Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra could also be mere weeks away, in line with rumors, and I’ve acquired a number of issues I particularly wish to see.
In my 14 years as a CNET reviewer, I’ve examined each technology of Samsung’s Ultra vary. I’ve taken thousands of photos throughout all Galaxy fashions, performed numerous hours of video games and scrolled by footage of desserts on Instagram. So I’ve discovered a factor or two about what makes these phones so good — but additionally, the place they are often improved.
Over all that point, I’ve watched Samsung stay a dominant phone-maker, persistently out-selling manufacturers like Apple, Google and Motorola. However that does not imply Samsung can relaxation on its dominance. I’ve additionally examined wonderful telephones from manufacturers like Xiaomi, Oppo and Huawei which can be extra revolutionary and cutting-edge than what Samsung has been doing with its Galaxy S-line. And it is time for Samsung to indicate us all what it could actually do.
The S25 Extremely is not a lot of an improve over the S24 Extremely. They even look just about the identical.
So with the Galaxy S26 Extremely virtually upon us, this is what I wish to see from Samsung’s subsequent tremendous telephone.
Galaxy S26 Extremely cameras want larger sensors
Samsung’s Extremely telephones have at all times been up there with the best with regards to taking pictures. Its Galaxy S telephones have excelled with night-time imagery, and it was among the many first corporations to essentially wow us with telephoto zooms. However the digicam {hardware} hasn’t modified a lot over the previous couple of generations of Extremely telephones, and it appears like it is time to go large.
Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra blew me away with its pictures abilities, due to its 1-inch kind picture sensor, which is bodily bigger than the sensors you will discover in virtually some other telephone digicam. An even bigger picture sensor can seize extra gentle, theoretically permitting for higher dynamic vary and extra element with out relying as arduous on software program picture processing.
Taken on the Xiaomi 15 Extremely and barely edited in Adobe Lightroom, I really like how the telephone captures natural-looking photographs that preserve deep shadows moderately than attempting to create an excessively faux HDR look. It is one of many few telephones that I believe can actually rival mirrorless cameras.
I really like the pictures I’ve taken with Xiaomi’s recent phones, and I wish to see Samsung create a digicam that is actually tailor-made to professional photographers like myself. Certain, the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s zoom is nice, and the additional decision we acquired added to the ultrawide is good to see. However slap in an even bigger predominant digicam sensor for the S26 Extremely and let me snap superb photographs that seem like they had been taken on a mirrorless digicam, and yeah, you will be onto a winner there, Samsung.
It will additionally assist the S26 Extremely distinguish itself from the S25 Edge and Z Fold 7, each of which function the primary digicam from the present S25 Extremely.
Galaxy S26 Extremely wants extra photograph filter choices
Samsung’s cameras have already got a wide range of filters that alter the colour firming and publicity of your photographs. They work nicely sufficient and are much like Apple’s Photographic Styles in you can customise the look of every filter and change these settings even after you’ve got taken the picture.
You may also create your own custom presets based mostly on the tones from a unique supply picture, which works OK. What you may’t do is then share that preset for different photographers to make use of, and I believe Samsung is lacking a trick right here. There’s a small tucked-away retailer the place you may obtain a handful of further presets, but when Samsung opened up the flexibility for Galaxy homeowners to share their customized presets there for others to obtain, it might assist construct a group of eager photographers who would wish to maintain utilizing Samsung’s digicam telephones.
Samsung’s My Filter instrument allowed me to create this Wes Anderson-inspired photograph preset. I might love to have the ability to share this with different photographers, in addition to use shade filters created by an enthusiastic photograph group.
Fujifilm has had comparable success with its cameras, permitting photographers to create ‘recipes’ that different photographers can merely key into their digicam and instantly begin taking pictures utilizing the very same filmic fashion that caught their eye. In consequence, Fujifilm has an enormous, passionate fanbase that may greater than fortunately bore you inflexible about how nice Fujifilm’s cameras are due to the seems you may get once you use them. Samsung has a possibility to create the identical factor for cell pictures.
Galaxy S26 Extremely wants a smaller measurement choice
The S25 Extremely is likely to be an absolute powerhouse, nevertheless it’s additionally immense. At 6.9 inches, it requires thumbs the scale of redwoods to kind on one-handed and attempting to squeeze it into skinny denims means struggling an embarrassing bulge in…locations you don’t need an embarrassing bulge.
And regardless of being 6-foot-2, I even have fairly small fingers, so I’ve at all times most well-liked smaller phones. I exploit the iPhone 17 Pro, not the 17 Professional Max, as I a lot desire the 6.3-inch display over the gargantuan 6.9 inches on the Max. However not like Apple, Samsung has at all times provided its greatest expertise in only one measurement, which forces you to decide on between pocketability and efficiency.
I like my iPhone 17 Professional. It matches in my hand. My tiny, tiny fingers.
I might like to see Samsung take a cue from Apple right here and put the processor and digicam abilities that make the Extremely sequence what they’re right into a extra manageable measurement. I might even be completely happy to see the S Pen go to facilitate this — I by no means use it anyway.
Galaxy S26 Extremely wants extra colours
Whereas we’re speaking design selections, I might wish to see some extra enjoyable colours within the Extremely line. Samsung briefly flirted with vibrant orange on the S22 Extremely, however its shade ranges since then have been moderately extra muted. OK, positive, the S25 Extremely does come in numerous colours than simply black or silver, however they’re very delicate hues that, if I am feeling beneficiant, may very well be described as stylish, and if I am not feeling beneficiant, then they’re merely boring.
I really like the Cosmic orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro. I really like that it does not take itself in any respect significantly, and why ought to we? Telephones are enjoyable equipment, and I do not want a impartial grey tone to match my enterprise swimsuit. I am sufficiently old to recollect the Motorola Razr V3, which got here in a scorching pink shade, and I will be trustworthy, I completely liked it. My greatest good friend Charlie had one, and I used to be intensely envious. The present Motorola Razr Extremely comes not solely in pink but additionally makes use of cloth on the again to make it extra snug to carry and helps it stand out from the glass and aluminium crowd.
Simply take a look at that scorching pink Motorola Razr V3. What an absolute piece of magnificence.
If Samsung takes that vibrant metallic pink and slaps it onto the S26 Extremely, then I will be principally pressured to throw my bank card at them to get one.
Galaxy S26 Extremely wants a bigger battery and quicker charging
The Galaxy S25 Extremely packs a 5,000-mAh battery with a most of 45-watt recharge pace. Which is similar specs because the S22 Extremely had when it launched 4 years in the past. Battery tech has moved on significantly within the final 4 years, and we’re seeing telephones now utilizing new silicon-carbon expertise for extra energy-dense cells and telephones with 100-watt charging speeds.
Among the fastest-charging telephones come from China, and plenty of aren’t out there within the US, however the OnePlus 15 gives 80-watt wired charging, and its 7,300-mAh battery significantly impressed us within the full assessment.
The S25 Extremely’s battery was definitely good after we examined it, however with new battery expertise getting used on rival telephones, it is time Samsung gave its Extremely sequence a little bit of a refresh right here.
The OnePlus 15’s battery is not simply larger, it costs quicker too.
Galaxy S26 Extremely’s worth
I am asking for lots on this article, and I do know that if I had my approach on every little thing, the telephone must see a big worth improve. Whereas the S25 Extremely truly launched on the identical worth as its predecessor, I do not count on that to be the case this time spherical.
Between financial fluctuations, tariffs and the continued RAM shortage, which is making parts costlier, the S26 Extremely is probably going going to return with an even bigger price ticket — or see some specs lower to maintain prices down.
However I am hoping that Samsung is ready to maintain this to a minimal and never use market modifications as a possibility to extend the worth to some extent the place having the newest expertise is just out of attain for anybody with out the title “Oil baron” on their enterprise card.
