Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may bring brighter display, faster storage, better cooling and AI upgrades beyond leaks. Here are seven possible improvements.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra may bring a brighter display [Photo: X]
With just weeks to go before Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event, anticipation for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to grow. The flagship is already shaping up to be a top Android competitor, with leaks covering expected specs like a large AMOLED screen and a powerful chipset.
But even with most of the core details seemingly known, analysts and insiders think there may be several under-the-radar upgrades still worth getting excited about — improvements that could elevate the S26 Ultra above what the basic leaks suggest.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature Samsung’s newer M14 OLED panel. If that happens, the display could deliver higher peak brightness compared to previous models. A brighter screen would improve visibility in direct sunlight and enhance HDR content.
If Samsung also improves its anti-reflective coating, users could get a much clearer viewing experience outdoors.
The previous Ultra model came with UFS 4.0 storage, which already offers excellent speeds. However, Samsung could introduce UFS 4.1 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Faster storage improves app loading time, file transfers and overall responsiveness. Even small gains in read and write speeds can make a noticeable difference in daily use.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor globally. While powerful chips deliver strong performance, they also generate heat under heavy workloads.
Samsung could include a larger vapour chamber or an improved cooling system to reduce thermal throttling. Better heat control would allow the phone to maintain peak performance during gaming, video editing and AI processing.
Samsung introduced anti-reflective coatings in earlier Ultra models. The S26 Ultra could improve this further.
A more advanced coating would reduce glare under bright lights and improve readability. Combined with higher brightness levels, this could result in one of the best displays on any Galaxy phone so far.
Artificial intelligence will likely be a major focus of the Galaxy S26 series. While the main processor already handles AI tasks, Samsung could introduce a dedicated AI accelerator.
A separate AI unit would process on-device tasks more efficiently. This could improve battery life and speed up features like smart photo editing, live translation and voice recognition.
Samsung may not change the camera hardware significantly, but it can still improve image quality through software.
Enhanced image processing could deliver better dynamic range, improved low-light shots and sharper zoom performance. Video recording may also see improvements in stabilisation and colour accuracy.
Samsung has previously delivered major camera upgrades through software tuning alone, so similar improvements remain possible here.
Leaks suggest that the standard colours may look subtle or muted. However, Samsung often launches exclusive online-only shades after the initial announcement.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could arrive in more vibrant or premium finishes that give buyers additional choices.
Rumours already point to a powerful flagship with a top-tier chipset, large AMOLED display, and strong camera performance. But these possible seven upgrades could push the Galaxy S26 Ultra from a great phone to a standout Android device in 2026 — especially at a time when competitors are also stepping up innovation.
Whether Samsung will confirm all of these before or at the February 25 Unpacked event remains to be seen, but the combination of hardware refinements and thoughtful user-centric enhancements could make the S26 Ultra one of the most compelling flagship releases of the year.
