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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Samsung's newest phone lineup has impressive rumored features.
- Redesigned privacy glass could eliminate screen protectors.
- The S26 series should be released in March.
Ever since its debut almost a decade ago, I've been a devoted Google Pixel phone user. An occasional feature here and there has caught my eye, but I can say that, as a general rule, I've never been tempted to stray.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 might change that.
I do keep an eye on what other phone manufacturers are up to, and a rumor or leak about the upcoming Galaxy lineup has caught my attention more than once. Of course, these are all rumors and nothing is confirmed, but many of these rumors are popping up consistently and from multiple tipsters, meaning there's probably some truth to it.
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If these rumors hold, I might be very tempted to step outside the Google ecosystem for the first time in a long time.
Here's a look at what's rumored for the Samsung Galaxy S26. Rumors say the lineup will release mid-March, which makes sense with Samsung Unpacked allegedly set for late February.
Redesigned glass that eliminates screen protectors
Since most flagship phones in recent years use top-of-the-line glass, I don't remember the last time I used a screen protector. Perhaps I trust the glass to a fault, as my phone now bears a tiny crack over the front camera lens that developed less than 24 hours after I unboxed it.
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The S26 Ultra is apparently coming with a new generation of Gorilla Glass that features an anti-reflective coating, non-polarized light technology, ultra-high-strength glass, and screen privacy technology. The latter looks pretty impressive in action, and the glass overall could be a top feature of this phone.
Scam detection
My Pixel 9 Pro does a fantastic job screening calls, so it's rare that a call I don't want actually reaches me. When one does, I have the assurance of scam detection should someone ever catch me off guard. Instead of just logging potentially harmful numbers, this feature uses AI to listen to your calls for certain keywords. If something sounds dangerous, your phone vibrates and an alert shows.
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While this has been a Pixel exclusive, several sources, including Android Authority, seem to think the feature might jump to the S26.
Increased battery life and faster charging
The S26 Ultra is apparently placing a big focus on battery life. Leaks claim the flagship version of the phone will feature stacked-cell technology, introducing a 5,500mAh or larger battery -- more than any other flagship. Some tipsters disagree on this point, but the new phones will possibly have improved charging speed too -- from 0% to 75% in 30 minutes.
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I use my phone very often throughout the day, and I frequently need to give a quick recharge. The ability to get to more than 50% in a few minutes is awfully tempting.
A flashy new processor
Rumors vary here, but at least the top end of Samsung's S26 lineup will likely feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This would mean improvement in a number of aspects, including battery life, graphics, and more.
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Some reports say the entire series will have the new processor, but Samsung often uses a mix of chipsets for its phones, so only the high-end phones getting the newest processor make sense. I've usually upgraded to a top-tier phone every three years or so, so I'd probably have my eye on the Ultra anyway.
But if every phone gets the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, it might be enough to lure even more people.
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