Recent reports reveal that Samsung has modified the design and specifications of its upcoming Galaxy S26 to align its price with Apple's iPhone 17. Originally planned to be slimmer and equipped with a larger battery, the S26 now features a slightly thicker build and a reduced battery capacity. These changes highlight Samsung’s strategy of directly competing with Apple on pricing, even if it means scaling back hardware improvements.
Initially, the Galaxy S26 was expected to measure 6.9mm in thickness. However, the latest leaks indicate that Samsung increased this to 7.24mm. This adjustment has puzzled many, but new information from Korean sources sheds light on the reasoning behind it.
Apple maintained the iPhone 17’s starting price at $799 in the US, the same as its predecessor. Samsung reportedly aimed to price the Galaxy S26 identically to remain competitive. To keep costs down while hitting that target, Samsung allegedly had to forgo planned upgrades, including a reduction in battery capacity from the anticipated 4,900 mAh to 4,300 mAh.
Samsung had anticipated that Apple would increase the price of the iPhone 17, justifying enhancements like a slimmer body and a bigger battery for the Galaxy S26. Since Apple kept the price steady, Samsung now finds itself unable to introduce these improvements without raising the S26’s price, which the company seems eager to avoid in order to maintain tight price competition with Apple.
Looking at the other models in the lineup, the Galaxy S26+ reportedly retains the thickness and battery size of its predecessor, the S25+. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature the same 5,000 mAh battery as the S25 Ultra but will be housed in a shell that is 0.3mm thinner. The Ultra model will also incorporate Samsung Display’s new “Flex Magic Pixel” technology, allowing an electronic privacy screen without additional film layers.
Source (Korean) | Image source
