What I feel Samsung ought to do with the Galaxy S26

Samsung seems like a little bit of a contradiction in the meanwhile. Whereas it is on the forefront of smartphone design with foldables just like the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, it additionally simply launched the Galaxy S25 series, which can be one in every of its most conservative flagship launches ever. The consensus appears to be that whereas the S25 lineup is strong, it is solely a tiny evolution over the S24, principally providing quicker efficiency and some new AI choices. In case you have an S24 and even an S23, there’s not a lot purpose to improve.

That raises an vital query, from a tech trade perspective — the place can Samsung’s design go from right here? I feel it is protected to say that Samsung cannot preserve treading water if it desires to face out out there — and but the corporate would not appear inclined to swim again to shore anytime quickly.

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Just a few prospects, however not many

The longer term might be already written

I can image the Galaxy S26 in my head already. The most recent rumor, through FNN News, is that upcoming Samsung telephones will change to silicon-carbon battery expertise. It is a variant of lithium-ion, the primary enchancment being higher vitality density, supporting thinner battery packs with equal capability. There is a sturdy likelihood the S26 will seem like the (nonetheless mysterious) Galaxy S25 Edge — which, just like the iPhone 17 Air, is likely to be Samsung’s manner of testing the waters with silicon-carbon. Though the tech is already in a handful of Chinese language telephones, Apple and Samsung could also be reluctant to go all-in simply but.

Based mostly on Samsung’s launch historical past, I could make different predictions, too. Samsung will naturally provide some type of processor improve, probably paired with extra RAM to raised help its AI ambitions. And naturally there can be digital camera upgrades, one rumor being that Samsung desires to make use of a 200-megapixel periscope zoom system. That might make the S26 Extremely a images powerhouse, though once more, it could simply be maintaining with Chinese language telephones just like the Vivo X200 Professional.

These AI ambitions will in all probability be intently tied to no matter Google’s engaged on. The S25 makes Google Gemini a key part, and Samsung has beforehand cooperated with Google on different AI options like circle-to-search. Samsung will undoubtedly need to put its personal stamp on issues — simply do not count on something radical.

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Extra the identical is not sufficient

What ought to Samsung be exploring?

If none of these S26 rumors sound thrilling, I do not suppose they need to be. Sure, higher battery life — or not less than thinner designs with the identical longevity — will have an effect on every day use, however in all probability not a dramatic one. We’re a far cry from the times when Samsung was making conspicuous leaps each technology or two. There’s nothing dramatic on the horizon, and it is slightly disheartening. Even the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 will in all probability be minor upgrades based mostly on the few rumors I’ve seen thus far.

One factor Samsung must do is experiment with kind components, and I do not imply altering how sharp its corners are to match no matter Apple’s into this yr. It may, for instance, attempt to make its telephones slightly extra ergonomic, although that appears unlikely given how cost-effective it’s to churn out a brick of steel and glass. It would strive placing slightly extra artwork into its digital camera bumps. We have got the Pixel 9, OnePlus 13, and plenty of different telephones as fashions — there is no legislation dictating that Samsung telephones have to make use of probably the most minimalist digital camera association potential.

Maybe the corporate may check out a number of the extra fringe manufacturers on the market, like Nothing or ASUS’ ROG lineup. One thing like (however indirectly copying) the Nothing Telephone’s glyph lighting or the ROG Phone 9’s rear LED panel may give Samsung telephones a extra distinctive aesthetic, whereas serving a sensible objective within the type of notifications. It is 2025 — if we will reside in a cyberpunk dystopia, it is about time our telephones look the half.

Not each change has to seem on the surface. Samsung is a big conglomerate with its personal chip manufacturing unit, and it is wonderful to me that the corporate hasn’t been in a position to provide you with an Exynos processor that beats Apple, Google, or Qualcomm’s in-house designs. That is simpler mentioned than performed as die sizes get nearer and nearer to 1nm, but it would be a strategic coup, enabling noticeably extra superior AI and gaming.

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Does Samsung even have an incentive to vary course?

The height smartphone drawback

It might be that Samsung is completely advantageous with the established order. Its telephones stay common, particularly within the US, the place most Chinese language manufacturers aren’t allowed to compete. So long as it may possibly match or beat what Apple and Google are as much as, it should get pleasure from a wholesome marketshare.

It could even be that, as some have identified, we have reached “peak smartphone.” In that view, there’s not a lot progress left for smartphones anyway, not less than past annual spec upgrades — they’ve change into a commodity. Within the subsequent a number of years, there’s even the potential for them being changed by good glasses. Samsung was one of many first corporations to announce a headset for Google’s Android XR platform, and with a couple of extra years of growth, miniaturization may put XR in one thing as compact as Meta’s Ray-Ban shades. Time will inform.

My very own sense is that Samsung is someplace in between. It would not have any explicit stress to innovate quicker, and it is out of straightforward choices, too — nobody’s going to get excited over folding or “waterfall” shows anymore. I am predicting that the S26 and S27 can be almost similar to one another, wanting a technical breakthrough that comes from elsewhere within the trade.

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