Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S25: The Ultimate 2025 Flagship Face-Off

by Marcin Frąckiewicz
in Comparisons, Mobile Reviews, Technology
on 6 September 2025

Key Facts

Galaxy S25 (2025) Recap: Samsung’s current Galaxy S25 lineup (S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, and a super-thin S25 Edge) introduced a Snapdragon 8 “Elite” 3nm chip, 120 Hz LTPO displays (6.2″ base up to 6.9″ Ultra), and camera upgrades like a 200 MP main sensor on the Ultra model en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Prices started around $799 for the base S25 and $1,299 for the Ultra at launch tomsguide.com pre-www.att.com.
Galaxy S26 (2026) Incoming: Expected to launch in Q1 2026 (likely January unveil, February release) techradar.com tomsguide.com, the Galaxy S26 series is rumored to bring major upgrades in design, performance, and features. Samsung is reportedly renaming the lineup – with a Galaxy S26 “Pro” (replacing the base model), an S26 Edge (replacing Plus), and the S26 Ultra remaining on top techradar.com androidauthority.com.
Design & Build Changes: Leaked dummy models suggest a more iPhone-like design: all S26 models may adopt a camera island bump (the S26 Edge potentially sporting a broad camera bar reminiscent of iPhone’s) theverge.com theverge.com. The Ultra is expected to have rounder corners (moving away from the S25 Ultra’s boxier look) for a more comfortable grip techradar.com androidauthority.com, while staying nearly the same size (rumored dimensions ~163.4×77.9 mm vs 162.8×77.6 mm on S25 Ultra) techradar.com. Impressively, the S26 Edge could be even thinner – about 5.5 mm thick (vs 5.8 mm on the S25 Edge) theverge.com, making it one of the slimmest phones ever.
Performance Leap: The S26 series should pack next-gen silicon. Most regions will likely get Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 “Elite Gen 2” chipset (2025’s flagship chip), while Samsung may reintroduce its in-house Exynos 2600 in some markets phonearena.com phonearena.com. The Exynos 2600 is said to be built on a cutting-edge 2 nmprocess – potentially the first 2 nm chip in any phone phonearena.com – with a 10-core design and improved graphics and heat management to rival Qualcomm’s best phonearena.com. All S26 models are expected to retain 12 GB RAM (like the S25) and at least 128 GB storage, though the Ultra might offer higher configs en.wikipedia.org. Overall speed should jump significantly: the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is rumored to reach 4.6 GHz clock speeds and sky-high benchmark scores, making S26 “a performance beast” that could outpace Apple’s next A-series chip tomsguide.com tomsguide.com.
Camera Upgrades: Samsung isn’t standing still on imaging. The S25 Ultra already boasts a 200 MP main camera, but the S26 Ultra will keep the 200 MP sensor and enlarge its aperture from f/1.7 to f/1.4, capturing ~47% more light for superior low-light shots notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Its telephoto lenses are due for upgrades too: the mid-zoom lens is reportedly jumping from a 10 MP sensor to 12 MP (20% more pixels), and the 5× periscope telephoto will get a wider f/2.9 aperture (vs f/3.4) for 38% better light intake notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The S26 Edge (the mid-tier model) is rumored to inherit the 200 MP main camera as well, and upgrade its ultrawide from 12 MP to 50 MP for richer detail notebookcheck.net. Overall, expect improved night mode and clarity, though core resolutions remain similar to S25’s (50 MP main on the base S26 Pro, likely unchanged from S25’s 50 MP sensor). Samsung is also said to be finally ditching the aging 10 MP tele sensor that’s been around since S21 days notebookcheck.net, meaning even sharper zoom shots on non-Ultra models.
Display & Design Features: Screen sizes on S26 should closely match S25’s: the base S26 Pro around 6.27″(slightly up from 6.2″) tomsguide.com, S26 Edge ~6.7″, and Ultra ~6.9″, all likely 120 Hz AMOLEDs with LTPO for adaptive refresh. One notable addition could be Qi2 magnetic wireless charging across the lineup – leaked photos show a circular rear ring that hints at MagSafe-style magnets built into S26 devices androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Samsung skipped adding magnets in the S25 (despite supporting the Qi2 standard at 15 W) and watched Google’s Pixel 10 embrace them; with S26, Samsung is expected to “finally add Qi2 magnetic wireless charging” for easier snap-on charging and accessories androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. Build materials should stay premium – the S25 Ultra already introduced a tough titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Armor 2 news.samsung.com, so S26 Ultra will likely refine that. Water resistance (IP68) and the S Pen silo (on Ultra) will of course carry over en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org.
Battery & Charging: After years of conservative battery specs, Samsung is reportedly giving the S26 a boost. The base S26 Pro may get a 4,300 mAh battery (up from 4,000 mAh in the S25) notebookcheck.net, and the Plus/Edge model could see a similar ~300 mAh increase – modest gains enabled by new stacked battery or silicon-carbon anode tech for higher density. The S26 Ultra is expected to stick with 5,000 mAh capacity notebookcheck.net, but with a big charging upgrade: 60 W fast charging support, up from 45 W on the S25 Ultra notebookcheck.net. A Samsung firmware leak essentially confirmed the 60 W figure for the S26 Ultra notebookcheck.net, which should finally narrow the gap with Chinese rivals’ supercharging speeds. Wireless charging will remain 15 W (albeit with the new Qi2 magnetic alignment), and reverse wireless charging is likely to return as well (S25 supported 4.5 W wireless power share) en.wikipedia.org. Despite faster charging, battery life should improve thanks to more efficient 2 nm and 3 nm chipsets.
Software & AI: The Galaxy S25 launched with Android 15 / One UI 7, and Samsung has impressively committed to 7 years of OS updates for it news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. The S26 should ship with Android 16 and One UI 8.5 out of the box notebookcheck.net. More intriguingly, Samsung is planning a major AI software push on the S26. According to Samsung’s mobile chief Won-Joon Choi, “Gemini will not be the only AI assistant we’re going to integrate… We’re going to integrate multiple AI assistants and AI agents” on the Galaxy S26 9to5google.com. In practice, this means S26 phones might come with not just Google’s new Gemini AI(successor to Google Assistant), but also third-party AI assistants like ChatGPT or Perplexity AI integrated into Samsung’s One UI. Samsung has built an AI framework to allow “multiple AI agents” to coexist, aiming to give users choice beyond Bixby and Google 9to5google.com 9to5google.com. This could make the S26 a truly AI-centric phone, performing advanced on-device AI tasks (building on the S25’s generative AI image and editing features news.samsung.com news.samsung.com). Expect improved voice commands, AI photography enhancements, and possibly new Samsung AI services at launch.
Pricing & Availability: Official pricing for S26 won’t be known until launch, but industry watchers expect a slight price hike. The S25 family debuted at ~$799 (base), ~$999 (Plus), and $1,299 (Ultra) in the US. With inflation and component costs – and potential U.S. import tariffs – “it would be surprising if the cost didn’t rise” from the S25’s price points, Tom’s Guide observes tomsguide.com. Even a $50 increase would put a base Galaxy S26 Pro around ~$849. Samsung will likely watch Apple’s moves (Apple also faces tariff pressures) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. Global pricing may be adjusted upward as well notebookcheck.net. As for timing, Samsung’s release cadence is predictable: Galaxy S26 should be announced in late January 2026 and hit shelves by early February 2026, roughly a year after the S25 tomsguide.com. All models (including the S26 Ultra) are expected to launch simultaneously; Samsung is unlikely to stagger releases apart from possible Fan Edition devices later on.

Now let’s dive deeper into how the Galaxy S26 is shaping up against the Galaxy S25, and what these upgrades mean in real-world terms.

Galaxy S25 in Review: Samsung’s 2025 Flagship Baseline

The Galaxy S25 series set a high bar in early 2025, refining Samsung’s formula with incremental yet meaningful improvements. All S25 models featured high-end Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays with adaptive 120 Hz refresh rates, strong battery life, and Samsung’s best cameras to date. The phones were powered exclusively by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 “Elite” chip (a Samsung-customized 3 nm SoC) – no Exynos in sight for the 2025 flagships en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. This chip delivered a notable performance boost over the S24 generation, and was paired with 12 GB of RAM across the lineup for smooth multitasking en.wikipedia.org. Even the base S25 is snappy and capable of console-quality gaming and advanced AI camera tricks.

In terms of design, the S25 and S25+ kept the familiar sleek look: aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and slightly curved edges. The S25 Ultra received a subtle design tweak – it became Samsung’s slimmest Ultra ever at around 8.2 mm thick, with more rounded corners than the S23 Ultra for a more ergonomic feel en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Uniquely, Samsung also launched a Galaxy S25 Edge model a few months later: a 5.8 mm ultra-thin 6.7″ phone that packed flagship specs (it even had the S25 Ultra’s 200 MP camera sensor) into a razor-thin body en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. The S25 Edge forwent a telephoto lens to achieve its slim profile en.wikipedia.org, but it turned heads as the thinnest Galaxy ever. This experimental Edge model’s positive reception likely inspired Samsung to make “Edge” a core part of the S26 lineup.

Cameras: The Galaxy S25’s cameras continued Samsung’s multi-year photographic push. The base S25 and S25+carried a triple-lens setup much like their predecessors: a 50 MP f/1.8 main camera, a 12 MP ultrawide, and a 10 MP 3× telephoto for portraits and zoom en.wikipedia.org. This tried-and-true combo produced excellent day and night shots, with improved AI image processing and new software features (like a handy Audio Eraser to remove background noise in videos) introduced in One UI 7 news.samsung.com news.samsung.com. The star was the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which one-upped Apple and Google by offering a 200 MP main sensor (Samsung’s ISOCELL HP2, 1/1.3″ size) with advanced pixel-binning for superb detail en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. The Ultra also packed two telephoto cameras: a 10 MP 3× lens and a 50 MP 5× periscope lens for long-range zoom, plus a 50 MP ultrawide – an extremely powerful and versatile setup en.wikipedia.org. In practice, the S25 Ultra could capture everything from expansive 120° ultrawide landscapes to 30× hybrid zoom shots with surprising clarity. It set a new standard for mobile photography in 2025, especially in low-light video where Samsung’s AI “Nightography” improved noise reduction news.samsung.com news.samsung.com.

Battery & Charging: The S25 series’ battery capacities ranged from 4,000 mAh (base) to 5,000 mAh (Ultra), which delivered all-day battery life in most use cases notebookcheck.net en.wikipedia.org. Samsung didn’t push charging tech too far – the S25 and smaller Edge capped at 25 W wired charging, while S25+ and Ultra supported 45 W “Super Fast Charge 2.0” (no change from the S23 series) en.wikipedia.org. In real terms, the Ultra could charge ~50% in 20 minutes and full in under an hour—fast, though not chart-topping. All S25 models supported Qi wireless charging (15 W) and reverse wireless power share en.wikipedia.org. Notably, Samsung added support for the new Qi2 standard on the S25 series for improved charging efficiency en.wikipedia.org, but they did not include magnetic rings in the devices. This meant that while the S25 technically “spoke” the Qi2 protocol, it couldn’t magnetically snap to chargers like an iPhone MagSafe. Many tech pundits saw this as a missed opportunity in 2025.

Software and Longevity: Out of the box the S25 ran Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7 skin en.wikipedia.org, bringing new AI-powered features and customization. Samsung made waves by promising 7 years of OS updates for the S25 series news.samsung.com – one of the longest support policies in the industry, topping even Google’s Pixels. This means an S25 bought in 2025 will get Android upgrades into the early 2030s, a huge selling point for longevity. Security updates were likewise extended to 7 years news.samsung.com. This commitment underscored Samsung’s confidence in the S25’s hardware to remain capable for a long time (likely enabled by that powerful Snapdragon chip and ample RAM). We can expect the S26 to inherit the same policy, if not longer.

In summary, the Galaxy S25 is a feature-packed, refined flagship: it cemented 5G, Wi-Fi 7, bright LTPO screens, and AI-enhanced cameras as standard for Samsung. It didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it didn’t need to – the S25 earned rave reviews for polishing an already strong formula. It provides the solid foundation (and tough act to follow) for the Galaxy S26.

What’s Next: Galaxy S26 – Rumored Innovations and Upgrades

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, even by the usual year-over-year standards. Based on credible leaks from industry insiders and Samsung’s own hints, the S26 isn’t just a spec bump – it involves strategic shifts (like the lineup renaming and a big AI focus) to keep Samsung at the cutting edge in 2026. Here’s an in-depth look at what’s expected in each key area:

Design & Display: A Subtle Makeover with an “Edge”

From leaked renders and dummy units, it appears Samsung is giving the Galaxy S series its most noteworthy design update in years – with a nod to Apple’s recent design language. All three Galaxy S26 models may feature a rear camera “island” instead of the individual protruding lenses seen on the S23/S24/S25. In particular, the Galaxy S26 Edge(the middle model) is rumored to sport a wide rectangular camera bar spanning the top of the phone theverge.com theverge.com. This looks strikingly similar to the rumored iPhone 17 Pro’s camera layout and the visor-like module on Google’s Pixel phones. By contrast, the S25 series had more minimal camera bumps (especially the base and Plus, which had simple ring lenses). The move to a camera island could be partly aesthetic and partly functional – it gives the S26 a fresh identity and also provides space to house new components like the magnet ring.

Speaking of magnets, one of the “long-awaited” additions is the integration of Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. A leaked photo of an S26 dummy clearly shows a circular ring on the back of each unit, strongly indicating built-in magnets androidauthority.com androidauthority.com. If true, this means the Galaxy S26 will finally support magnetically snap-on chargers and accessories – much like Apple’s MagSafe (and as Google implemented on the Pixel 10). “The S26 could finally bring Qi2 compatibility to Galaxy flagships”, Android Authority notes, after Samsung’s decision not to include it on the S25 androidauthority.com. Practically, users can expect more convenient wireless charging (no more fiddling to align the phone on a pad) and a new ecosystem of magnetic mounts, wallets, battery packs, etc. for the S26.

In terms of dimensions, Samsung isn’t radically changing screen sizes – a wise choice given the S25 already optimized screen-to-body ratios. The base Galaxy S26 Pro is said to have a 6.27-inch display (a hair larger than the S25’s 6.2″) tomsguide.com, likely still flat and 1080p resolution. The S26 Edge should have a 6.7-inch QHD screen similar to the S25+, and the S26 Ultra around 6.9 inches QHD. All will remain Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with 120 Hz LTPOfor silky-smooth scrolling and adaptive refresh down to 1 Hz to save battery en.wikipedia.org. One source claims Samsung might trim the bezels further or use a slightly new panel tech, but no dramatic display changes (e.g. no under-display camera – the front camera will still be a small punch-hole cutout). The S25 series already hit a peak brightness of 2600 nits for HDR en.wikipedia.org, and we expect the S26 to match or exceed that for top-tier outdoor visibility.

Design-wise, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is reportedly becoming less boxy and more streamlined. Samsung has gradually been rounding off the Ultra’s once-notably sharp corners ever since the S22 Ultra (which inherited the Galaxy Note’s squared design). For S26 Ultra, leaks by reliable tipster Ice Universe suggest even more curved corners and a slightly slimmer profile techradar.com androidauthority.com. The device might end up looking a bit more like a thick Galaxy S (or even a Galaxy Note20 Ultra from 2020, which had a rounded corner take on the Note design). Dimensions are almost unchanged – roughly 163.4 × 77.9 mm face, compared to 162.8 × 77.6 mm for S25 Ultra techradar.com. That’s virtually identical footprint (only a fraction of a millimeter difference). However, the thickness could drop below 8 mm. Ice Universe claims the S26 Ultra will be under 7 mm thick (without the camera bump) androidcentral.com, which sounds incredibly slim for a phone with a 5,000 mAh battery. For reference, the S25 Ultra is about 8.2 mm. If Samsung truly achieves sub-7mm thickness, the S26 Ultra would be astonishingly sleek – though it’s possible that figure excludes the camera bump, which will protrude a bit. The weight may also come down slightly from the S25 Ultra’s 218 g, thanks to design optimizations.

And what about the “Edge”? As mentioned, Samsung appears to be rebranding the middle model as the Galaxy S26 Edge (this year’s S25 Edge was a special thin edition launched later). The S26 Edge will essentially replace the S26+ and is expected to continue the ultra-thin ethos: leaks say 5.5 mm thin for the S26 Edge theverge.com, which is extraordinary. That’s even slimmer than the S25 Edge’s record 5.8 mm. This likely makes the S26 Edge the thinnest premium phone on the market in 2026. It will still have a large 6.7″ display, so Samsung is pushing engineering boundaries here – possibly by using a new stacked battery design (to reduce thickness) and foregoing certain components (the S25 Edge had no telephoto lens, and we suspect S26 Edge also might not include a periscope zoom to save space). The trade-off for that breathtaking profile will be a slightly smaller battery (the S25 Edge had 3,900 mAh vs 4,900 mAh in the S25+ en.wikipedia.org). For style-conscious buyers, the Edge could be very appealing. It’s also noted that the Edge’s camera bar design gives it a bit of an “iPhone vibe,” which may attract users who like the look of the competitor.

In summary, the Galaxy S26 design is evolutionary but with notable tweaks: a fresher camera bump style, built-in magnets, and refinement of the Ultra’s shape. Expect the usual premium touches – armored aluminum or titanium frame, IP68 water resistance, and a range of colors (likely Phantom Black, etc., plus some new hero colors at launch). Samsung wowed us last year by using titanium alloy in the S25 Ultra’s frame (improving durability while shaving weight) news.samsung.com, so the S26 Ultra should continue with a titanium frame as well. If anything, Samsung might extend titanium to the Edge/Pro models if costs allow, since Apple moved its Pro iPhones to titanium in late 2023/2024. We’ll have to wait for the official Unpacked event to see all the final design flourishes.

Performance: Next-Gen Silicon and Return of Exynos?

Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 is gearing up to be an absolute powerhouse. The Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy was already one of 2025’s fastest chips, but the S26 will benefit from Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 series(unofficially dubbed the Snapdragon 8 “Elite Gen 2” or potentially Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, depending on Qualcomm’s naming). This new SoC will be manufactured on an advanced 3 nm node (TSMC’s N3 or N3E process), bringing both speed and efficiency gains. Early reports suggest it could have higher clock speeds – possibly a prime core boosting up to ≈4.6 GHz tomsguide.com – and a more powerful GPU for better graphics. In fact, one rumor claims Qualcomm’s next chip has been benchmarked around 4,000,000 points in AnTuTu (an Android performance test) tomsguide.com. For context, the Galaxy S25’s chip scores around ~1.8 million and even Apple’s A16 Bionic (iPhone 16) is under 2 million in the same test tomsguide.com. So if that leak is accurate, we’re talking about a huge leap in raw performance, possibly doubling what current phones can do in certain tasks. This means the S26 series could feel significantly snappier in heavy multitasking, 3D gaming, and AI computations.

However, the twist in the tale is Samsung’s in-house chip ambitions. Multiple sources, including PhoneArena and IDC analysts, report that Samsung will likely reintroduce Exynos chips for some Galaxy S26 models phonearena.com phonearena.com. Specifically, the Exynos 2600 is under development and could power the Galaxy S26 units in select regions (historically, Europe, India and others got Exynos, while the US/China/Korea got Snapdragon). This strategy was paused in 2023–2025 when Samsung used Qualcomm globally for the S23 and S24, and S25. Why bring Exynos back now? Samsung appears to be betting that the Exynos 2600 will be far more competitive than past chips. Notably, Samsung confirmed that Exynos 2600 will use a 2 nm fabrication process, becoming the first 2 nm mobile chip if it launches on schedule phonearena.com. By moving to 2 nm a bit ahead of TSMC/Apple/Qualcomm (which are likely still on 3 nm for 2025-26), Samsung could achieve better efficiency or pack more transistors in the same area. In theory, a well-designed 2 nm Exynos might finally close the gap with Apple’s CPUs and overcome the power-throttling and battery drain issues that plagued older Exynos generations.

The rumored Exynos 2600 is said to be a 10-core chip (potentially a tri-cluster design with high-performance cores, mid-cores, and efficiency cores). It reportedly features a new Samsung “Eclipse 960” GPU, co-developed with AMD, which could be 15% more powerful than the Adreno 830 in the current Snapdragon 8 Elite phonearena.com. Perhaps more importantly, Samsung is focusing on thermals: insiders claim the Exynos 2600 will have improved heat management phonearena.com, which has been a sore point for Exynos in the past. If Samsung can harness its 2 nm process to run the chip cooler and more power-efficient, it could avoid the throttling that hurt, say, the Exynos 990 or 2100 in prior Galaxy phones.

That said, it’s almost certain that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen next will still be used in Samsung’s key markets (USA and likely others). Samsung won’t risk its flagship reputation on Exynos alone unless the chip truly matches or beats Qualcomm across the board. So expect a dual-sourcing strategy: S26 devices in North America (and possibly some other regions) with the Snapdragon 8 “Elite 2”, and S26 devices in Europe/Asia with Exynos 2600. Both chips should support full 5G, Wi-Fi 7, etc., so average consumers may not notice a difference outside of benchmarks. But enthusiasts will certainly keep a close eye on any performance delta between the two variants.

On the memory front, Samsung is likely sticking with LPDDR5X RAM – 12 GB in base models (which is already plenty), and possibly offering 16 GB RAM options for the Ultra. One leak from a research firm suggested Samsung might bump the S26 Ultra to 16 GB RAM standard to one-up Apple (which sticks with 8 GB even in Pro iPhones) facebook.com. Even if not, Samsung has worked on faster memory speeds: Ice Universe leaked that the S26 Ultra will use new RAM chips that are ~25% faster than the S25’s, going from 8.5 Gbps to 10.7 Gbps bandwidth notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This implies Samsung’s own latest LPDDR5X or even a early LPDDR6 prototype. In day-to-day use, faster RAM won’t drastically change app opening times, but it could give a boost in heavy scenarios (like 8K video editing on the phone, or running multiple AI models simultaneously) and improve future-proofing. It will definitely show up in benchmarks – and gamers or power users doing a lot of multitasking might see fewer slowdowns. The storage is expected to remain UFS 4.0 based, with 128 GB base and up to 1 TB options on the Ultra, just like S25 en.wikipedia.org. Samsung might drop the 128 GB tier on higher models and start at 256 GB if they adjust pricing, but leaks haven’t been specific on this.

In summary, the S26 should be one of the fastest smartphones on the planet at launch. With Qualcomm’s new SoC, it will blow through any app or game, and its AI/ML capabilities on-device will expand (for things like real-time language translation, advanced camera scene recognition, etc.). If the Exynos 2600 lives up to the hype, it could be a comeback story for Samsung’s chips – and having that 2 nm tech inside gives Samsung a marketing point (first 2 nm chip) as well as potential efficiency gains, meaning better battery life. Of course, software optimization will also play a role; One UI 8.5 is expected to refine performance further, perhaps by intelligently allocating tasks between high-power and efficiency cores using AI.

Cameras: Refining the Formula, Pushing the Night Boundary

Samsung knows cameras are a make-or-break feature for flagships, and the Galaxy S26 leaks indicate smart upgrades rather than a total overhaul of the already excellent S25 camera system.

Starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, since that’s where Samsung usually showcases new camera tech: it’s confirmed via leaks that the S26 Ultra will reuse the 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 main sensor from the S25 Ultra notebookcheck.net. At first glance, that might sound like no upgrade, but Samsung is reportedly changing the lens aperture to f/1.4 (from f/1.7). This is a significant improvement for low-light photography – a lower f-number means a wider lens opening to capture more light. In fact, an f/1.4 lens gathers roughly 47% more light than f/1.7 notebookcheck.net. Combined with Samsung’s advanced multi-frame Night Mode, this could mean substantially brighter, cleaner night shots and less motion blur in dark scenes on the S26 Ultra. We might see Samsung enable higher resolution Night or Pro mode shots thanks to that extra light. Daytime photos from the 200 MP (which bins pixels to 12.5 MP by default) were already fantastic on S25; now they’ll benefit from a sharper, faster lens for even crisper results. This upgrade shows Samsung is focusing on optics quality – not just sensor megapixels – to compete with the likes of Google’s Pixel and Apple’s Photonic Engine in computational photography.

The telephoto cameras on the S26 Ultra are getting attention too. For a few generations, Samsung used the same 10 MP 3× tele sensor (1/3.5″ size) – reliable, but due for an update. On S26 Ultra, that mid-zoom lens will reportedly jump to a 12 MP sensor notebookcheck.net. The increase to 12 MP (20% more pixels) isn’t huge, but it likely involves a newer, larger sensor (perhaps around 1/3″ size) which, paired with Samsung’s processing, should yield sharper 3× shots and better portrait mode quality. This also aligns with Samsung possibly standardizing higher resolution across lenses (Apple did 12 MP across all iPhone lenses for years; Samsung going 12/50/200 MP across its cameras provides consistency). Meanwhile, the 10× periscope lens that the S25 Ultra had was actually replaced by a 5× 50 MP periscope in S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra – Samsung opted for a 5× optical zoom to strike a balance between reach and clarity (though with high resolution allowing digital zoom up to 50–100×). The S26 Ultra will keep a 5× periscope, still 50 MP, but crucially that lens aperture is rumored to widen from f/3.4 to f/2.9 notebookcheck.net. This is a 38% increase in light capture for the zoom lens notebookcheck.net, which addresses a common weakness: telephoto cameras often struggle in low light, producing dark or noisy images. With f/2.9, the S26 Ultra’s zoom should perform better at dusk or indoors. It might also assist in astrophotography or moon shots that Samsung markets – brighter lens, less need to crank ISO = cleaner results.

The ultrawide on the S26 Ultra is expected to remain a 50 MP sensor (likely the same one introduced on S25 Ultra) with an f/1.9 aperture notebookcheck.net. That already was a huge upgrade in S25 (from 12 MP to 50 MP ultrawide), so Samsung likely feels it’s sufficient. The 50 MP ultrawide offers great detail and doubles as a macro shooter (autofocus capable). Keeping it also simplifies things for Samsung’s camera software which can seamlessly switch lenses while maintaining similar color science across shots.

For the Galaxy S26 Edge (the thinner model replacing Plus), leaks suggest it will retain a 200 MP main camera like the Ultra notebookcheck.net. This is interesting, because the current S25+ uses a 50 MP main – so if true, Samsung might be bringing the 200 MP down to lower models for the first time. However, note that the S25 Edge (thin model) already had a 200 MP main en.wikipedia.org. So more likely, the S26 Edge is essentially the successor to S25 Edge: it keeps that 200 MP wide camera and improves the supporting cast. Specifically, the S26 Edge is said to upgrade its ultrawide from 12 MP to 50 MP (just like the Ultra did) notebookcheck.net. That means both the Ultra and Edge would share a 50 MP ultrawide sensor in 2026, which is great news for consistency. The Edge might not have a telephoto lens at all (if Samsung chooses thinness over zoom) – the S25 Edge had only dual cameras (200 MP + 12 MP) en.wikipedia.org. There’s an outside chance Samsung includes a 3× telephoto on S26 Edge since it’s now a mainline model, but packing one in a 5.5 mm chassis could be tough. We will have to see if Samsung prioritizes a tele lens or leaves it out. In any case, the Edge model should now be on par with Ultra for the primary camera and ultrawide quality, just potentially lacking the zoom range.

The base Galaxy S26 Pro (formerly the “S26” standard model) will likely stick to a 50 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultrawide, and possibly a 10 MP or 12 MP 3× telephoto, much like the S25 and S24 did en.wikipedia.org. One rumor from Tom’s Guide indicated the S26 (base) might use a newer 50 MP sensor (ISOCELL GN series) to replace the aging GN3 used since S21/S22 tomsguide.com. If Samsung swaps in a GN5 or a GN6 sensor, we could see better dynamic range or faster autofocus on the base model’s main camera. That’s speculative, but it makes sense that Samsung would quietly upgrade the 50 MP sensor generation for improved photo quality without changing the spec sheet numbers. The base model having a telephoto at all is an advantage over some competitors (for example, Google’s base Pixel typically lacks a tele lens, and Apple’s non-Pro iPhones rely on digital zoom). So the S26 Pro will likely continue to offer that 3× optical zoom which, as Tom’s Guide notes, gives Samsung an edge over Apple’s base iPhone which must crop from the main sensor for zoom tomsguide.com.

On the software side, expect even more AI-driven camera features. Samsung’s camera app in One UI 8.5 might introduce features like “Night AI mode 2.0” leveraging the new neural processor (which is 40% faster on S25 and likely even faster on S26) news.samsung.com. There’s talk of a “Pro AI” mode where multiple AI models evaluate a scene (sky, plants, faces, etc.) to apply optimal tuning – essentially going beyond simple scene optimizer to a more dynamic, learned approach. Samsung is also rumored to add expanded manual controls (perhaps letting the user adjust focus peaking or use the telephoto in Pro mode, which was limited before). Video could see a bump too: the S25 already did great stabilized 8K video. With the S26’s faster chips, maybe Samsung will enable 8K@60fps recording or an even higher 4K HDR frame rate. One niche rumor is an “Astro Hyperlapse” mode, combining astrophotography with motion lapses – not confirmed, but Samsung filed trademarks hinting at new camera modes.

Overall, the camera outlook for Galaxy S26 is bright (literally). Samsung isn’t increasing the megapixels beyond what’s tried-and-true; instead, it’s enhancing optics and sensors to draw more performance out of the existing hardware. A quote from a Notebookcheck report encapsulates it well: “the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s quad camera could get three upgrades that should make it more light sensitive” notebookcheck.net – this focus on light capture implies better photos in the situations where smartphones typically struggle (nighttime, indoors). Combine that with Samsung’s image processing and the promised multi-year software updates, and the S26 cameras should only improve over time.

Battery Life and Charging: Small Gains, Faster Top-Ups

Battery capacity has been a somewhat stagnant aspect of Samsung’s flagships for a few years – the base S models hovered around 4,000 mAh and Ultras at 5,000 mAh. With the S26, Samsung appears to be cautiously increasing battery sizes, although they’re not breaking any records (likely due to slim design constraints). According to a reputable leak from Digital Chat Station, the Galaxy S26 Pro (6.3″ model) will pack a 4,300 mAh battery (rated ~4,175 mAh), which is up from the S25’s 4,000 mAh notebookcheck.net. That ~7.5% increase in capacity should translate to a bit more screen-on time – perhaps an extra hour of use on average – assuming the more efficient chips don’t offset it further (which they might, giving even better battery life). The S26 Edge (6.7″) could see a bump from 4,900 mAh (in S25+) to around 5,100 mAh, however the S25 Edge variant was only 3,900 mAh due to its thinness en.wikipedia.org. If S26 Edge remains ultra-thin, it might not exceed ~4,000 mAh. We will have to see if Samsung prioritizes thinness (and uses ~4,000 mAh) or if they make the Edge a bit thicker than 5.5 mm to fit a larger battery.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to stay at 5,000 mAh – a capacity Samsung has standardized since the S20 Ultra. But the Ultra will benefit from the aforementioned 60 W wired charging support notebookcheck.net. This is a big deal for Samsung users: ever since 2020, Samsung capped charging at 45 W (and often that 45 W didn’t even give much benefit over 25 W due to charging curve limitations). If the S26 Ultra hits 60 W, it puts Samsung closer to OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc., which have been offering 65 W or even 120 W charging abroad. A 60 W charge should fill a 5,000 mAh battery from 0–100% in roughly 30 minutes or less. Compare this to about ~55–60 minutes on the S25 Ultra with 45 W – it’s almost twice as fast. That’s a quality-of-life upgrade users will notice daily, effectively banishing battery anxiety for many. It’s worth noting Samsung is conservative with charging tech to ensure battery longevity and safety (no Galaxy batteries swelling or overheating fiascos wanted), so 60 W is a confident step that still errs on the safe side compared to some Chinese phones pushing 90–150 W. Additionally, an early firmware analysis literally contained code for “60W” charging on the S26 Ultra, confirming Samsung’s plans notebookcheck.net.

Wireless charging on S26 will remain at the Qi standard max of 15 W (unless Qi2 allows slightly higher?), but as we detailed, the difference is the magnetic alignment which ensures you actually get that full 15 W consistently. Reverse wireless charging (“Wireless PowerShare”) will likely stick to 4.5 W – handy for topping up earbuds or a smartwatch on the go, just as S25 could en.wikipedia.org.

Samsung is also rumored to use new “silicon-carbon” battery materials or a stacked battery structure for S26. This is more of an engineering detail: one report says Samsung SDI developed stacking tech (inspired by EV batteries) that could increase energy density by ~10% without increasing volume. That could explain how the base S26 manages 4,300 mAh in the same form factor – the cells might simply be a new design. This tech could also reduce heat while charging. If true, it indicates Samsung is working behind the scenes on battery chemistry improvements, even if the mAh numbers don’t skyrocket.

The overall battery life of S26 devices should see a solid improvement year-over-year. The combination of slightly larger batteries, more efficient 2/3 nm chips, and software optimizations in One UI (like smarter refresh rate control and app power management) means the S26 could push closer to the endurance we see in Apple’s iPhones (which are battery life champs). For instance, the S25 Ultra already got through a full day comfortably; the S26 Ultra might stretch into a day and a half for moderate users. And if you do need a quick refill, that 60 W charger (assuming Samsung includes it or sells it) will make a 10-minute top-up give several hours of use.

One small anecdote: Samsung’s move to lower power consumption components (like possibly a more efficient OLED panel or the new Qualcomm Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip) can further reduce idle drain. We might hear at launch that the S26 has “X% longer video playback time” or “the longest battery life ever in a Galaxy S.” Given that Apple’s iPhone 17 (2025) is expected to also improve battery tech (with rumors of stacked batteries and 35 W charging on iPhone), Samsung is ensuring it doesn’t lag in this department.

In summary, battery and charging on the S26 won’t rewrite the rulebook, but evolutionary upgrades here will be felt every day. Samsung is finally closing the gap in fast charging, and incremental capacity gains plus efficient chips mean the phones will last a bit longer per charge. It’s a combination of “modest capacity bump, major charging speed bump” for 2026.

Software & Ecosystem: One UI 8.5 and Beyond

On the software side, the S26 series will launch with Android 16 (Google’s 2025 release) under Samsung’s latest skin, One UI 8.5. Samsung typically introduces a .1 or .5 One UI update with new Galaxy S phones if Android itself had a mid-cycle update. In this case, since One UI 8.0 (based on Android 16) is already on the 2025 foldables, the S26 might debut a One UI 8.1 or 8.5 that brings additional features for the S series. A leaked firmware already confirms One UI 8.5 references tied to the S26 notebookcheck.net.

One UI 8.5 is expected to refine Samsung’s design language and possibly integrate more of Samsung’s “Galaxy AI”vision. We touched on the multi-assistant support – that’s a huge differentiator. To elaborate: Samsung’s president Choi explicitly said “we’re going to integrate multiple AI assistants and AI agents… [we’re] talking to multiple vendors” about S26 9to5google.com 9to5google.com. This suggests that out of the box, an S26 could let you summon different AI helpers for different tasks. For example, Samsung might include a ChatGPT-powered chatbot for complex questions or creative queries, while also keeping Google’s Gemini assistant for general phone control and web queries, and Samsung’s own Bixby for on-device tasks. You might ask ChatGPT (via a Samsung app) to draft an email or plan a trip, while using Gemini for “Navigate home” or “What’s the weather?”, etc., all natively integrated. This kind of open AI ecosystem is unprecedented on mobile – Apple has Siri, Google has Assistant, but Samsung could offer a suite of AIs, letting the user or context choose the best one. It’s a bold move that could make the S26 very appealing to tech-savvy users who use AI in daily life. It aligns with Samsung’s partnership approach: they aren’t trying to build one AI to rule them all (they tried with Bixby, it didn’t pan out), instead they’ll leverage the best in the industry. There’s talk that Perplexity AI (an AI search engine) might be one of the integrated services tech.yahoo.com, providing concise answers using the web, as well as Microsoft’s GPT-4 based Bing Chat potentially.

Apart from AI, One UI 8.5 will likely bring general improvements and Samsung-exclusive features. For instance, Samsung might introduce improved device syncing (Galaxy ecosystem stuff to compete with Apple’s Continuity), more advanced privacy features (perhaps building on Knox security with AI-driven privacy like detecting document screenshots, etc.), and UI tweaks. Given the S26’s emphasis on AI, we may see new camera modes that use on-device AI (like the ability to generate AI wallpapers or AI photo editing built into the Gallery). Samsung could also expand its Voice Voice typing and transcription features using the better NPU on S26 – imagine real-time transcription of videos or live translation in calls.

In terms of longevity, Samsung will undoubtedly continue the 7-year update promise with S26, if not extend it. Android 16 on launch means S26 could get updates up to Android 23 (!). While it’s hard to conceive that far out, it means buyers can keep the phone for many years without falling behind on software – a strong point versus many Android rivals that stop at 3-4 years. Security-wise, Samsung’s Knox will likely get enhancements for the AI era (Samsung mentioned post-quantum cryptography on S25 news.samsung.com, which probably carries into S26 for future-proofing encryption).

The Galaxy S26 will also ship with support for the Galaxy ecosystem devices launching alongside it, like the Galaxy Watch 8 or Galaxy Buds3 (hypothetical names). Samsung usually has some ecosystem feature to announce – maybe the S26 + new Galaxy Buds will support a lossless audio over Bluetooth LE or something similar. And with UWB (ultra-wideband) present in S25+ and Ultra en.wikipedia.org, S26 will use it for improved SmartThings Find (Samsung’s version of AirTag). If Samsung finally releases the long-rumored Galaxy Ring (smart ring) in 2026, the S26 will be the showcase device to manage it (there was a hint in the Notebookcheck index about Galaxy Ring 2 with S26 Edge notebookcheck.net).

All told, the software experience on Galaxy S26 aims to be smarter and more long-lived than ever. It’s Samsung staking a claim that their phones aren’t just hardware beasts, but also intelligent companions that will grow with you. The integration of multiple AI assistants could even be a selling point that differentiates Galaxy phones from all others on the market.

How Galaxy S26 Stacks Up Against 2025’s Other Flagships

Samsung’s Galaxy S series doesn’t exist in a vacuum – every year it goes head-to-head with Apple’s iPhone and a host of Android competitors from Google, Xiaomi, and others. The Galaxy S26 will be launching in an environment where some key rivals have recently debuted or are about to:

Apple iPhone 17 (2025) / iPhone 18 (2026): By the time the S26 hits stores in early 2026, Apple’s late-2025 iPhone 17 lineup will have been out for a few months. In fact, Samsung itself acknowledges that the S26 is positioned to challenge the iPhone 17 series which Apple announced in Sept 2025 tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. How do they compare? Early indications are that Apple’s iPhone 17 (the base model) finally adopted a 6.3″ 120 Hz OLED display – catching up to Samsung on screen smoothness tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The iPhone 17’s A18 chip is extremely fast, but as noted, the S26’s Snapdragon 8 Gen next might actually overtake it, especially if Apple bizarrely reused A18 for the base iPhone 17 as one rumor suggested tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, meanwhile, are rumored to introduce a periscope zoom (5×) for the first time on Apple’s side. This means the Galaxy S26 Ultra will face stiffer camera competition, but Samsung is still likely to lead in pure zoom range (continuing up to 50–100× digital) and high-megapixel detail. One area Apple might one-up Samsung is in computational photography and video – iPhones are renowned for consistent camera performance. However, Samsung’s widening apertures and AI improvements aim to close that gap. On features, the S26’s multi-AI assistant strategy contrasts with Apple’s integrated but arguably limited Siri (Apple is reportedly working on an AI revamp, but not as diverse as Samsung’s approach). Both ecosystems will support Qi2 magnetic charging – Apple’s iPhones 17/18 of course use MagSafe (Qi2 standard), and rumor has it Apple might boost their wireless charging to 50 W (which is ironically higher than Samsung’s 15 W). In pricing, if Samsung raises S26 prices slightly, they’ll be in line or just below iPhone Pro prices (S26 Ultra ~$1199+ vs iPhone 17 Pro Max rumored ~$1199+ as well). Where Samsung often wins is offering more bang for buck (e.g. base S26 likely has 12 GB RAM vs iPhone 17’s 8 GB, and a telephoto lens included which base iPhone lacks). Also, Samsung’s longer software support now rivals Apple’s – 7 years for S26 vs typically 5-6 years for iPhones – an incredible turnaround from a few years ago.
Google Pixel 9 (late 2024) and Pixel 10 (late 2025): Google’s Pixel phones emphasize AI and cameras, which overlap interestingly with Samsung’s focus. The Pixel 9 series (2024) will be about a year old when S26 launches, and Google’s Pixel 10 might actually release around Oct 2025, just a few months before S26. So Pixel 10 is likely Google’s true answer to Galaxy S26. Pixel 10 is rumored to feature Google’s Tensor G4 chip, improved to catch up in performance, and critically, Pixel 10 adopted Qi2 magnets in mid-2025 androidauthority.com. Samsung clearly took note – they can’t let Google’s flagship have a feature Galaxy S lacks, and indeed S26 will match that. In terms of cameras, Google sticks to 50 MP main sensors with superb computational photography. A Pixel’s strength is point-and-shoot consistency and things like the best Night Sight and Real Tone (skin tone accuracy). Samsung is countering with sheer hardware might (200 MP, multiple lenses) plus more AI of its own. It will be interesting to see if Samsung’s new AI image processing can challenge Google’s famous photo processing – having Expert RAW with AI or on-device Photoshop-like editing could appeal to enthusiasts. Pixel 9/10 also integrate Google’s AI (Assistant with Bard, etc.), but ironically Samsung’s strategy of hosting third-party AIs could leapfrog Pixel in AI versatility. Where Pixels might still win is software simplicity and timely updates (Pixel gets Android updates day-one, Samsung with One UI often delays a bit, though Samsung has been very fast lately). Price-wise, Pixel undercuts Samsung typically ($999 Pixel Pro vs $1199 Ultra), but Samsung offers more premium hardware (Pixel doesn’t have the high-end build of an Ultra, or as powerful silicon historically). With Tensor G3/G4, Pixel’s performance is still below Snapdragon, so the S26 will likely outrun Pixel in speed and especially in GPU (important for games). One advantage Google could have is exclusive AI features (like Call Screen, Magic Eraser, etc.) – Samsung may respond by integrating similar features (they already have Object Eraser, etc.). The S26 having multiple AIs might actually overshadow Google’s single-assistant approach if executed well.
Xiaomi 15/16 and Chinese Flagships: In 2025, Chinese brands continue to push boundaries in hardware. Xiaomi’s flagship for 2025 is expected to be the Xiaomi 15 (if following numeric order). However, a leak cited Xiaomi 16with a whopping 7,000 mAh battery in a 6.3″ phone coming in late 2025 notebookcheck.net. It’s possible Xiaomi is skipping a number or the 16 is actually their 2025 model (Chinese OEMs sometimes accelerate numbering). Regardless, phones like Xiaomi 15/16, Vivo X300 Pro, Oppo Find X9 Pro are all slated around late 2025 with big battery and ultra-fast charging as headline features notebookcheck.net. For example, Xiaomi’s flagship might have 120 W charging and battery north of 5,500 mAh in a standard model – meaning those devices can last longer and charge in 20 minutes or less. Samsung is comparatively conservative: a 4,300 mAh battery and 60 W charge on S26 Pro seem modest when “the first 7,000 mAh, 6.3″ flagships” are emerging in China notebookcheck.net. Samsung’s retort is typically reliability, balanced design, and global availability (plus no software compromises for global users like Google Mobile Services absence, etc.). Also, Samsung’s 7-year updates dwarf the 2-3 years many Chinese OEMs offer outside China. Camera-wise, Xiaomi and others often use the same 1″ 50 MP sensors and even 200 MP sensors, so Samsung can’t rely on sensor advantage alone. But Samsung’s computational photography has improved and will leverage that dual-tele setup which few Chinese phones have (Xiaomi 13 Ultra did have dual tele though). Additionally, the S26 Ultra’s rumored camera improvements (better aperture, etc.) show Samsung’s aiming to beat those rivals in low-light imaging, where it already did well.

Samsung’s biggest edge against Chinese brands in markets like Europe is trust and brand value – and with S26 focusing on privacy (Knox, on-device AI) sammobile.com sammobile.com, they position themselves as the safer alternative to say, a device from BBK group or Xiaomi which might not have the same security rep.

Another competitor in 2025 is the foldable segment: while not a direct “slab phone” rival, Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold 7/8 and Apple’s rumored foldable (perhaps 2026) are lurking. Choi, Samsung’s mobile chief, even commented that they welcome Apple’s foldable because Samsung has a head start of many generations 9to5google.com 9to5google.com. If some consumers consider a foldable instead of an S26 Ultra, Samsung likely expects to win them either way (since Samsung dominates foldables too). But that’s tangential – for mainstream flagships, Galaxy S26’s positioning is clear: it aims to be the most complete Android flagship of early 2026, delivering a blend of bleeding-edge tech (2 nm chip, AI features) with the polish and support Samsung is known for.

In summary, against iPhone 16/17 – Galaxy S26 offers more versatility (more cameras, more open software), while matching Apple on things like build quality and longevity. Against Pixel 9/10 – S26 fights back on AI and outguns on raw power and hardware prowess. Against Xiaomi 15/16 or others – S26 may not win on spec sheet numbers for battery or charging, but provides a more rounded, globally reliable experience with top-notch display, camera, and support. Samsung is also likely to emphasize how the S26 serves as a hub for its entire ecosystem (TVs, appliances, wearables), something Chinese brands are only starting to build and Apple/Google can’t fully replicate on the home appliance front.

One could say the Galaxy S26 is Samsung firing on all cylinders to maintain its crown in the Android world and inch closer to parity with (or even surpass) Apple in key areas. As an Android Authority editor put it, the S26 Ultra appears to be “upgraded on all fronts but one” (that “one” likely being that it doesn’t increase battery as drastically as some hoped) androidauthority.com – in virtually every other aspect, S26 is expected to be better than S25. For consumers, that means if you held off upgrading your Galaxy in 2025, the 2026 model could be a real leap worth waiting for.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the excellent Galaxy S25, with a blend of confirmed improvements and credible rumors painting a picture of a formidable 2026 flagship. The S25 set a solid foundation with its powerful performance, brilliant displays, and capable cameras – the S26 looks to amplify those strengths: a faster and more efficient chip (possibly the first 2 nm processor in a phone) phonearena.com, more advanced camera optics for low-light prowess notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net, modern conveniences like magnetic wireless charging finally onboard androidauthority.com, and a forward-thinking approach to AI and software support that could keep it cutting-edge for years.

In a direct comparison, Galaxy S26 vs S25 comes down to evolution with purpose: Samsung isn’t overhauling the design completely or inflating specs just for bragging rights, but rather addressing real-world feedback. The slightly larger batteries and much faster charging tackle battery anxiety that S25 users noted. The refined design with a camera island and rounded edges gives the S26 a fresh, ergonomic appeal without alienating fans of the Galaxy aesthetic. The continued 200 MP sensor with a bigger aperture shows Samsung doubling down on what worked and fixing what didn’t (expect significantly better night shots where S25 Ultra was already good, but not Google Pixel-level good in extreme dark – that might change now). And the software, with its promise of multiple AI assistants and extended updates, suggests the S26 will age gracefully and adapt over its lifetime, which the average S25 user can’t claim beyond the standard Google Assistant/Bixby combo.

For current Galaxy S25 owners, the S26 will feel familiar yet cutting-edge – all your favorite features (120 Hz display, great cameras, slick One UI) will carry over, enhanced by more speed and smarter capabilities. For those on older phones or considering jumping ship from another brand, the Galaxy S26 is poised to be one of the most well-rounded phones of 2026, checking practically every box: a premium build, top-tier performance, robust battery life with quick charging, camera versatility, and a commitment to user experience (both in playful features and serious security). It’s the kind of phone that tech enthusiasts will love to dissect – e.g., see how that Snapdragon vs Exynos battle plays out – and general users will simply find joy to use daily.

Of course, until Samsung’s Unpacked event (likely in January 2026), these details remain leaks and educated predictions. Samsung could have a few surprises up its sleeve (perhaps an “Ultra AI mode” that integrates all those assistants in cool ways, or some new sensor hardware like an under-display fingerprint upgrade, etc.). But from what we know, the trajectory is exciting.

In the ever-intensifying competition with Apple’s iPhones and Google’s Pixels, the Galaxy S26 looks ready to take the fight to them on all fronts. It represents Samsung’s vision for the smartphone of 2026: an AI-enhanced, speed-demon, photography studio in your pocket that doesn’t compromise on the fundamentals. As we await the official launch, one thing is certain: Samsung is pulling out all the stops with the Galaxy S26, and if the leaks hold true, it just might set a new benchmark for what a flagship phone can be.

Sources: Samsung Newsroom news.samsung.com news.samsung.com; TechRadar techradar.com techradar.com; The Verge theverge.com; Notebookcheck notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net; Android Authority androidauthority.com androidauthority.com; Tom’s Guide tomsguide.com tomsguide.com; SamMobile sammobile.com sammobile.com; PhoneArena phonearena.com phonearena.com; Notebookcheck (firmware leak) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net; Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org and other reputable industry reports.