Samsung’s S26 series has been leaking like crazy, but instead of giving us clarity, the rumors have created one of the strangest, most confusing upgrade cycles Samsung has ever attempted. New chipsets that aren’t really new. Camera changes that don’t change much. A mysterious fourth phone that seems to exist “just because.” And a processor naming scheme that might make your brain hurt.
Grab your coffee—this one’s a ride.
The Chipset Circus: Snapdragon Elite 5… or Exynos 2600?
Let’s start with the biggest question Samsung fans always have:
“Are we getting Snapdragon or Exynos this time?”
Well—yes.
And no.
And maybe?
Early tests suggest Samsung wants to put its new Exynos 2600 in most S26 and S26+ units. Some benchmarks show it beating Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite. Others show the opposite. So Samsung seems torn.
Here’s where it gets messy:
In most markets, Samsung may use Exynos in the S26 and S26+, but Snapdragon Elite 5 in the S26 Ultra.
Why?
Simple. Marketing separation.
The Plus model has gotten too close to the Ultra in the last two generations. Samsung needs space to justify the Ultra’s higher price.
But here’s the twist—
Leaks say in the United States and a few other regions, ALL models may get Snapdragon Elite 5. Honestly, it’s what Samsung should do globally, but we’ll see if they pull the trigger.
Either way, the naming is funny.
This chip should technically be Elite 2, but Qualcomm decided “Gen 5 Elite” sounded fancier. Silicon branding never disappoints.
The Design: Familiar Faces with One Big Mystery
If you’ve seen the S25 series… you’ve basically seen the S26 series.
Except for one phone.
A strange-looking device has leaked with a full-width camera bar across the top—similar to Pixel’s visor or the iPhone 15 Pro’s clean slab look.
So what is it?
- Is it the returning S26 Edge model?
- Or did Samsung remove a camera from the base S26 to cut costs?
- Or is it just a test unit we weren’t supposed to see?
At this stage, rumors point strongly to the S26 Edge returning, complete with:
- A bigger 4300 mAh battery
- A new premium back design
- The unmistakable camera bar spanning the width of the phone
It’s an odd move considering the S25 Edge didn’t exactly sell well. But Samsung seems determined to try again—maybe hoping the design gives it a new identity.
Cameras: Upgrades… Kind Of
If you were hoping Samsung would finally trickle down that beautiful 200-megapixel Ultra camera to the regular S series—well, sit down.
It’s not happening.
The S26 and S26+ are getting:
- 50MP main camera
- 50MP ultrawide
- New 12MP 3× telephoto
This year the 12MP ultra wide is getting a big upgrade and that new 3× lens is definitely a nice upgrade over the cheap 10MP one they’ve used for four years, but it still leaves Samsung trailing behind Apple and Pixel, both of which have 48–50MP 5× zoom lenses.
Meanwhile, the S26 Ultra keeps its throne with:
- 200MP main
- 50MP ultrawide
- 50MP 5× zoom
- Possible new 12MP 3× zoom
So yes, the Ultra is still king. The smaller S26 models… remain stuck in “good enough” territory.
Battery & Charging: Small Gains, Same Mistakes
There is good news:
Every S26 model is rumored to get 200–300 mAh more battery.
Always welcome.
And charging?
Well…
- Standard S26 models: probably still 25W
- Ultra: still 45W
- Wireless charging: maybe increasing from 15W → 20W
But the rumor that caught everyone’s attention?
Samsung might finally add MagSafe-compatible coils to the S26 lineup. If that happens, we enter a glorious new world where accessories actually work the same across devices.
We can dream.
The “Why” Behind All of This
Here’s the point—and what your video script was highlighting perfectly:
The S26 series is shaping up to be the definition of an incremental upgrade.
Battery up a bit.
Cameras improved slightly.
Chipset split again.
Design mostly unchanged.
If you skipped the S25?
The S26 might feel like a refinement you can justify.
If you have an S25?
You might struggle to find a reason to upgrade unless you’re going for the Ultra.
And the Edge model?
That’s the wildcard. It might be Samsung’s attempt to shake up the mid-tier lineup, or it may be another experiment that fizzles.
Final Thoughts: Should You Be Excited?
If you love Samsung devices, the S26 series still brings improvements—just not the “wow factor” we’ve seen in previous generations. To many users, it’ll feel like Samsung is saving the real innovations for the Z Fold 8 and their upcoming AI push.
Still, the S26 series gives you:
- Better zoom on standard models
- A new premium Edge design
- Larger batteries
- Possibly uniform Snapdragon chips in the U.S.
- And a more polished Ultra
Now it’s your turn—are you excited for the S26?
Did you skip the S25 waiting for this moment?
Or are you holding out for something bigger?
Drop a comment and let me know what you think!
And if you want to compare Samsung’s last big release, check out my S25 Ultra vs Z Fold 7 comparison—linked right on the blog.