In the event you requested me a 12 months in the past, I’d’ve begrudgingly admitted that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely was nonetheless the only option for many Android customers. It featured a premium design and had best-in-class efficiency due to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
It wasn’t doing something particular, and it took the title solely because of a scarcity of competitors. The OnePlus 12 was stable, however nonetheless wanted work, and the Google Pixel 9 Professional XL had room to develop.
That’s not the case this 12 months. The Pixel 10 Professional XL is excellent, and Materials 3 Expressive is at the moment the most effective Android software program obtainable. Samsung’s One UI 8 is polished, however the person expertise for Google’s taste of Android 16 is a step forward.
I’ve been spoiled by the Pixel 10 Professional XL, and if Samsung needs to reclaim the highest spot with the Galaxy S26 Extremely, I’ll want greater than the corporate normally upgrades year-over-year.
Consumer expertise issues greater than design
Samsung can impress with the identical {hardware}
I perceive Samsung is hesitant to make drastic modifications to the Galaxy S26 lineup. I don’t anticipate a major departure in design from earlier years, which means Samsung must provide you with one thing else to entice patrons to improve.
Fortunately for Samsung, there’s a solution to keep on with the identical {hardware} whereas making the cellphone really feel totally different. Google’s already achieved it with the Pixel 10 collection.
Like Samsung with the Galaxy S25, Google didn’t extensively overhaul its {hardware} for 2025, and the Pixel 10 is sort of an identical to the Pixel 9. Nonetheless, Google’s software program has made a distinction.
Materials 3 Expressive is refreshing. Materials You desperately wanted an overhaul, and Google’s model of Android 16 lastly fulfills what the corporate got down to do years in the past.
The person expertise is unified, and also you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a machine operating extra easily than my Pixel 10 Professional XL. I like how effectively Google’s dialed in its software program this 12 months.
One UI 8 isn’t dangerous, and I respect the visible enhancements Samsung made with One UI 7. Nonetheless, it doesn’t really feel as cohesive as Android 16 on the Pixel 10 Professional XL. All the pieces ties collectively fantastically, from the menus to the media controls.
If Samsung needs to impress with out important {hardware} upgrades this 12 months, it must match Google’s software program expertise.
Galaxy AI must get higher
I used to be promised the longer term a 12 months in the past
After utilizing Google Gemini on the Pixel 10 Professional XL, I would like extra from Galaxy AI on the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Samsung can’t spend one other 12 months promoting me on multimodal capabilities and the potential of Now Transient with out truly delivering on them.
It’s nonetheless a lot sooner for me to finish a job myself than to have Galaxy AI try it. The instruments are highly effective, however they require extreme person enter.
Gemini works effectively on the Pixel 10 Professional XL as a result of it’s all the time obtainable within the background, prepared to offer mild prompts or useful, pure language ideas.
I don’t should know which software I have to edit photographs; I can simply inform Gemini, and it takes care of it for me.
I’m not somebody who needs quite a bit from AI on my smartphone, however the few features I’d need to use ought to work effectively.
I don’t care what Samsung has to do, both Now Transient begins changing into a helpful companion throughout my day, or the corporate has to cease making it such an apparent a part of the person expertise.
Now Transient messages continually reside within the Now Bar, and I wrestle to get any significant info from it.
It’s particularly irritating as a result of it has potential. I need a generative AI assistant to assist me put together for my day, giving me a heads-up if there are visitors delays on the best way to my subsequent assembly or appointment.
If Samsung can ship on that, the Galaxy S26 has an opportunity to succeed.
Samsung isn’t actually going through competitors
Google doesn’t care about uncooked efficiency
Samsung has a bonus as a result of it may possibly dazzle us in one other approach.
If Samsung’s software program expertise can’t enhance, the corporate can deal with important {hardware} innovation. I’d love a brand new design for Samsung’s flagship lineup, however even with out it, there are areas which can be ripe for an improve.
Google isn’t competing with Samsung on uncooked efficiency anymore, and the upcoming OnePlus 15 gained’t be in provider shops — leaving Samsung as the most suitable choice for many searching for top-tier efficiency.
Whether or not Samsung opts for the Exynos 2600 or Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, I count on the Galaxy S26 to supply superior gaming efficiency in comparison with the Pixel 10 lineup.
It’ll even be the cellphone you need to purchase in case you do a number of picture or video modifying in your smartphone.
Nonetheless, Samsung shouldn’t cease there. On the very least, the Galaxy S26 Extremely ought to pack 16GB of RAM and a 6,000mAh battery.
I’m not even asking Samsung to maneuver to silicon-carbon battery expertise, though it ought to, however we’d like a capability enhance for subsequent 12 months.
Google set the bar, however Samsung can nonetheless soar over it
It’s no secret I’ve been loving the Pixel 10 Professional XL, however that doesn’t imply Samsung can’t launch a stellar machine.
The rationale the S pen tales gained traction final 12 months and took up so many column inches was that Samsung didn’t give us the rest to put in writing about.
Samsung did a unbelievable job with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — I hope the corporate can channel a few of that for the Galaxy S26 lineup.
9/10
- SoC
-
Google Tensor G5
- RAM
-
16GB
- Storage
-
256 GB / 512 GB / 1TB with Zoned UFS / 1 TB with Zoned UFS
- Battery
-
5200mAh
The Pixel 10 Professional XL packs all the identical options you may discover on its cheaper siblings, together with a couple of unique options like a 6.8-inch show and sooner charging.