Samsung is now being compared to Apple.
Has the Korean company settled in a bit too much lately?
Are Stagnant Features and Designs Turning Samsung into Apple?
Do Galaxy S models have similar features that get reused without significant improvement? Has Samsung become like Apple?
The lack of battery upgrades in the Galaxy Ultra series may disappoint loyal Samsung users. Other companies like OnePlus, Honor, Oppo, and Vivo are using larger silicon-carbon batteries around 7,000 mAh.
Despite conflicting rumors, the Galaxy S26 Ultra might only get a minor battery upgrade to 5,400 mAh.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020 had a 5,000 mAh battery, which was large at the time. The battery size has not been improved since then.
While Galaxy Ultra models have received some upgrades, the standard models have been even more neglected.
The design and chip seem to be the only things that change in the Galaxy S and S Plus models each year.
The look of the S24 is similar to the S23 and S22.
Display changes have also been minimal. Brightness has slightly increased yearly, but features like anti-reflective screens are exclusive to the Ultra series.
The non-Ultra phones resemble Apple's minor "S-year" upgrades.
This is especially disappointing for camera enthusiasts. The base Galaxy S model used to be one of the few phones around $800 with a telephoto camera, but the market has evolved, and Samsung has not kept pace.
The Galaxy S20 and S21 had a 64MP sensor with up to 3X digital zoom. The Galaxy S22 had a native 3X camera, but there have been no upgrades since then. The Galaxy S26 may still have the same small sensor, which performs poorly in low light.
Many Chinese phones use larger sensors that offer better photo quality, which is why some are disappointed.
One UI is a good Android skin with its style that does not copy Apple.
However, One UI's innovation has slowed down in recent years. There have not been any groundbreaking features, and the focus has been on AI features.
While Gemini on Galaxy phones is nice, it is a Google innovation.
The Galaxy Fold series exemplifies Samsung's stubbornness.
For six generations, the phone had the same form factor, with a narrow cover screen that was not easy to use. Users were often forced to open it, which was inconvenient.
After other companies created multiple generations of good foldables, Samsung finally changed course and used a wider cover screen.
Many Samsung fans like microSD cards, especially with the faster SD card speeds available. But Samsung does not include them, similar to Apple, to make more money on storage upgrades.
Samsung has not become exactly like Apple, but upgrades are so minimal that new generations can be ignored.
Competitors are adding new features, bigger batteries and sensors, and better foldables faster.
Galaxy phones once felt like the future, but now they feel comfortable and boring.