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 big overhaul, with the goal of lowering 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 up to now. 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 day by day driver in the mean time is definitely the iPhone 16 Pro. I do generally toy with the thought of going again to Android, nonetheless, and for each that and work causes, I wish to preserve tabs on the place one of the best Android telephones are at. There is a checklist 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 look ahead to Samsung’s subsequent Galaxy Unpacked occasion, which is prone 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 somewhat ridiculous, contemplating that individuals extra typically must get nearer to a topic slightly than additional away. That is one of many primary causes I purchased an iPhone 16 Professional — I used to be sick of lacking out on pictures 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 shiny situations. An S26 Professional with a bigger telephoto sensor higher matching its primary one could be wonderful. That will entail bumping up the megapixel depend to at the very least 50 megapixels, however it could present knock-on advantages, specifically higher cropping and digital zoom. Samsung would possibly properly should take that route if it should market a cellphone as “professional.”

Samsung can also must 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 attempting 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 presumably 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, corresponding to hurricanes and wildfires, a single-day cellphone can change into 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 aid companies generally 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 needs, however a transparent alternative to make iPhones appear archaic.

Certainly, a few of us had been shocked 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 bought used to MagSafe on an iPhone, it is arduous 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 would not have an excuse for leaving it out of the S26 sequence. Interested by it, it is unusual that the corporate did not seize on Qi2 the second it turned accessible, 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 all the time 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 Dwelling, and even Samsung Well being as a substitute of Google Match and Google Well being Join. In reality, you possibly can’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 limitations on my iPhone. For me, although, one of many primary appeals of Android is the liberty to modify manufacturers not simply at will, however simply. Some telephones may need particular options, however the necessities carry over in a heartbeat — a Nothing or OnePlus machine 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 well-liked, and has change 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 completely, I am going to know it is heading in the right direction for prioritizing customers slightly than its management over them. In the long term, I would slightly each cellphone help a number of assistants — regardless of the model.