A Controversial Redesign
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is attracting the most criticism, with its new camera bump making the phone appear older than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Some fans are calling it a step backward in Samsung’s design language. The Galaxy S26 Pro, which is reportedly the base model, features a similar look in a slightly smaller form factor. Only the Galaxy S26 Edge seems to be somewhat well-received, though it closely resembles Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro.
This shift in design has raised concerns that Samsung is losing its unique identity in favor of imitating competitors. For long-time Galaxy users, the move feels less like innovation and more like regression.
Hardware and Performance Upgrades
Despite the polarizing design, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to deliver strong hardware performance. The Ultra variant will ship globally with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 processor, while the Edge and Pro models will continue Samsung’s hybrid Snapdragon/Exynos strategy depending on the region.
On the camera front, the Galaxy S26 Ultra finally introduces a meaningful change. While it won’t bring a new sensor, it does feature a significantly wider aperture for brighter and sharper photos. This technical change is also the reason behind the new camera bump design, according to reports.
User Reactions and the S26 Outlook
The initial reaction to the leaked images has been largely negative. Many users feel Samsung is abandoning its iconic design choices and leaning too heavily toward Apple-inspired aesthetics. Still, looks are subjective, and some buyers may appreciate the refreshed style.
Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 aims to strike a balance between updated hardware and a new look. Whether customers will overlook the divisive design in favor of performance improvements remains to be seen when the series officially launches.
