Main conclusions
- Samsung’s recently released Exynos 2600 chip may be used in the Galaxy S26.
- Anticipate significant camera enhancements across the Galaxy S26 range.
- Though there are still conflicting rumors, here are some potential features of the Galaxy S26.
The success of the flagship lineup is comparable to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, even if the Galaxy S26 rumor cycle is still relatively early.
Information on Samsung’s next phones has remained unclear. A Galaxy S26 Pro was the subject of earlier rumors, however they were later dropped. According to a recent rumor, there won’t be an Edge following the next edition, despite some speculating that the Korean manufacturer would replace its Plus model with a Galaxy S26 Edge.
There are some things to anticipate from the standard, Plus, and Ultra models, but all of this leaves me with hazy details. What I currently know about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 series is included below.
An internal Exynos 2600 chipset will power the Galaxy S26 range, according to a Korea Economic Daily report. It is estimated that roughly 50% of Galaxy S26 devices in South Korea and Europe will use the upgraded CPU. According to reports, Qualcomm-powered devices will be available in the US, Japan, and China markets.
For comparison, prior to the Galaxy S22, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S-series phones were powered by Exynos. It switched to Qualcomm in subsequent years, completely abandoning Exynos in the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S25 models. With this year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung went back to using its own processor, the Exynos 2500 SoC. Nevertheless, a brand-new chipset is rumored to be included in the Galaxy S26 series.
Apple and Qualcomm depend on TSMC, while Samsung Foundry will produce the Exynos 2600 internally. This chipset, according to the claim, is built on a 2nm technology, which is said to increase an NPU six times faster than Apple’s A19 Pro. It is estimated that this NPU will outperform Qualcomm’s flagship processor by 30%.
According to reports, the Exynos 2600 chipset in the Samsung Galaxy S26 will provide up to 75% more GPU performance and 14% greater CPU multi-core performance. According to reports, the GPU outperforms Qualcomm’s by up to 29%. Those are lofty statements, and I’m interested to see how effective Samsung’s upcoming mobile processor will be. In the past, the Exynos SoCs were notorious for overheating. Time will tell, but I anticipate that the Exynos 2600 will perform better.
At the very least, I hope Samsung includes a larger sensor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, although the rumors haven’t been clear. However, one of them asserted that the Galaxy S26 series might mark a return to variable aperture technology. Furthermore, the camera bump size could be greatly decreased using a new ALoP lens technology.
A larger 1/1.1-inch 200MP Sony sensor may be upgraded for the Ultra, while the regular Galaxy S26 is rumored to include a new 50MP primary camera sensor. An F1.4 aperture, which would allow 47% more light to enter, might be available. Expect improved night photography as a result. Additionally, Samsung is rumored to keep the ultrawide camera the same while increasing the 3x telephoto sensor from 10MP to 12MP.
Samsung flagships require a camera makeover, so I hope the reports of a sensor update are accurate. Optical improvements have slowed down year after year, and in my most recent comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was no match for the Oppo Find X8 Ultra.
Rumor had it that Samsung would replace the Galaxy S26 Plus with a Galaxy S26 Edge and the standard Galaxy S26 model with a Galaxy S26 Pro. But the more details that come to light regarding the Galaxy S26 series, the more perplexing it becomes.
The Galaxy S26 will be the name of the entry-level Samsung flagship, according to the most recent report. According to a different source, Samsung may decide to discontinue the Galaxy S26 Edge. Thus, the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra remain the standard suspects.
A 4,300mAh battery, as opposed to the 4,000mAh cell present on the current-generation Galaxy S25, is reportedly added to the base model to improve battery life. Although the other two versions’ battery capacities have not been confirmed, I hope the Galaxy S25 Ultra will also receive a battery update, particularly since the OnePlus 15 is anticipated to have a larger 7,300mAh battery.
According to a rumor, Samsung is still lagging behind in the development of the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, which could cause the Galaxy S26 series to be postponed until March.
However, given that other manufacturers are aiming for earlier-than-usual launches, I don’t think it will occur. Other Chinese firms are reportedly planning to follow suit, with the OnePlus 15 expected to launch globally next month, two months ahead of the OnePlus 13.
There would be a significant release gap for rival smartphones to compete Samsung if Samsung postponed the Galaxy S26’s introduction. Another rumor has claimed that the business will ship the Galaxy S26 Ultra in January and the regular Galaxy S26 in September. I’ve heard a similar story about Apple’s launch timetable. Although it might happen, I anticipate the release of at least one Samsung Galaxy S26 smartphone in January 2026.
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