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 decreasing its subsequent flagship telephones to simply three fashions: the Edge, the Extremely, and a brand new “Professional” system. No extra Plus, no extra vanilla fashions, although in fact the Professional would possibly as nicely be that, based mostly 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 every day driver for the time being is definitely the iPhone 16 Pro. I do typically toy with the concept of going again to Android, nonetheless, and for each that and work causes, I prefer to hold tabs on the place the perfect Android telephones are at. There is a record of particular upgrades the S26 Professional would wish for me to leap ship from the iPhone world, a few of them extra believable than others.

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

1

A majorly upgraded telephoto digital camera

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 digital camera. Apple has by no means bothered placing one on any of its non-Professional gadgets, as a substitute limiting these merchandise to vast and ultra-wide lenses, at greatest. It is a bit ridiculous, contemplating that folks extra usually have to get nearer to a topic relatively than additional away. That is one of many foremost 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 beneath something lower than brilliant situations. An S26 Professional with a bigger telephoto sensor higher matching its foremost one could be superb. That may entail bumping up the megapixel depend to at the least 50 megapixels, however it could present knock-on advantages, specifically higher cropping and digital zoom. Samsung would possibly nicely must take that route if it may market a cellphone 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 usually feels too quick, say when 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 must 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 homeowners 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, similar to hurricanes and wildfires, a single-day cellphone can develop into a severe 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 companies typically make charging retailers a key characteristic of their support 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 cellphone purchaser desires, however a transparent alternative to make iPhones appear archaic.

Certainly, a few of us have 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 have obtained used to MagSafe on an iPhone, it is onerous to return. USB-C charging is quicker, however MagSafe permits for terribly 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 obtainable 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 collection. Enthusiastic about it, it is unusual that the corporate did not seize on Qi2 the second it grew to become obtainable, since a lot of its success is predicated 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 folks from switching platforms. You are prompted to make use of Samsung Pockets as a substitute of Google Pockets, SmartThings as a substitute of Google Residence, and even Samsung Well being as a substitute of Google Match and Google Well being Join. In actual fact, you’ll be able to’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 foremost appeals of Android is the liberty to modify 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 system will not ask you to modify away from Google Pockets. If I’ll 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 fashionable, and has develop into 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 fully, I will know it is heading in the right direction for prioritizing customers relatively than its management over them. In the long term, I might relatively each cellphone help a number of assistants — regardless of the model.