I want better Samsung phones, but these new sales numbers show why we won’t get them
Samsung doesn't have much incentive to push its hardware innovation.
Samsung's latest Galaxy S26 series introduced higher prices, a continued focus on AI, and minor hardware changes. However, the S26 Ultra's battery capacity remains at 5,000mAh, a standard since 2020, while Chinese competitors have already used higher-capacity silicon-carbon batteries for years. Despite the launch of silicon-carbon batteries in Samsung foldables, the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 maintained their battery capacities, lagging behind competitors like OPPO, HONOR, and Xiaomi.
Samsung's foldables also lack dust-tight ratings, making them more vulnerable compared to competitors. While Samsung's phones aren't setting hardware milestones, they've broken pre-order and sales records recently. The S26 Ultra was the best-selling Android phone for Q2 2026, outselling all other top devices. However, this success may be stifling Samsung's innovation, as there's less incentive for the company to push boundaries when there's high demand for their products.
Although competitors are few in the US, Samsung's trust and software reputation remain strong. Yet, if more competitors with hardware innovations were available, Samsung might need to improve its offerings. As it stands, with record sales and an iterative approach from competitors like Google, real hardware advancements from Samsung may be a while away.
Written by urgent.news from Android Authority's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
