Samsung’s next flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is still in development, but some interesting details have already surfaced. According to recent reports, the device may once again skip built-in magnets for Qi2 wireless charging, just like the S25 Ultra. On the camera front, Samsung appears to be sticking with the same 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor or a slightly modified version with similar specs. However, despite these largely incremental changes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may still come with a price hike.
Galaxy S26 Ultra could see a price hike driven by external factors like trade tariffs
Samsung introduced Qi2 wireless charging support on the Galaxy S25 series. However, the new flagships lack built-in magnets for optimal alignment and efficiency. As such, you must use a compatible magnetic case to benefit from Qi2 charging. X user @PandaFlashPro says Samsung is currently testing the Galaxy S26 Ultra without built-in Qi2 magnets. By extension, the entire Galaxy S26 series could lack a magnetic ring.
Camera enthusiasts hoping for a big leap in hardware may also be disappointed. The same source reveals that the latest prototype of the Galaxy S26 Ultra features the same sensor size as the ISOCELL HP2 used in the S25 Ultra and S24 Ultra. Samsung seems to be reusing the HP2 again, this time with updated pixels and a new lens — which could bring incremental improvements but nothing groundbreaking in terms of raw hardware.
Well, the Galaxy S25 Ultra already delivers better images than the S24 Ultra despite no notable hardware upgrade, so any improvements over that would be huge. But yeah, Samsung should consider introducing newer sensors every few years to ensure industry-leading camera performance. Rivals are already catching up fast, with many surpassing the “Ultra” Galaxy flagships in zoom camera capabilities.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra seems to deserve a new primary camera more when you hear about its pricing. While the Galaxy S25 series managed to avoid a price hike in most regions, Samsung may not be able to keep prices steady for the 2026 flagships. The newly introduced trade tariffs by the US government, coupled with other factors, could lead to a global price hike. Thankfully, Samsung doesn’t plan to raise prices for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, which may keep them competitive in the premium market.
