Samsung Adds a Second NFC Antenna to the Galaxy S26 Lineup

Samsung recently announced the Galaxy S26 series, which is currently available for preorders. The latest lineup includes three phones: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Even though the top-of-the-line S26 Ultra is the most exciting model and brings some upgrades over its predecessors, there’s one quiet addition Samsung didn’t talk about much. Or maybe it didn’t mention it at all.

Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, Galaxy S26 Ultra feature a new dual NFC antenna setup

As revealed by folks over at SamMobile, all the Galaxy S26 phones, including the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, come with an NFC upgrade. Samsung has quietly added a second NFC antenna to the Galaxy S26 series. Previous Galaxy phones only had a single NFC antenna positioned on the back of the device. With the new lineup, Samsung has placed an additional antenna near the top edge of the phone, working alongside the one on the back.

It may sound like a small upgrade, but it could solve one of the most common annoyances with mobile payments. If you’ve ever used your phone to pay at a store, you probably know what we’re talking about. The extra NFC antenna should help reduce those moments by improving the range and accuracy of NFC detection.

We still have to test how much this translates into faster payments in real-world conditions, but based on the hardware upgrade, it should be quicker and will probably mean fewer awkward moments when the terminal doesn’t immediately detect your device.

And a quick heads-up: if you’re preordering the Galaxy S26 series in the US, either through Samsung or Best Buy, you can snag our mystery box. Every box comes packed with a bunch of accessories, including a 65W GaN charger, a screen protector, a phone case, USB-C wired earbuds, a phone cleaning kit, a desktop stand, and more.

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