Samsung is reshaping its flagship lineup for 2026, but not everyone is convinced by the company’s new naming strategy. A fresh leak is casting doubt on whether the Galaxy S26 Pro truly lives up to its “Pro” branding.
According to reports from Korean outlets, Samsung will ditch the familiar S+ branding and release three models next January: the Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra. But well-known tipster Ice Universe isn’t buying into the Pro hype.
In a post on X, he argued that the S26 Pro doesn’t offer enough to justify the “Pro” title, pointing out that only two changes stand out—a new primary camera (with the same sensor size) and a switch to what he called a “useless” 50MP ultra-wide sensor, replacing the older 12MP, 1/2.55-inch unit from the S25. The criticism likely refers to the tiny sensor area, which is only marginally larger than before. For context, packing more pixels onto a small sensor often leads to higher noise and bigger file sizes, with little to no improvement in real-world image quality.
Other elements, such as the 10MP telephoto lens and Full HD+ display, are said to remain unchanged, fueling criticism that the device is more of a refresh than a true step forward. Still, leaks suggest the S26 Pro won’t be entirely without merit. Under the hood, it’s expected to carry Qualcomm’s upcoming “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5” or Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 (depending on the region), along with a slightly larger battery.
While Ice Universe downplays these tweaks, the phone could still pack enough flagship-grade hardware to appeal to Galaxy fans looking for an upgrade. The lack of a periscope telephoto lens remains a clear dividing line between the “Pro” and Ultra model, keeping the latter as Samsung’s photography showcase. Unfortunately, Ice Universe also recently revealed that the 3x periscope telephoto on the Ultra will face a downgrade instead of an upgrade, after remaining unchanged for a few years.
With launch day only a few months away, the debate around the Galaxy S26 Pro highlights the tricky balance Samsung faces: making its mid-tier flagship distinct without watering down the “Pro” name.
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