For the reason that first Galaxy AI features appeared on board the Galaxy S24 in 2024, Samsung has adopted a reasonably inclusive path about which fashions sport these capabilities. Should you purchased the entry-level Galaxy S mannequin, you may anticipate the identical AI options discovered on the extra premium Extremely providing.
That is the way it was with the 2024 flagship launch, and the Galaxy S25 models caught to that strategy earlier this 12 months. Nonetheless, one distinguished leaker has prompt that Samsung goes to take a distinct path with subsequent 12 months’s Galaxy S26 lineup, saving some options as Galaxy S26 Ultra exclusives.
Exclusive AI for the Ultra?
Let’s take a closer look at the rumor, which comes from a Weibo post by well-known leaker Ice Universe. As noticed by Phone Arena, the submit claims that not each Galaxy AI characteristic arriving as a part of the Galaxy S26 launch in early 2026 will seem on each mannequin.
“Samsung will maintain its newest and most superior AI capabilities for S26 Extremely,” Ice Universe writes. “Even the S25 Extremely might have to attend a number of months to get these capabilities by means of the replace.”
The submit highlights another potential S26 exclusives, together with quicker charging and a privacy display feature that may restrict the flexibility of lookie-loos to look at your display screen and see what you are engaged on or watching. There’s discuss of digicam enhancements like a bigger most important digicam aperture and enhanced zooming capabilities, too.
“I do not suggest shopping for S26 or S26+. The one mannequin value contemplating is S26 Extremely,” Ice Universe writes, in keeping with a machine-translated model of that Weibo submit. Which can be true — however it’s not a lot comfort if you happen to weren’t planning on spending round $1,299 in your subsequent cellphone.
The problem with AI exclusives
Certainly, there’s nothing unique about a phone maker reserving its top features for its priciest model. Until the Galaxy S25 Edge got here alongside, the Extremely was the one Galaxy S mannequin with a 200MP most important digicam, and that characteristic disparity actually did not hurt anybody who purchased the usual or Plus Galaxy S fashions. Equally, the Extremely version can boast a much bigger show, larger battery and different options that set it other than the remainder of Samsung’s handsets.
However AI instruments really feel completely different to me. I respect the truth that I can spend $799 on a Galaxy S25 and revel in the identical help for cross-app actions I might get on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which prices $500 extra extra. The Now Temporary abstract of my every day schedule, generative picture enhancing, deeper Gemini integration — all these could be accessible to me on the usual S25 as effectively.
We’re in such an early section of on-device AI for telephones that I do not suppose it is a good technique for cellphone makers to gate-keep which new telephones do and do not help sure options. Higher to solid a large web with AI capabilities and get extra folks utilizing and speaking up the options. In any other case, you run the danger that individuals who do not actually see a necessity for AI will not pay up for the privilege of utilizing your new options — in the event that they even hassle upgrading to your newest cellphone in any respect.
I ponder if we noticed some proof of that with the iPhone 15 sequence the place solely the Professional fashions had the mandatory silicon to help Apple Intelligence options. Apple’s suite of AI instruments has had a reasonably underwhelming rollout so far, and I believe there may need been somewhat extra pleasure over the additions had Apple not informed anybody proudly owning an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus “you already know, this actually is not for you.”
Galaxy S26: What else is there besides AI?
It doesn’t help that reports surrounding potential upgrades to the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus which have surfaced so far counsel only a few important modifications for the brand new telephones. Leaked specs — once more from Ice Universe — point out the brand new telephones could have loads in widespread with their predecessors in the case of {hardware}.
That is led to some hypothesis that the principle modifications coming to the Galaxy S26 lineup will largely concentrate on AI, which actually is smart given how Samsung has stepped up its AI efforts this previous 12 months. However now, with some AI options probably engaged on simply the Extremely mannequin, it is honest to surprise what incentive it’s important to take into account both the usual or Plus variations of Samsung’s upcoming flagships.
I ought to observe that there is little or no in the way in which of specifics relating to probably unique Galaxy AI options for the Galaxy S26 Extremely. Even when they do exist, they may very well be tied to different Extremely-exclusive options just like the 200MP digicam and twin telephoto lenses or the rumored privateness show. And even the presence of Extremely-exclusive capabilities doesn’t suggest that the S26 and S26 Plus will not obtain some spectacular Galaxy AI boosts of their very own.
Nonetheless, at a time when pleasure ought to be constructing for a flagship launch, every subsequent Galaxy S26 leak appears to have the other impact. Finally, Samsung’s subsequent telephones may impress from the highest of the lineup all the way in which right down to the entry-level mannequin, however in the mean time, there’s extra questions going through the Galaxy S26 than there are solutions.
Observe Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date information, evaluation, and evaluations in your feeds.
Extra from Tom’s Information
