Samsung is already setting expectations for its next big flagship, and it sounds like the Galaxy S26 could be one of its most ambitious upgrades yet.
The VP of the Mobile Experience Division at Samsung, Daniel Araujo, shared on the company’s Q3 2025 earnings call that the Galaxy S26 series will launch with “user-centric next-gen AI, second-generation custom AP, and stronger performance, including new camera sensors.”
That is a lot of big promises, and it suggests major changes under the hood.. Most notably, the custom chip Araujo mentioned is widely believed to be the Exynos 2600, Samsung’s first 2nm processor, which will likely power the S26 in some regions. In others, expect to see Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, continuing Samsung’s familiar dual-chip strategy.
While Araujo did not directly name either processor, his comments line up with recent reports about the Galaxy S26 lineup. Interestingly, he would later add that Samsung’s chipset evaluation for next year’s flagship is “still underway,” leaving room to speculate if this “custom AP” could ultimately be another “For Galaxy” variant of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip.
Beyond silicon, Samsung’s next flagship will likely have upgraded camera sensors, which in turn signal improvements to image quality and performance, though specific hardware details remain under wraps.
In this context, the emphasis is on “next-gen AI,” meaning deeper integrations with the camera, productivity, and the Galaxy ecosystem in general, matching well with the company’s growing push into on-device intelligence with Galaxy AI.
And that’s not all for Samsung’s 2026 roadmap. Araujo went on to tease expanded health features driven by AI on Galaxy Watches, new products in the TWS lineup, and continued innovation within foldables to attract new customers.
Despite some sales declines in North America and South Korea, Samsung’s mobile business performed better than it did last year, thanks to the steady demand for its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and other flagship models.
It seems like Samsung is going all in with AI and custom hardware to differentiate the Galaxy S26 from when it launches in early 2026. But with expected component price hikes, buyers may also have to prepare for higher prices alongside those next-gen features.
(via Android Authority)
