What additions or changes would you like to see in the Galaxy S26 Lineup?

[z28camaroman]

As a S23 Ultra user, I'm very displeased with the lack of hardware upgrades in the S25 Series. I personally don't care much for "innovation" so to speak, but I do care about hardware improvements. Every year, better components are developed and manufactured, but for years now, Samsung has been delivering new devices with old inventory parts. That needs to change.

Here are the things that I'd like to see upgraded for the Galaxy S26 lineup next year.

For the base S26, Plus and Ultra models:

• Qi2 magnetic charging (like Magsafe) at 25 Watts (like the new iPhone 16s...) in the device, not requiring a case to do it

• 65 Watt Wired charging (we've been stuck at 45 Watts for 5 years now!)

• Wider angle selfie camera with a faster aperture (it's often too narrow for even my long arms, and F/2.2 is not ideal for lowlight selfies)

• Upgrading that small sensor, 10 MP 3x zoom (never liked "12 MP images" coming from a small 10 MP snapper) to 50 MP and a faster aperture

• Upgrading the ultra-wide angle snapper for the base and plus models from 12 MP F/2.2 to the 50 MP F/1.9 unit found on the Ultra model

• Matching Apple's higher than standard IP68 rating tolerances, or even pushing for IP69

• 10 bit screen (instead of 8 bit, helps with HDR and color banding)

• A dedicated camera button (Sony has done it for years, Apple is doing it now) or the return of the dedicated "Bixby" button, which ultimately was customizable for all sorts of unique functions like being a dedicated flashlight button

For the S26 Ultra specifically:

• Returning Bluetooth functionality to the S-pen (I use it; saving chump change on manufacturing is not worth ruining the user experience for people who use the features that already exist!)

• Faster aperture for the 5x telephoto (F/3.4...really? Telephoto lenses really benefit from faster apertures for more naturally pleasing bokeh)

• Maybe replacing the 3x optical with a 50 MP periscope 10x optical since the large 200 MP sensor can very easily crop to 2x and 3x digitally. Having a 5x and 10x optical periscopes on one device would be really cool.

• If Qi2 magnetic coils and another periscope camera make a thicker device, why not include a larger battery? 6,000 mAh would be nice. If the Galaxy S25/26 Edge is to be super thin, why not have the big one be thicker for power users?

Those are the changes and additions I would like to see. What additions and changes would you like to see for the Galaxy S26 lineup?

[meself]

Looks more like a wish list

[JonK14]

I also heavily disagree with removing the 3x optical in favor of digital zoom. The focal length gives natural flavor to images that are nowhere near equivalent to the digitally cropped counterparts. I mostly agree that everything else would be nice though, +1 to the pen

[Tom6068]

I agree with most of this considering the price these devices cost. I once brought this up two years ago when the S23 came out and I explained why I passed on it (and I passed on the S24 as well). There just was not enough hardware advances and upgrades to justify spending even more than I paid for my S22 Ultra which was barely an upgrade over my S21 Ultra (my wife still uses that device and it works a treat).

I think the S25 Ultra for me, does have enough upgrades especially with the processor and storage upgrades, with getting Galaxy Buds3 Pro almost for free. The camera still has some nighttime/low light issues, color fidelity is average and sometimes inaccurate. While disappointed, I knew going in that this would be a possibility knowing Samsung's history in photo taking. Samsung has had years to  offering better hardware, not just adjusting its software continuously.

Google and Apple take great shots because they have great hardware and software combinations. Where Samsung shines and always have for me, are in daylight shots. Samsung also is unmatched in the OS UIs with the ability to customize just about everything, but that consumer feature will wear out if it is not backed up with superior hardware for the prices.

One feature I would have no problem removing would be the S-pen. It takes up valuable hardware space which could be used to have larger battery storage and hold better hardware, like camera processors and larger pixel sensors. I would bet big that people would forgo the pen over getting actual hardware that can overall record videos and take pictures superior to the iPhone or Google's Pixel. People buy these phones mostly for the camera.

Another issue I have is in the US, there is little competition as Apple and Samsung have about 87% of the markets, that is not good. If only Chinese phone were allowed like the one in this image, which is better than any of them all around. But they are not allowed.

[z28camaroman]

I wouldn't want the S-pen removed but I wouldn't mind Samsung splitting the S line and Note line up again: have an S26 Ultra without the S-Pen and much a larger battery and have a separate Note 26 Ultra with the S-Pen and a battery likely only a slightly larger than 5k mAh. Worth a try to find out whether people like the S-Pen or would just prefer a beefy device with a big battery. 

[Tom6068]

Anyone or any corporation that operates on profits and the results in marketing their products with barely anyone really using spen, is not going to build special devices in such numbers.

While people have their likes and wants, most will, as those who like spen feature for example, would not take a less powerful camera system and a smaller battery pack for something that would occasionally use at most.

Make that suggestion here in the community. Samsung reads here and it's possible.