New surveys paint a worrying image for the Samsung Galaxy S26

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The Galaxy S26 sequence isn’t even official but, however the temper round Samsung’s subsequent flagship launch already feels unusually flat. New Galaxy S day was once the standout occasion of the Android telephone launch calendar. Nonetheless, between leaks pointing to modest upgrades and early reactions to the telephones’ general course, there’s a rising sense that 2026 could be one other conservative 12 months for the machine lineup, at greatest. If Samsung has picked up on this vibe, it have to be setting off some alarm bells at HQ.

That backdrop is what led us to ask you a blunt query about your expectations in a latest opinion piece by my colleague Rita. Particularly, we needed to know in the event you assume that the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will underperform their opponents in 2026. For her half, Rita argued that Samsung’s smaller flagships look set to lag behind rivals on specs, worth, and ambition, even when they nonetheless promote properly. Judging by your responses to the ballot, plenty of you aren’t satisfied Samsung goes to maintain tempo this time round.

Let’s check out the outcomes.

Do you assume that the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will underperform their opponents in 2026?

Slightly below two-thirds of respondents stated they anticipate the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus to underperform their rivals subsequent 12 months, with 44% answering “sure, for certain” and one other 20% saying “in all probability.” That’s a fairly decisive lean towards skepticism, particularly on condition that that is about relative efficiency somewhat than whether or not the telephones will promote properly. A smaller group pushed again, with 23% saying the telephones in all probability received’t or undoubtedly received’t fall behind, whereas 14% stated it’s nonetheless too early to evaluate.

That stated, it’s price taking these outcomes with a pinch of salt. The ballot ran in an opinion piece that laid out a strongly argued case for why Samsung’s base flagships look stagnant, and that framing will naturally form how folks reply. Even so, the outcomes give a helpful snapshot of the present sentiment across the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus — and it’s not an particularly optimistic one.

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<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> Quite a lot of the dialogue beneath Rita’s article lined up with the ballot’s outcomes. Many commenters prompt that Samsung seems to be getting complacent with the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus, significantly by way of battery, charging, and digital camera {hardware}. A number of folks pushed again on the concept that Samsung has run out of concepts, arguing as a substitute that the corporate is solely snug doing the minimal whereas opponents, significantly Chinese language manufacturers, transfer sooner. The Plus mannequin specifically drew criticism, with various readers questioning why it exists in any respect if it’s so near final 12 months’s telephone.

Not everybody agreed, although. Some felt that the article was inserting an excessive amount of emphasis on leaks and rumors, arguing that real-world efficiency would matter greater than spec comparisons. Others defended Samsung’s strategy, saying AI efficiency and long-term assist are being undervalued, or that the complete telephone business is slowing down, not simply Samsung.

These are affordable arguments, however one other concern for Samsung is that it isn’t simply the efficiency of the upcoming flagships that’s beneath the highlight. As early renders of the Galaxy S26 sequence have surfaced, consideration has additionally turned to how these telephones truly look, and whether or not their design does something to shake the sensation that Samsung is taking part in issues very secure. That query got here up in a separate ballot tied to a latest Galaxy S26 design leak, the place we requested how you're feeling concerning the general look of the upcoming lineup.

What do you consider the Galaxy S26 sequence designs?

The response to the Galaxy S26 sequence designs was much less charged than the efficiency ballot. Simply over half of respondents stated the telephones look superb however might be higher, whereas 27% stated they just like the design outright. Solely 19% stated they aren’t followers in any respect. In different phrases, most of you don’t appear offended by how the Galaxy S26 lineup appears, however there isn’t a lot pleasure there both.

Taken alongside the primary ballot, that indifference is the place the alarm bells for Samsung are available in. There’s nothing right here to get too mad about, however the lack of enthusiasm for the subsequent technology of Galaxy S handsets is palpable. The model could not have suffered an enormous setback simply but, however maybe fewer followers than ordinary shall be inspired to improve in 2026, and the shortage of buzz a few machine line can snowball through the years.

A few feedback beneath the design article mirrored that temper. Fairly than debating whether or not the telephones look good or unhealthy, readers questioned why the dialogue was taking place in any respect, stating that Samsung’s base Galaxy design has barely modified for years. That response arguably sums issues up neatly — folks desire a telephone that appears and acts like a major improve. If Samsung isn’t providing the general public this in both design or efficiency phrases, it may turn out to be an issue.