It is a surprising turn of events in the smartphone world. Samsung was quietly working on a more ambitious Galaxy S26, but everything changed last October. Apple’s decision to keep the iPhone 17 at the same price as the previous generation forced Samsung to rethink its entire plan.
According to the Korean business outlet Newspim, Samsung had big ideas for its next flagship. The company wanted to slim down the S26 and give it a major battery boost from 4000 to 4900 mAh. On paper, it looked like a solid step forward. In reality, Samsung had to scale back its ambitions to stay competitive in a market where every euro matters.
Concrete consequences for the next models
The impact is already visible. The S26 will look a lot like the S25, with a thickness reduced by only 0.3 mm. The battery upgrade will also be more modest than expected, climbing to 4300 mAh instead of the leap initially planned.
Samsung’s internal strategy is shifting too. To keep production costs under control, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 may be reserved for the Ultra model. The standard and Plus versions would instead use the Exynos 2600, a choice that might disappoint some longtime fans.
Even the S26 Ultra will feel the effects of this new approach. Its frame may be slightly thinner, but the battery will stay at 5000 mAh. It is a reminder that when two giants face off on price, innovation sometimes has to slow down.
With the official unveiling set for January 2026, one thing is clear. The rivalry between Samsung and Apple has rarely been so intense. And this time, it is not a new feature from Apple that is shaking things up, but a simple decision to keep its prices steady.
