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 goal of decreasing its subsequent flagship telephones to only three fashions: the Edge, the Extremely, and a brand new “Professional” machine. No extra Plus, no extra vanilla fashions, although after all the Professional would possibly as properly be that, based mostly on rumors thus far. Versus the S25, it is anticipated to improve to a barely greater 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 every day driver in the intervening time is definitely the iPhone 16 Pro. I do generally toy with the thought of going again to Android, nevertheless, and for each that and work causes, I wish to preserve tabs on the place the most effective 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.

Contemplate 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 units, as a substitute limiting these merchandise to broad and ultra-wide lenses, at finest. It is just a little ridiculous, contemplating that individuals extra typically have to get nearer to a topic somewhat than additional away. That is one of many important 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 photos underneath something lower than vivid circumstances. An S26 Professional with a bigger telephoto sensor higher matching its important one could be superb. That will entail bumping up the megapixel depend to a minimum of 50 megapixels, however it will present knock-on advantages, particularly higher cropping and digital zoom. Samsung would possibly properly need to take that route if it’ll market a cellphone as “professional.”

Samsung can 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 brief, say should you’re making an attempt to take a shot of the lead singer at a live performance as a substitute 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 ought to be sufficient to final a day, and probably 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, equivalent to hurricanes and wildfires, a single-day cellphone can turn out to be a critical legal responsibility, forcing customers to scramble for energy when they need to be involved with extra necessary issues. It is a unhappy commentary that reduction businesses generally make charging retailers 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 pleased with Samsung’s overly conservative battery specs, assuming the rumors are true. It isn’t solely ignoring one thing each cellphone purchaser desires, however a transparent alternative to make iPhones appear archaic.

Certainly, a few of us had been stunned 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 received used to MagSafe on an iPhone, it is laborious 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 — based mostly on MagSafe — has technically been accessible to Android cellphone 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 sequence. Desirous about it, it is unusual that the corporate did not seize on Qi2 the second it grew to become 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 a substitute of Google Pockets, SmartThings as a substitute of Google House, and even Samsung Well being as a substitute of Google Match and Google Well being Join. In truth, you may’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 obstacles on my iPhone. For me, although, one of many important appeals of Android is the liberty to change manufacturers not simply at will, however simply. Some telephones might need particular options, however the necessities carry over in a heartbeat — a Nothing or OnePlus machine will not ask you to change away from Google Pockets. If I will make the leap sometime, I do not need to discover myself proper again the place I began by way of 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 in style, 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 in reality, that is about all it does on the S25.

If Samsung can exorcise Bixby completely, I will know it is heading in the right direction for prioritizing customers somewhat than its management over them. In the long term, I might somewhat each cellphone help a number of assistants — irrespective of the model.