Samsung is reportedly working on a significant design shift for its upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra flagship, and it could involve giving the device a sleek 'Edge' treatment. If you are not familiar with it, the company recently launched its new Galaxy S25 Edge handset, and the main selling point of the device is its thin design. A tipster claims that the S26 Ultra could have the same look, but it could hurt the S-Pen functionality and battery life.
A sleeker Galaxy S26 Ultra could arrive, but its ultra-thin design may risk the S-Pen and battery
A tipster shared on X that the S26 Ultra is surprisingly thin, which could mean that the company is moving in a direction to streamline the entire lineup, aligning the higher-end models with an ultra-thin profile seen on the Galaxy S25 Edge. The Galaxy S25 Edge is 5.8mm thin, and if Samsung brings the thickness of its Ultra-branded handset down to the same level, it could end up with a more premium and futuristic aesthetic.
While the new design would be a welcome addition, it will bring a handful of caveats. The S25 Ultra proudly features support for the S-Pen, the only handset that brings a stylus to the table, and it is one of the unique selling aspects of the flagship. If Samsung plans to give the S26 Ultra the 'Edge' treatment, the main challenge would be to fit the S-Pen while not compromising the battery life.
Even though the S-Pen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra lacks Bluetooth support, it still offers a handful of essential features like pressure sensitivity, screen-off memos, and handwriting-to-text conversion. Shrinking the thickness of the S26 Ultra to match the S25 Edge dimensions could compromise the seamless S-Pen integration.
Fitting an S-Pen into a phone that is as slim as 5.8mm would be a serious engineering hurdle, potentially requiring Samsung to either redesign the stylus entirely or relocate the housing. However, these aspects could impact the usability of the accessory. Moreover, removing it could be a serious downgrade for some power users who were long-time fans of the Note lineup.
Another major hurdle is battery life, which could take a hit due to the trimmed thickness, resulting in lower capacity. The company could dodge these battery issues by offering the highly anticipated silicon-carbon batteries, which are denser than the traditional lithium-ion cells. This means that the advanced batteries could offer more or the same battery life without taking up additional space. Apple is also expected to adopt the same approach with the iPhone 17 Air. Note that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is not bound to be as slim or thin as the Galaxy S25 Edge, and it could be a few mm thicker, as there are no leaks or reports surrounding the design.
While Samsung is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to design, it must also consider functionality that has grown on users over the years. Do take the news with a grain of salt, as the company has not officially issued a statement, nor have we heard of any concrete details on the matter. Would you want the Galaxy S26 Ultra to be as slim as the 'Edge' model?
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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