Samsung’s Stagnant Design Might Linger with the Galaxy S26 Ultra
How many years in a row do we have to wait before we see something truly bold, Samsung?
Oh, Samsung. My relationship with this South Korean tech giant has been a bit of a rollercoaster. My first Samsung device was around when Android was just taking off—a basic flip phone, no “smart” features, but I adored that little thing. Then in 2020, I switched back to Samsung, and I’ve stuck with them ever since.
Don’t get me wrong: Samsung’s modern smartphones are solid, especially the Galaxy S series. But if there’s one thing that grinds my gears, it’s the company’s refusal to shake up its design game. I get the whole “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra might be the fifth year of sameness that pushes me over the edge.
Samsung Looks Set to Repeat (Mostly) the Same Design for a Fifth Straight Year
In the smartphone world, if there’s a trophy for “most predictable design,” Samsung would be clutching it tight. I’m currently using an S22 Ultra, and before that, a Note 10+. Who knows? My next phone might still be a Samsung. But here’s the thing: not only has the Galaxy S lineup looked practically identical for the past four generations, but the entire Samsung phone family is just a lazy tweak of that same vertical camera layout we’ve seen forever.
Early renders of the Galaxy S26 Ultra (shoutout to Ice Universe for the leak) suggest we’re in for another year of déjà vu. That would make it five years in a row. The last time a Galaxy S phone actually felt different was the S21 Ultra.
- The S21 Ultra had a frame extension covering the camera area on the back.
- The S22 Ultra dumped that frame extension and went with sharper, more angular corners.
- The S23 Ultra was a carbon copy of the S22 Ultra.
- The S24 Ultra switched back to a flat screen.
- The S25 Ultra softened the corners a bit.
Now, you might argue that the S26 Ultra looks different from the S25 Ultra in the renders, thanks to that long oval shape housing the three main camera lenses. But here’s the catch: that camera bump is only there because Samsung wants to make the phone way thinner. The camera hardware needs more depth to work well, so the bump is a necessity, not a design choice. How convenient.
The S26 Ultra’s Impressive Specs Might Make Up for Its Tired Design
I’m not saying the S26 Ultra will be identical to the S22 Ultra, but each year’s changes have been tiny, incremental tweaks. That said, I’m not here to bash Samsung. Chances are, I’ll end up with the S26 Ultra as my next phone—especially if the rumored specs hold up.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (Rumored Specs)
- Screen: 6.9 inches with anti-reflective glass
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (custom for Galaxy), with Exynos 2600 also rumored
- Software: Android 16 with One UI 8.5
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Charging: 60W wired
- Thickness: Around 7.x mm
Specs only tell part of the story, but they’re a big reason it’s hard to stay mad at Samsung for recycling designs. The phone is supposed to be lighter and thinner, with top-of-the-line display tech, and the cameras are expected to get meaningful upgrades. Plus, this might be the year Samsung finally moves past 45W charging? Alright, Samsung, I’ll cut you some slack.
