Samsung is poised to unveil the Galaxy S26 Ultra, alongside its sibling models, on . However, much of the device’s specifications and design have already been revealed through a series of leaks. Beyond the headline features, several subtle improvements are emerging that could sway even skeptical buyers, particularly given the device’s premium price point.
Brighter Display Technology
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature Samsung’s M14 OLED panels, marking a significant upgrade in display technology after several years of incremental improvements. The Galaxy S24 and S25 series utilized M13 panels. This new panel technology promises increased efficiency and, crucially, higher peak brightness. OnePlus’s recent adoption of the M14 panel in the OnePlus 15 has already demonstrated its capabilities, achieving brightness levels approaching 3500 nits.
Faster Storage with UFS 4.1
Samsung is anticipated to incorporate faster NAND storage in the S26 Ultra. Input/output speeds are critical for overall phone performance, impacting everything from app loading times to file transfers. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra already employed UFS 4.0 storage, the newer UFS 4.1 standard offers a slight performance boost in both speed and stability. UFS 4.1 is already available in devices like the OnePlus 15, suggesting Samsung is keeping pace with the latest storage technology. Samsung also anticipates the arrival of UFS 5.0 storage in , which would essentially double current input/output speeds to meet the demands of increasingly sophisticated on-device AI processing.
Enhanced Thermal Management
Globally, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s current flagship processor. However, increased processing power often translates to increased heat generation, potentially leading to performance throttling. To mitigate this, Samsung is reportedly implementing an improved thermal management system, including a larger vapor chamber, within the S26 Ultra. This aims to dissipate heat more effectively and maintain sustained performance under heavy workloads.
Improved Anti-Reflective Coating
Samsung has been incorporating anti-reflective coatings on its high-end displays since the S24 Ultra, and the S26 Ultra is expected to build on this with an even more effective coating. Combined with an anticipated increase in peak brightness, and the software-based privacy display feature, this could result in the most refined display experience yet on a Galaxy device, particularly in challenging lighting conditions with glare or unwanted viewing angles.
Dedicated AI Processing Unit
Given the emphasis on artificial intelligence within the Galaxy S26 series, it’s logical that Samsung would include dedicated hardware acceleration for AI processing. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 already offers substantial AI capabilities, but a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) could further enhance efficiency and battery life by offloading AI tasks from the main processor. This dedicated unit would allow for faster and more efficient execution of on-device AI features like the new “Edge Fusion” image generation tool.
Edge Fusion: On-Device AI Image Generation
A key innovation in the Galaxy S26 Ultra is “Edge Fusion,” an offline AI image-generation tool. This allows users to create high-quality images directly on the device without relying on cloud services. Processing data locally enhances both privacy and speed, appealing to users concerned about data security. The S26 Ultra will utilize the Exynos chipset in some regions, which is specifically optimized for AI-driven tasks, maximizing the performance of features like Edge Fusion.
Refined Image Processing
The Galaxy S25 Ultra already boasted one of the best and most versatile camera systems on the market. However, there’s always room for improvement in image processing. Enhancements to dynamic range, zoom capabilities, and low-light performance are all potential areas of focus for the S26 Ultra. Samsung has demonstrated an ability to achieve significant camera improvements through software optimization, even while maintaining the same hardware, suggesting that the S26 Ultra could deliver further refinements in image quality, particularly in video recording where the S25 Ultra lagged behind some competitors.
The launch event for the Galaxy S26 Ultra is scheduled for at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time in San Francisco. Pre-orders are already open, though Samsung has reduced trade-in values and promotional credits compared to previous launches, a change that may influence purchasing decisions for some customers.
