5 Samsung Galaxy S26 Rumors That Signal Trouble

Galaxy S26 Rumors: What to Expect from Samsung’s Next Flagship Lineup

As we approach the start of a new year, excitement is building around the upcoming release of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup. While the exact launch date remains uncertain, with some suggesting it could arrive in January or February rather than March, there are already plenty of rumors and leaks about what to expect from the next generation of Samsung’s flagship smartphones.

Here’s a breakdown of five of the most significant Galaxy S26 rumors that could shape your expectations for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Chipset Changes

One of the more intriguing aspects of Samsung’s flagship phone line is the variation in chipsets across different regions. This trend appears set to continue with the Galaxy S26 series.

According to recent reports, the Galaxy S26 models sold in South Korea will likely feature Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chipset. Meanwhile, devices sold outside of South Korea are expected to come with a Qualcomm-tuned version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This means that unless you’re in South Korea, you’ll probably be getting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in your Galaxy S26.

The Exynos 2600 is rumored to be a powerful alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which could explain why Samsung might use it in the S26 Ultra in Korea. Notably, this would mark a return of Exynos chipsets to the Ultra model, as they haven’t been used since 2022.

A (Slightly) Bigger Battery

Battery life has always been a key concern for smartphone users, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra came with a 5,000mAh battery. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may break through that limit.

Leaks suggest the S26 Ultra could have a 5,200mAh or 5,300mAh battery, making it the longest-lasting Galaxy Ultra yet. While these increases aren’t groundbreaking—especially when compared to the OnePlus 15’s 7,300mAh battery—they should offer better performance than previous models.

The standard Galaxy S26 is also expected to get a battery boost, with some reports suggesting a 4,300mAh cell. These improvements are expected to outlast the iPhone 17 Pro Max and base iPhone 17 models, though Samsung could still benefit from adopting silicon-carbon technology in its future flagships.

Minor Camera Improvements

The Galaxy S25 Ultra was praised for its impressive camera capabilities, but there’s still room for improvement. The S26 Ultra is rumored to maintain the same 200MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and 50MP periscope camera with 5x zoom.

However, there are whispers that the additional 10MP telephoto lens on the S25 Ultra could be upgraded to 12MP. Additionally, the 12MP telephoto camera might make its way to the base S26 and S26 Plus, offering improved zoom capabilities across all three models.

While there are no major camera upgrades reported, there’s still a chance of last-minute changes, such as an upgrade to the wide or ultra-wide lens for all three models.

Magnetic Charging

Charging speeds have also seen some promising updates. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to support 60W wired charging and 25W wireless charging, which is an improvement over the S25 Ultra’s 45W and 15W speeds.

Even more exciting is the possibility of built-in magnetic charging for the entire Galaxy S26 lineup. A recent report suggests that Samsung is developing its own Qi2 magnetic wireless charging dock and cases for the S26 series, similar to Google’s Pixelsnap accessories for the Pixel 10 line.

Currently, Galaxy users need a Qi2-ready case to use magnetic charging, but the introduction of first-party Samsung Qi2 accessories could mean that magnets are built into the S26 devices themselves.

Base Model Upgrades

The Galaxy S26 base model doesn’t seem to have as many exciting upgrades as its pricier siblings, but there are still a few improvements worth noting.

The vanilla S26 is expected to have a slightly larger 6.3-inch AMOLED display, bringing it closer in size to the iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10. It’s also rumored to be thinner at 6.9mm, and Samsung might increase the minimum storage capacity from 128GB to 256GB.

These changes could give the Galaxy S26 a stronger value proposition, especially if the price remains competitive with the S25 model.

Outlook

Based on these rumored upgrades, the Galaxy S26 lineup doesn’t seem to be generating the same level of excitement as previous generations. While the S26 Ultra’s improvements—such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, magnetic charging, and a minor telephoto camera upgrade—could make it a better device than the S25 Ultra, it’s unclear if these changes are enough to justify a generational upgrade.

The base Galaxy S26, however, seems more promising, especially if it gets the same fast chipset as the Ultra model, along with magnetic charging and increased storage. If Samsung keeps the price consistent with the S25, the S26 could be a strong contender in the market.

Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 needs more “wow” factors to truly stand out. The iPhone 17 Pro had the Cosmic Orange color, while the Google Pixel 10 line earned attention for its magnetic charging. Samsung will need to deliver something equally compelling to capture the attention of potential buyers.