Even with rumored improvements, the Galaxy S26 Ultra's price shouldn't increase due to a downgrade.
A fancier display, a faster-charging battery, a thinner body… and an Exynos chipset?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra should remain at $1,299, especially if the Exynos 2600 is used, which should cost less than Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips, unless Samsung increases the price for upgrades.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to have several enhancements. A potential upgrade is the wired charging speed, increasing from 45W to 60W. While not as rapid as other brands that reach 100W or higher, this could decrease the 5,000 mAh battery charging time to under one hour. Wireless charging could stay at 15W.
A brighter, thinner 6.89-inch OLED display with Samsung's M14 material may be included. This should boost brightness, conserve power, and extend the panel's lifespan. Color Filter on Encapsulation tech could be implemented for enhanced colors and slimmer screens. Flex Magic Pixel tech might also be present, adjusting pixels for better viewing angles and privacy.
The primary camera will likely have a new 200MP sensor for capturing more light and natural bokeh. The ultra-wide and telephoto cameras may stay similar, though a 50MP 4x zoom lens and improved F1.4 aperture are possibilities.
The design of the S26 Ultra could be close to the S25 Ultra, with flat sides and rounded corners, but possibly 0.4mm slimmer. The battery capacity is a concern, as additional capacity could have been added.
A brighter OLED display, 60W charging, a slightly thinner design, and a few extra features may not be worth a price increase.
With an in-house chipset such as the Exynos 2600, Samsung should not increase the price beyond $1,300. Raising prices could lead to marketing focused on the Galaxy S26 Ultra being "more premium" with a "revolutionary" display and "super-fast" charging.
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"Iconic Phones" is coming this fall.
Rediscover phones of the past two decades. "Iconic Phones" is a book that has been in development for over a year, set to release in a couple of months.
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a book for phone enthusiasts. Detailing over 20 popular phones, it guides you through the tech advancements that have changed our lives. Sign up now for an early discount.
Rediscover phones of the past two decades. "Iconic Phones" is a book that has been in development for over a year, set to release in a couple of months.
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a book for phone enthusiasts. Detailing over 20 popular phones, it guides you through the tech advancements that have changed our lives. Sign up now for an early discount.