Samsung’s next flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is already making headlines ahead of its expected January 2026 launch—and not all the news will please fans.

Samsung has reportedly achieved higher energy density with the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s battery, which essentially means one of two things: either a larger battery can fit in the same space, or the same capacity can be housed in a smaller volume. While many users may hope for the former, the leak suggests Samsung is opting for the latter—prioritizing a thinner design instead.

Tipster @UniverseIce claims the S26 Ultra will once again feature a 5,000mAh battery—unchanged from every Ultra model since the Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020.

Why isn’t Samsung upgrading the battery capacity? Safety plays a role? Samsung has more than just the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco to remember. Here are a few recent incidents worth noting. The South Korean giant now seems especially cautious with battery chemistry.

However, there is a silver lining. According to the tipster, the change allows Samsung to shave down the phone’s overall thickness—potentially following the design language of the Galaxy S26 Edge.

Charging speeds are also reportedly getting a significant bump. @UniverseIce suggests Samsung is introducing upgraded thermal management, possibly raising the charging speed to 65W—up from 45W on the S25 Ultra. If true, that could mean a significant reduction in the downtime.

Other expected features include Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip. Unfortunately, the camera setup is rumored to remain mostly unchanged until 2028.

While battery capacity purists might be disappointed, Samsung’s focus on a thinner build and faster charging could still make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a compelling upgrade.

Don’t miss a thing! Join our Telegram community for instant updates and grab our free daily newsletter for the best tech stories!

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Samsung may have accidentally given the world an early look at its upcoming tri-fold phone through its latest One UI 8 software. According to a report from Android Authority, new animation files embedded in the software update depict a multi-panel foldable device that doesn’t resemble any of Samsung’s current foldable.

The device in question appears to fold in a G-shape, with two inward-folding hinges. It’s shown in multiple animations, suggesting a three-part design: the left panel houses a triple-camera module; the middle section includes what looks like an external display and a front-facing camera; and the rightmost segment appears to be a blank panel, likely used to close the fold rather than serve any display function. 

Samsung’s tri-fold folds unlike Huawei counterpart

Based on this layout, the phone folds like Samsung Display’s earlier “Flex G” prototype, with both hinges closing inward, unlike Huawei’s S-shaped foldable, which uses both inward and outward hinges.

The asymmetry of hinge sizes is more visible in darker versions of the animation. This difference may be deliberate, possibly to reduce strain on the screen when folded. 

One of the included warning animations even suggests the user should avoid folding the camera-side panel first, implying a delicate balance in the folding mechanism.

Interestingly, Samsung refers to the fold as “Multifold 7” in the One UI 8 build. It’s likely a placeholder or internal code name as the retail unit is expected to go by the “Galaxy G Fold” moniker. 

There’s been no official confirmation from Samsung on the existence of this device, beyond a teaser at a previous Unpacked event. And with the next major launch just around the corner — expected to feature the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and the Flip FE — it’s unclear whether this tri-fold design will make a full appearance or stay behind the curtain for now.

Even so, these One UI animations give the strongest hint yet that Samsung’s multi-fold ambitions are more than just concept demos. 

Tech enthusiast? Get the latest news first! Follow our Telegram channel and subscribe to our free newsletter for your daily tech fix!

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

(Source)

Samsung fans in the US can breathe a little easier—at least for now. A looming tariff that threatened to drive up the price of Galaxy phones has been scaled back, thanks to a new trade deal between the US and Vietnam. While the outcome isn’t perfect, it’s a big relief for anyone eyeing Samsung’s upcoming releases.

Back in April 2025, former President Trump announced a steep 46% tariff on goods imported from Vietnam, where Samsung manufactures the bulk of its smartphones and tablets—including the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the soon-to-launch Z Fold7. The proposed tariff raised alarms, as it would have left Samsung with two costly options: absorb the financial hit or pass it on to consumers through higher prices.

A 90-day pause in the tariff rollout gave both countries time to negotiate. The result? A new deal that lowers the tariff to 20%. It’s still a sizable bump, but far less damaging than the original plan. For consumers, this likely means Galaxy devices will avoid major price hikes—at least for now.

Samsung, preparing for the worst, had started exploring alternatives, including shifting production to India, where tariff rates were initially lower. While India’s own trade terms with the US are still being hammered out, the option remains on the table.

However, moving production is easier said than done. Samsung’s operations in Vietnam are massive, with factories reportedly churning out 120 million devices a year. These plants are deeply integrated into the company’s global supply chain, making relocation a costly and complex process.

Adding to the uncertainty is the lingering threat of a blanket 25% tariff on all foreign-made smartphones—a move that would hit not just Samsung, but also Apple. For now, analysts say that’s unlikely, given the lack of large-scale phone manufacturing in the US.

Even with the 20% tariff, there may still be slight price increases—possibly $100 to $200 for some premium models. But Samsung is already working to cushion the blow, with strategies like using in-house Exynos chips to keep costs down.

Tech enthusiast? Get the latest news first! Follow our Telegram channel and subscribe to our free newsletter for your daily tech fix!

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

(Via)