As Google and Apple duke it out during “yearly phone reveal” season, Samsung is biding its time before releasing its next flagship phone. The company traditionally waits until February for its Galaxy Unpacked showcase, which means we’re still six months away from the official Galaxy S26 lineup. But thanks to leaks, we already have an early look at what’s coming — and Samsung mobile fans might not love what they’re hearing.
The biggest disappointment centers on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. According to multiple reports, Samsung is sticking with the same 5,000 mAh battery it’s been using for years. If true, that would make it the sixth consecutive Ultra to ship without a bump in battery capacity. The only silver lining is that leaks suggest the phone could finally support 65W fast charging, an upgrade from the current 45W limit.
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Then there’s the design. Samsung made waves (and ruffled feathers) with the rounder edges of the S25, a shift many fans complained made the Ultra look too much like an iPhone. Now, leaks hint the S26 Ultra will be even more rounded, with a slightly larger 6.89-inch display achieved by trimming down bezels rather than expanding the body.
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Looking at Phone Arena reports on the matter, the reaction has been quite negative so far. The Galaxy Ultra line has long been celebrated for its unique signatures, like the curved screen or the boxy, sharp corners, which set them apart from the crowd. For a while, some iPhone owners were even buying square phone cases to make their iPhones look more like Samsung Galaxy phones.
Moving further away from that identity feels, to many fans, like Samsung erasing what made its flagship instantly recognizable.
However, these are just rumors, and a lot can change between now and February.
