4 options the Galaxy S26 Professional must win me from the iPhone 16 Professional

The phrase is that for the Galaxy S26 lineup, Samsung is engaged on a major overhaul, with the purpose of lowering its subsequent flagship telephones to simply three fashions: the Edge, the Extremely, and a brand new “Professional” gadget. No extra Plus, no extra vanilla fashions, although after all the Professional would possibly as effectively be that, primarily based on rumors to this point. Versus the S25, it is anticipated to improve to a barely larger 6.27-inch show, and a equally bumped 4,300mAh battery. No luck convincing Samsung to match one thing just like the 6,260mAh silicon-carbon battery within the OnePlus 13T, I am afraid.

My day by day driver in the meanwhile is definitely the iPhone 16 Pro. I do generally toy with the concept of going again to Android, nevertheless, and for each that and work causes, I prefer to hold tabs on the place the very best Android telephones are at. There is a checklist of particular upgrades the S26 Professional would want for me to leap ship from the iPhone world, a few of them extra believable than others.

Think about it meals for thought whereas we anticipate Samsung’s subsequent Galaxy Unpacked occasion, which is more likely to occur in late January 2026.

1

A majorly upgraded telephoto digicam

A repair to one of many linchpins of any smartphone

The Galaxy S25 already has a bonus over most iPhones merely for having a telephoto digicam. Apple has by no means bothered placing one on any of its non-Professional gadgets, as an alternative limiting these merchandise to broad and ultra-wide lenses, at finest. It is a bit ridiculous, contemplating that folks extra typically have to get nearer to a topic moderately than additional away. That is one of many major causes I purchased an iPhone 16 Professional — I used to be sick of lacking out on photographs that even low-cost DSLRs and mirrorless cameras can take.

The 16 Professional’s telephoto camera nonetheless leaves one thing to be desired. Whereas it has 5x zoom with optical picture stabilization, its low-light sensitivity is weak, such that noise and blur begin to creep into footage below something lower than brilliant situations. An S26 Professional with a bigger telephoto sensor higher matching its major one could be wonderful. That might entail bumping up the megapixel depend to no less than 50 megapixels, however it might present knock-on advantages, particularly higher cropping and digital zoom. Samsung would possibly effectively need to take that route if it should market a telephone as “professional.”

Samsung might also have to push optical zoom previous the S25’s 3x mark. 3x is ok in lots of conditions, but even 5x typically feels too quick, say should you’re attempting to take a shot of the lead singer at a live performance as an alternative of the entire stage. I doubt Samsung will make the leap to 10x, although.

2

A two-day battery

A person can dream, cannot he?

A 4,300mAH battery must be sufficient to final a day, and presumably beat my iPhone 16 Professional, if Samsung’s efficiency optimization is on-point. However one thing smartphone house owners have been demanding for many years is a product that may final two days or extra on a cost with out enabling any particular battery-saving options.

It isn’t only a matter of comfort, both. In emergency conditions, comparable to hurricanes and wildfires, a single-day telephone can turn out to be a critical legal responsibility, forcing customers to scramble for energy when they need to be involved with extra vital issues. It is a unhappy commentary that reduction companies generally make charging shops a key function of their help stations.

We already do have two-day telephones within the type of merchandise with silicon-carbon (Si-C) batteries, just like the OnePlus 13T I discussed. What I am actually saying, then, is that I am not proud of Samsung’s overly conservative battery specs, assuming the rumors are true. It isn’t solely ignoring one thing each telephone purchaser needs, however a transparent alternative to make iPhones appear archaic.

Certainly, a few of us had been shocked that the S25 Edge shipped with out Si-C, by no means thoughts one thing popping out in 2026.

3

Qi2 magnetic charging (and a bunch of equipment)

The brand new minimal for wi-fi charging

As soon as you’ve got bought used to MagSafe on an iPhone, it is exhausting to return. USB-C charging is quicker, however MagSafe permits for very handy wi-fi charging stands, to not point out different quick-release equipment like wallets, batteries, and grips. An Anker journey charger I personal is able to topping off my iPhone, Apple Watch, and Jabra earbuds with none cables past the wall adapter, and props my iPhone up in panorama mode so I can watch fullscreen movies.

Qi2 — primarily based on MagSafe — has technically been accessible to Android telephone makers for some time, however largely ignored for causes that are not fairly clear. Now that Google has embraced it for the Pixel 10, although, Samsung does not have an excuse for leaving it out of the S26 collection. Enthusiastic about it, it is unusual that the corporate did not seize on Qi2 the second it turned accessible, since a lot of its success relies on deliberately imitating or leapfrogging Apple.

4

Much less reliance on proprietary software program

Let’s put a stake in Bixby

Talking of imitating Apple, one of many issues Samsung has at all times had its eye on is a walled backyard that deters individuals from switching platforms. You are prompted to make use of Samsung Pockets as an alternative of Google Pockets, SmartThings as an alternative of Google Residence, and even Samsung Well being as an alternative of Google Match and Google Well being Join. In truth, you possibly can’t even put on a Galaxy Watch with out Samsung Well being put in.

You would possibly assume that would not hassle me, since I am used to stricter boundaries on my iPhone. For me, although, one of many major appeals of Android is the liberty to change manufacturers not simply at will, however simply. Some telephones may need particular options, however the necessities carry over in a heartbeat — a Nothing or OnePlus gadget will not ask you to change away from Google Pockets. If I will make the leap sometime, I do not wish to discover myself proper again the place I began when it comes to the ecosystem panorama.

Whereas I am at it, it is time that Samsung lastly admitted defeat and did away with Bixby. The voice assistant was by no means well-liked, and has turn out to be more and more irrelevant within the age of Google Gemini. It is solely good for executing on-device instructions, and actually, that is about all it does on the S25.

If Samsung can exorcise Bixby completely, I am going to know it is heading in the right direction for prioritizing customers moderately than its management over them. In the long term, I would moderately each telephone help a number of assistants — regardless of the model.