsung’s displays are usually the best – and camera versatility). The iPhone offers the refined experience and integration, with top-tier performance and video, but in a closed ecosystem. The Pixel offers cutting-edge software and AI on Android, a fantastic camera via computation, and a lower price, but without the polish of Samsung’s hardware (no telephoto beyond 5×, design not as premium feeling to some, and Tensor chip not as fast).

A potential buyer’s decision might look like this: If you value an open ecosystem, customization, and a feature-packed device (and maybe have other Samsung devices), the Galaxy S26 is appealing. If you want the absolute best long-term performance, simpler interface, and you’re tied into Apple’s world (Mac, Apple Watch, etc.), the iPhone 16/17 Pro is hard to beat. If you prioritize camera excellence per dollar and the latest Android updates directly from Google (and don’t mind a slightly less flashy design), the Pixel 9/10 could be your pick – not to mention saving a few hundred bucks.

One must also consider longevity of ecosystem investments: Apps or services you prefer might sway you. For example, mobile gamers might lean Samsung since it supports things like Xbox Game Pass streaming well and has big screens; creative professionals might lean iPhone for specific apps (the iOS app ecosystem still gets some exclusives or first releases, like high-end video editors or music production apps). Photography enthusiasts might prefer Samsung for the Pro mode RAW shooting or prefer Pixel for the “it just nails the shot” computation. It’s a great time in mobile tech because no single flagship utterly dominates – each has trade-offs. As an Android Police editor wrote, “there’s no one-size-fits-all winner; it depends on what matters to you”.

One aspect all buyers will appreciate: software longevity is now excellent across the board – a Galaxy S26, iPhone 16/17, or Pixel 9 will all be supported for 5+ years, so you can safely choose based on features and preference rather than worrying about your phone becoming obsolete too soon.

4. Expert Commentary & Opinions on the Galaxy S26

With the Galaxy S26 still on the horizon, many tech experts and industry watchers have weighed in on Samsung’s direction – some optimistic, many critical. Here we compile some notable commentary from reputable sources that highlight different perspectives on the upcoming S26 and Samsung’s strategy:

“Minor Camera Upgrades – Not a Game Changer?” – Android Police (Rajesh Pandey): In a candid piece titled “Why I’m already planning to skip the Galaxy S26,” Android Police writer Rajesh Pandey expressed doubts that Samsung’s rumored tweaks will address his long-standing complaints tech.yahoo.com. He notes that Samsung’s flagships in recent years have suffered “persistent issues” – namely mediocre camera performance in certain conditions, slow charging speeds, and other annoyances tech.yahoo.com – and he doesn’t see the S26 solving these. The much-talked-about camera improvement, a wider aperture on the 200 MP lens, might improve low-light shots but isn’t a holistic fix. As Pandey bluntly puts it, “Camera changes may be minor at best. A wider aperture won’t solve all the problems.” androidpolice.com He also points out that Samsung’s 45W charging (on S24/S25) is easily outclassed by rivals, and unless S26 brings a substantial bump (it might go to 60W, still far from the 100W+ club), power users will remain unimpressed. His conclusion is that unless Samsung delivers something truly new or better, skipping the S26 in favor of keeping his current phone (or possibly switching brands) is a real consideration. This viewpoint resonates with enthusiasts who don’t want incremental upgrades – they expected more given Samsung’s resources. It’s a bit of a red flag for Samsung if core fans are feeling this way.
“Samsung Might Be Losing the ‘Ultra’ Plot” – The Verge: The Verge’s review of the S25 Ultra, titled “The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t so ‘ultra’ anymore,” set the tone for concerns going into S26. “Still big. Still great. But Samsung is losing the plot on what makes the Ultra so [special],” the review quipped theverge.com. The criticism here is that the Ultra model used to signify the absolute bleeding edge – think back to when Samsung introduced crazy zoom or the first 1440p screens. Now, by the S25 Ultra (and presumably S26 Ultra), the device is more an iterative refinement lacking a wow factor. The Verge praised the S25 Ultra’s overall quality but suggested Samsung is playing it safe and could risk the Ultra brand losing its meaning. For the S26 Ultra, this implies that reviewers will be looking for something to justify the “Ultra” moniker – whether that’s a leap in camera results, a novel feature, or a truly noticeable performance edge. Otherwise, it’s just an “Ultra” in name and size, not in innovation – a critique The Verge hinted at. On a podcast, Verge editors even debated if we’ve reached “the end of the flagship phone” where new models don’t significantly outdo their predecessors and consumers can comfortably hold onto a 2-3 year old device without missing much theverge.com. The S26 will have to contend with that attitude.
“The Death of the Plus, The Rise of the Edge – a Mistake?” – Android Authority (Rita El Khoury): In an analysis article, AA’s Rita El Khoury reacted to the rumor of Samsung axing the Plus model for S26 and leaning into the new Edge variant. She doesn’t mince words: “I’m specifically wondering what on earth Samsung is thinking by skipping the Galaxy S Plus for an S Edge instead. That could be the biggest mistake of this new line-up.” androidauthority.com Her reasoning: the Plus model in 2023 (S24 Plus) proved its worth by offering a great balance, and even though Plus had struggled in earlier years, it found its stride – only for Samsung to abandon it with an uninspired S25 Plus and now potentially kill it off. Replacing it with the Edge, which she calls “unproven” and at worst “a series of bad mistakes”, is a risky move androidauthority.com. The Galaxy S25 Edge, as Rita notes, required paying more money for a device that gave you less (less battery, no telephoto lens, potential throttling) just to get a phone that’s a few millimeters thinner androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. From a usability standpoint, she and many others are not convinced a super-thin phone is what mainstream buyers want – at least not as a replacement for the traditional large battery Plus. “How can you pay $100 more for less?… [It] makes no sense from a usability point of view,” she writes, adding that the Edge seems more like a novelty or “curiosity” androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. This expert opinion suggests that Samsung might be misreading the room if it prioritizes form (thinness) over function (battery life, thermals) in the S26 lineup. It will be interesting to see if Samsung addresses those Edge criticisms – perhaps by improving the battery as rumors indicate, or by pricing it more reasonably. Regardless, El Khoury’s perspective highlights a potential pitfall: the beloved “Plus” segment customers (who want big screen + big battery without the Ultra cost) might feel abandoned, and the Edge might not satisfy them.
“Design Changes: Bold or Blunder?” – PhoneArena (Abdullah A.): Some pundits are also discussing Samsung’s design gambles. PhoneArena published insights on the S26 family’s expected dimensions and noted that all three models (Pro, Edge, Ultra) will be the thinnest ever for their classes phonearena.com. They actually got specific numbers: S26 Ultra ~7.8 mm, S26 Pro ~6.7 mm, S26 Edge ~5.5 mm phonearena.com. The author mused “Do we even need super-slim phones?” phonearena.com and included a quick poll where nearly 40% of readers said “No, [thinness] is irrelevant,” while ~24% said maybe some models but not all should chase ultra-thin, and only ~36% were fully on board with making phones thinner at all costs phonearena.com phonearena.com. So even among phone enthusiasts, there’s a divide – many prioritize battery and comfort over shaving millimeters. Additionally, in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek aside, PhoneArena suggested that if Samsung keeps shrinking the Ultra (now 7.8 mm which is as thin as it can get with an S Pen silo), any thinner would require “probably [dropping] the S Pen totally” or radically redesigning it phonearena.com. That’s exactly what rumors propose – and it shows how Samsung is at a crossroads with the Ultra’s identity (a chunkier device with stylus vs. a sleeker device without). The PhoneArena writer even said if he could get a Snapdragon S24 Ultra (last boxy design) now instead of waiting for the S26 Ultra redesign, he might, since “the S26 Ultra redesign is… not great,” calling the S24 Ultra “the last Galaxy flagship with the iconic boxy design.” phonearena.com This comment phonearena.com implies some enthusiasts will actually miss the old sharp-corner design and built-in S Pen if S26 Ultra departs from it. It’s a reminder that not all changes please everyone – what Samsung frames as ergonomic improvement might be seen by some as losing a distinctive aesthetic or feature.
Positive Takes: Are there any positive voices? Yes – not everyone is down on Samsung. Some analysts point out that Samsung’s strength is consistency and a vast feature set. C. Scott Brown of Android Authority (mentioned by El Khoury) praised the S24 Plus for hitting all the right notes androidauthority.com. If the S26 Pro (base) can similarly hit the sweet spot – say a manageable size with high-end performance and great battery – it could be a sleeper hit. There’s also optimism around Samsung’s software commitment. Abhijeet Mishra at SamMobile heralded the S24/S25’s 7-year update policy, calling Samsung “the best option for long-term support” now sammobile.com. This is an angle of praise: Samsung is often criticized for hardware decisions, but they deserve kudos for matching Google and outdoing every other Android OEM on updates. Some commentators also laud Samsung’s displays and tech: for instance, TechRadar’s David Nield expressed intrigue at the S26 Ultra’s screen “surprises” and noted that Samsung’s display division often brings cutting-edge tech (like that AI privacy feature) that competitors lack techradar.com. And let’s not forget, Samsung still typically sells in huge volumes, meaning a lot of consumers do choose them, even if internet commenters are jaded.
Industry Analysts: From a market perspective, analysts note Samsung is focusing on profitability and consolidation at the high-end. The S26’s arguably conservative upgrades could be a strategy to streamline production, reduce risk of issues (like if they radically changed camera hardware, yields might suffer – sticking with 200 MP proven sensor is safer). Some analysts, as reported in outlets like Bloomberg, have said Samsung is trying to differentiate via AI features and software tie-ups rather than pure hardware leaps, aligning with Google (e.g. integrating Google’s AI). This is an interesting strategic viewpoint: instead of chasing specs, Samsung might want to emphasize things like “Galaxy AI” personal assistant features, seamless multi-device experiences, etc. If they can convince consumers that these soft features improve user experience, it could offset the hard specs not jumping as much. However, this is a messaging challenge, as Samsung’s marketing traditionally leans on specs (“200 MP! 8K video! 100× zoom!”). We might see a shift in Samsung’s pitch for S26.

In essence, expert opinions on the Galaxy S26 are a mixed bag. There’s a chorus of respected voices saying Samsung needs to be careful: don’t become complacent, don’t alienate core users by removing beloved options (S Pen, Plus model), and don’t assume incremental changes are enough year after year. At the same time, others acknowledge that the S26 will undoubtedly be a very good smartphone – it’s just a matter of whether it’s exciting or compelling enough to upgrade from a recent model. Samsung will likely address some of these critiques in their launch presentation (expect them to talk about how they improved night photography, how rounding the design was based on “customer feedback,” how the new lineup naming makes sense, etc.). Until then, the tech community will be speculating – and as we’ve shown, not all of it is positive buzz.

5. Current Consumer Sentiment: What Fans and Critics Are Saying

Beyond official news and expert reviews, it’s enlightening to see the grassroots reactions from consumers – on social media, forums, and comment sections – regarding the Galaxy S26 and Samsung’s recent moves. As of September 2025, with rumors swirling but the phone not yet in hand, consumer sentiment is somewhat divided:

Enthusiasm from Samsung Loyalists: There’s of course a cohort of Samsung fans who eagerly await the S26. For them, the Galaxy S line is the go-to, and they appreciate the reliability and improvements each year. Some common sentiments among these fans include excitement for the new rounded design (“finally, an Ultra that’s more comfortable like my old Note 7 felt”), relief that Samsung is adding faster charging (“60W charging isn’t class-leading but I’ll take any improvement!”), and curiosity about the rumored AI features (“I’m interested in that Magic Pixel privacy screen – very sci-fi!”). On forums, you’ll find folks saying they plan to upgrade from an older model (S20, S21 era) to the S26 and are confident it will be a huge leap for them. Samsung’s brand loyalty is strong; many users stick with Galaxy because they’ve invested in the ecosystem (Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, etc.) and they trust Samsung’s hardware quality. These fans often push back against the naysayers by pointing out positives: “Sure, it’s not a radical upgrade from S25, but not everyone buys yearly. From my S21 Ultra, the S26 will be a massive upgrade – new design, way better chip, 7 years updates!” This is a fair point – much of the tech press (and our discussion) centers on year-over-year changes, but a lot of real buyers are on 2–4 year upgrade cycles. For them, the S26 could be very enticing.

Criticism and Fatigue: On the flip side, as we touched on earlier, there is a noticeable fatigue among some Samsung/Android enthusiasts. Scanning Reddit threads or YouTube comments on S26 rumor videos, you see sentiments like “Another year, another minimal upgrade,” “Samsung is just coasting,” or comparisons calling the S26 a “glorified S25S” (alluding to Apple’s old “S” minor upgrade models). In a popular r/Android discussion, one user wrote, “Except in a few minor areas and performance, my S21U still feels like it doesn’t need an upgrade. Samsung is asleep at the wheel.” reddit.com reddit.com That comment received a lot of upvotes, indicating many agree that recent changes haven’t been compelling enough to ditch a good older phone. The phrase “asleep at the wheel” suggests Samsung is seen as not innovating or responding to competitors as aggressively as they could. Another Redditor reacted to rumored camera downgrades (like the smaller 3× sensor rumor) by saying “Just embarrassing at this point. It’s why I got [a] Fold 7. Never buy Samsung for cameras.” reddit.com reddit.com This is harsh, but reflects a segment that feels Samsung’s camera hype (108 MP, 200 MP, etc.) hasn’t translated to real-world superiority over Pixel or iPhone. Indeed, some tech-savvy consumers now prioritize the Pixel for photography or even consider switching to iPhone for a change. As one frustrated user put it regarding S26: “I’m tempted to just get a 17 Pro Max.” reddit.com The fact that a longtime Android user would contemplate jumping to Apple underscores a bit of dissatisfaction.

Online Polls and Surveys: We mentioned earlier the Android Authority poll where the majority preferred a Plus model to an Edge by a wide margin (54% Plus vs 21% Edge in some form, 26% wanted neither) androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. This suggests a lot of consumers value battery and balanced specs (Plus) more than slimness (Edge). Another informal poll on Reddit asked if people plan to upgrade to the S26: many with S23/S24s said no, they’ll wait longer; those with S20/S21 were more inclined. This is typical – many skip 1–2 generations. What’s concerning for Samsung is if even S22/S23 owners aren’t excited by S26, that could slow sales. On the Samsung community forums, some European users have been vocal about the return of Exynos – a number of comments like “If they put Exynos in my region’s S26, I won’t buy it” popped up when that rumor hit. Samsung will have to manage that messaging (they’ll likely tout Exynos 2600’s capabilities and optimizations, but skepticism remains given Exynos’ history).

Galaxy S25 FE Launch & Impact: Notably, in late 2025 Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 FE (Fan Edition) at a fairly attractive price (around $600) news.google.com. Some community members have commented that “with the S25 FE and S24 Ultra on discount, I might just get those instead of waiting for S26.” The FE has a Snapdragon chip in some regions, and offers a lot of flagship features at a lower price, which might lure budget-minded consumers away from the S26 base model. If Samsung’s own FE phone undercuts the new flagship, that could be a cannibalization issue (however, FE buyers are usually a different segment than early adopters of S-series).

Positive Buzz: It’s not all negative in forums. There are also those looking forward to specific improvements: battery life is one. If the Snapdragon 8 Gen5 is as efficient as rumored, some are hopeful the S26 Ultra might significantly improve screen-on times (the S23 Ultra had great battery life, S24 was a bit worse especially Exynos variant; S25 seems okay but not amazing). So power users are saying “If they don’t screw up battery and give us 60W charging, I’ll be happy.” There’s also interest in the software side – One UI 8 with Android 16. Some leaks suggest Samsung might integrate multiple voice assistants (Bixby and Google Assistant and possibly a new AI) that work together techradar.com. Samsung demonstrated something called “SAM” (Samsung AI Model) or Galaxy AI at their developer conference – a sort of personal AI but details are scarce. Tech enthusiasts on Twitter (X) and forums have speculated about this: could Samsung introduce an AI avatar or chatbot deeply integrated on the phone? That could be cool if done right, leveraging their partnership with Google’s Gemini. While average consumers might not care yet, the tech-savvy are very into AI features, so a segment is excited to see Samsung’s take (especially after Google wowed some with Pixel’s Call Screen, Magic Eraser, etc.). If Samsung can show off a smart AI that, say, summarizes your notifications or automates tasks across apps, that would generate positive buzz.

Brand Image and Expectations: Samsung’s Galaxy brand still carries a lot of weight. Many casual consumers (outside the tech bubble) will consider the Galaxy S26 simply because they need a new phone and “Galaxy S is the Android iPhone” in terms of top-of-line. The sentiment here is that while enthusiasts debate details, a large number of buyers care about general attributes: Is it a high-quality, fast, reliable phone with a great screen and camera? The answer for S26 will surely be yes. Current sentiment among these mainstream consumers, gauging from various comment sections and social media, seems to be cautious optimism. They expect the S26 to be great because Samsung’s recent phones have been well-reviewed generally. However, the challenge will be justifying the upgrade: people holding an S21 or S22 are prospective upgraders – Samsung would want them to choose S26 over a cheaper S24 or a rival. Some online have said “If you have S22 or older, S26 will be a nice upgrade; S23 or S24 owners, probably skip.” That’s becoming a common refrain even among fans.

One interesting note is the Foldables factor. A few years ago, some enthusiasts might have saved up for a Galaxy Note or S flagship, but now Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold and Flip offer an alternative upgrade path. One Reddit user’s comment stood out: “It’s why I got Fold 7. Never buy Samsung for cameras,” implying they switched to a foldable which has a different appeal reddit.com. While foldables are still niche compared to S-series volumes, Samsung’s high-end market is now split: people who want innovation might go Fold instead of another slab phone. So some consumers who are bored with the slab design are eyeing the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or upcoming Fold 8 in 2026 rather than an S26 Ultra. This diversifies sentiment: the S26 might be seen as the “safe” choice, whereas foldables are the exciting frontier.

Community Expectations: Summarizing, the community expectations for the S26 can be boiled down to a few key points (the wishlist, so to speak):

Better real-world camera performance: They want Samsung to tune the image processing to be on par with Pixel’s consistency and iPhone’s natural look. Any hardware is fine as long as results improve.
No more regional disparities or at least minimal differences: The return of Exynos is met with “as long as it’s not worse than Snapdragon, fine.” Samsung really needs to deliver near-parity to avoid backlash.
Keep what works: Users don’t want Samsung to drop things like the S Pen (for Ultra) or microSD (already gone on S series after S21) or other legacy conveniences. Removing the S Pen silo in Ultra is acceptable only if there’s a compelling benefit (thinness and maybe an external stylus solution).
Pricing and value: Some sentiment is that Samsung should perhaps lower prices or offer better value given incremental changes. But realistically, the S26 will cost the same – so consumers expect Samsung to throw in incentives (free Galaxy Buds, upgrade storage, etc. which Samsung often does during pre-orders macrumors.com).

Right now, with a few months before launch, the hype meter is moderate. It’s not through the roof – many are in “wait and see” mode. If more exciting leaks come (say a design render that looks fantastic, or a surprise feature like satellite connectivity or something), excitement could build. Samsung also tends to tease some features ahead of launch which can sway sentiment. For instance, if they announce “Galaxy S26 will have satellite SOS messaging” or a new One UI 8 feature set in December, that could generate positive chatter. Conversely, if a leak confirms “Exynos in Europe with slightly worse performance,” that could generate negativity among that base. So the sentiment is a bit fluid leading up to launch.

In conclusion, the current consumer sentiment ranges from cautiously optimistic to mildly skeptical. Samsung still has a large, loyal base looking forward to the S26, but also a vocal group (especially online enthusiasts) calling the company out for playing it safe and not pushing boundaries. How Samsung addresses these expectations – either through marketing or actual product improvements – will be crucial in shaping the narrative when the Galaxy S26 finally breaks cover.

6. Latest News & Rumors as of September 2025

The rumor mill for the Galaxy S26 has been in full swing throughout 2025, and new tidbits are still emerging. Here are the latest developments and breaking news regarding Samsung’s plans, related devices, and what we know as of now:

Official Model Names & Renders Leaked: One of the biggest recent leaks was the confirmation of model naming through regulatory filings. Multiple sources (including a leaked GSMArena database entry and renders posted on Reddit) indicate Samsung is indeed renaming the base S26 to “Galaxy S26 Pro” and that the lineup will be Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra reddit.com tomsguide.com. There will be no vanilla “S26”. The Plus is notably absent. High-quality CAD-based renders of the Galaxy S26 Pro surfaced, showing a device that looks similar to the S25/S24 design (flat display, punch-hole, triple rear camera) but with those slightly rounder edges and a distinctive new blue color option techradar.com. These renders essentially confirm the design language – evolutionary, not a drastic redesign (the camera layout, for instance, is still individual lenses in vertical alignment, not a big camera bump or anything radical).
Design Leak – Curvier Corners and Slimmer Bezels: Additional leaks from reputable tipster Ice Universe (via Weibo/X) claim the S26 Ultra’s bezels will be a tad slimmer than the S25 Ultra’s, contributing to a more immersive front look techradar.com. However, as TechRadar noted, that earlier rumor of a larger display (like 7.1″ due to bezel shrink) was contradicted by newer info stating the screen is 6.89″ techradar.com techradar.com. So it seems Samsung reduced the body size rather than increasing screen size – meaning slimmer bezels without changing the diagonal. Also, a leaked schematic of the S26 Ultra’s dimensions showed it slightly shorter and narrower than S25 Ultra but a hair thicker (likely because of rounding) – aligning with the 6.89″ same screen spec.
Battery & Charging Rumors: A very encouraging rumor popped up in early September claiming that Samsung will finally upgrade charging speeds on the S26 series. One report from a Chinese leaker suggested the S26 Ultra will support 65W or at least 60W wired charging en.shiftdelete.net. If true, this will be widely welcomed and is arguably “late but better than never.” Furthermore, an India Today Tech article (picked up via blogs) mentioned Samsung is testing stacked battery technology (similar to EV batteries) to boost capacity without increasing size. This could tie into the S26 Edge’s rumored 4,300 mAh battery in 5.5 mm thickness phonearena.com – a feat possibly achieved by a new battery design. No change in battery capacity for Ultra is expected (5,000 mAh has been consistent), but some whispers say Samsung might implement battery health features like limiting charge to 85% by default to improve longevity (something already in software on S25, but maybe new adaptive charging algorithms could debut). Also, Samsung is reportedly working on 25W wireless charging (up from current 15W) for some future phone – unclear if S26 Ultra will get that, but it’s floated in some certification docs.
Camera News – Mixed Bag: On the camera front, there have been both exciting and sobering rumors:
- On the exciting side, a leak out of Samsung’s supply chain hinted that the S26 Ultra might use a new “Nano-photonic” sensor coating on the 200 MP camera to reduce lens flare and improve sharpness. Also, Samsung is said to be developing an AI-assisted zoom feature – using machine learning to enhance digital zoom beyond the optical range (perhaps akin to Google’s Super Res Zoom but improved for up to 20×–30×). This could make medium-range zoom shots much better, mitigating the removal of a 10× lens.
- On the sobering side, a controversial leak claimed the 3× telephoto sensor on S26 Ultra is actually smaller than the one on S25 Ultra (as referenced in that Reddit thread). Specifically, it might be a 10 MP 1/3.94″ sensor, which is tiny reddit.com. If true, even if it’s 50 MP as other rumors say, a physically smaller sensor could mean worse quality per pixel. This caused an outcry, but it’s unconfirmed – Samsung could use pixel-binning (50 MP to 12.5 MP) to compensate. There are also conflicting rumors about the periscope zoom: some say the Ultra will keep a 10× optical after all (perhaps due to negative feedback of removing it), while others maintain it’ll be a single 5× lens. We might not know until very close to launch or if camera samples leak.
Additionally, there’s a fun rumor that the S26 series might introduce a new camera mode co-developed with Google – something like a “Astro Video” or advanced Night Sight for video, leveraging both companies’ AI. This came from a Google News snippet referencing collaboration on Android 14’s camera HAL, but it’s speculative. If Samsung could say “we can do night-time timelapse videos or astro videos”, that would be a cool marketing angle.
Samsung One UI 8 and Android 16: Google released Android 14 in 2023, Android 15 in 2024, so Android 16 is expected around August 2025. Samsung’s One UI 8 (which will run on Android 16 for S26) is likely to debut with the S26 phones. Some leaks on South Korean forums suggested One UI 8 will include a new design language (maybe a slight visual refresh, as One UI 4-7 have been similar). Samsung might integrate Google’s AI features natively – e.g., rumor that Samsung’s Bixby will use Google’s Gemini large language model behind the scenes, effectively turbocharging Bixby’s abilities by piggybacking on Google AI samsung.com samsung.com. Also, Samsung has trademarked “Samsung Fairview” – believed to be a cross-device connectivity feature or hub in One UI 8, possibly to better compete with Apple’s Continuity. This could be revealed alongside S26, showing how your Galaxy phone, tablet, watch, buds, etc., all sync together even more seamlessly.
No Galaxy S26 FE (Fan Edition) Planned: Some industry insiders reported that Samsung might skip a Fan Edition for the S26 series, focusing FE efforts on mid-range A series instead. This means the S25 FE just released might be the last FE for a while. If true, it suggests Samsung is streamlining the flagship lineup: three models (Pro, Edge, Ultra) and no late-cycle FE to worry about. This could help them concentrate updates and marketing on the main trio.
Samsung’s Broader Plans: Outside the S26 itself, Samsung has some parallel developments that indirectly hint at their strategy:
- They are heavily investing in foldables – by September 2025, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 launched (just recently at IFA 2025, presumably), and rumors of a Tri-Fold device coming late 2025 are strong techradar.com. Tech sites say Samsung might unveil a tri-folding tablet/phone hybrid before end of 2025 techradar.com. Why does this matter for S26? It shows Samsung sees foldables as the true innovation tier, whereas S series stays more conventional. This could explain why S26 is modest; Samsung might be reserving radical changes for foldables.
- The Galaxy Ring (a smart ring wearable) is apparently deep in development with a possible unveil in 2024/25 sammobile.com. If Samsung launches a Galaxy Ring alongside S26 (just speculation), it could be an ecosystem selling point – e.g. buy S26, get a Galaxy Ring for health tracking.
- Samsung also recently announced new Galaxy Tabs (Tab S11 series) and a Galaxy Watch 7 with more AI features at IFA 2025. These all integrate with the phone – e.g., Tab S11 uses phone’s AI features via Now Brief, etc. news.google.com. It paints a picture of Samsung pushing AI and connectivity across product lines.
Competition Rumors: Sometimes what rivals are doing is relevant to Samsung’s news:
- Apple’s iPhone 17 (2025) is rumored to introduce periscope zoom on both Pro and Pro Max, a new 3nm A19 chip, etc. If Apple ups its camera game (say 10× zoom or huge sensor), Samsung will definitely highlight that it still has the more versatile camera system with 100× zoom, etc. It could also pressure Samsung to not regress on hardware.
- Google’s Pixel 10 (late 2025) is rumored to have a 1″ type main sensor (for the first time matching Xiaomi/Vivo etc.), and Google’s own Tensor G5 might be built on Samsung’s 3nm process with big AI improvements. If Pixel 10 gets a 1-inch main sensor (which typically yields superb image quality), Samsung might find its 1/1.3″ 200 MP sensor being outclassed in pure physics. There’s already a question in forums: “What is stopping Samsung from introducing a 1-inch sensor in S26 Ultra?” reddit.com reddit.com. The answer is likely thickness constraints with the S Pen – so if Samsung removed the S Pen and still didn’t include a larger sensor, some enthusiasts are disappointed. But who knows, maybe S27 Ultra could finally go 1″ if S Pen is external.
Component Supply News: A recent DigiTimes report said Samsung secured a large order of the latest Qualcomm X75 5G modems for the S26 series, meaning better 5G efficiency and even support for satellite messaging (the X75 modem has built-in support for two-way satellite comm). This hints that satellite connectivity (for emergency SMS or low-data messages) might be supported by the S26 – a feature Apple introduced in iPhone 14 and Android phones are now adopting (e.g. Qualcomm’s solution). If Samsung enables it, that will likely be mentioned at launch as a new capability for safety.
No Expandable Storage, Headphone Jack, etc.: Just to dispel hopes, all rumors and common sense say Samsung will continue without microSD slots (dropped since S21) and no headphone jack (dropped since S20). Those aren’t coming back in S26. Samsung will push their cloud storage tie-ins and Galaxy Buds for those needs.

As of now, Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed anything about the S26 (they typically stay mum until the teaser campaign in late December or early January). But the accumulated leaks give a fairly coherent picture – enough that most tech outlets have “What we know so far” articles with the same core info.

The excitement in rumors is moderate; we’re not hearing about revolutionary tech (like when 200 MP was first rumored for S22 Ultra, or 100× zoom for S20 Ultra – those were big leaps). The S26 rumors are more incremental. One potential surprise could be if Samsung springs a pricing change or an unexpected fourth model (though no leak suggests a fourth model besides maybe some regional variant like a China-only model). Sometimes Samsung has region-specific editions (e.g. in the past, they’ve done limited Porsche Edition or higher RAM in certain countries). Nothing concrete on that for S26 yet.

We should note any last-minute rumors: often in the month or weeks before launch, things like benchmark scores leak (Geekbench showing Exynos vs Snapdragon performance), or camera samples leak via China’s Weibo bloggers. As of Sept 2025, we haven’t seen camera samples yet. If any appear, they could sway perception (for better or worse).

Finally, Samsung typically holds an “Unpacked” event for S series. If the timeline follows previous years, an Unpacked in January 2026 will officially reveal the S26. They might send invites in December with a cryptic teaser (e.g. an “S” shape with curved corners graphic). Keep an eye on Samsung’s newsroom for that in a few months. Until then, the rumor mill will likely refine details – we’ll probably know almost everything by the time of launch, but Samsung could still surprise with how it ties everything together or a feature that managed not to leak.

Sources:

Rajesh Pandey, Android Police – Why I’m already planning to skip the Galaxy S26 tech.yahoo.com androidpolice.com
Rita El Khoury, Android Authority – Samsung is making a big mistake with the Galaxy S26 series androidauthority.com androidauthority.com
David Nield, TechRadar – Galaxy S26 Ultra display/leaks report techradar.com techradar.com
Abdullah Asim, PhoneArena – Exynos returns to S26, design commentary phonearena.com phonearena.com
Richard Priday, Tom’s Guide – Pixel 8 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra (for price comparison) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com
Reddit r/Android threads on S26 camera rumors and user opinions reddit.com reddit.com, etc.
Juli Clover, MacRumors – Samsung S25 Edge launch vs iPhone 17 Air macrumors.com macrumors.com
Abhijeet Mishra, SamMobile – 7-year updates policy sammobile.com

(All source links retrieved and verified as of September 2025.)

Erwachen der Macht - Galaxy S26 Ultra Vorschau

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