Samsung’s latest flagship is facing unexpected changes, and a new report from Korea suggests Apple is the reason. The Galaxy S26 was first planned with a 6.9mm frame, but Samsung later shifted it to 7.24mm. The adjustment raised questions, and now there appears to be a financial motive behind it.
Samsung reportedly expected Apple to raise the iPhone 17 price. The company then aimed to match that higher price while offering a slimmer S26 with a larger 4,900 mAh battery. However, Apple kept the iPhone 17 at $799 in the US. As a result, Samsung could not introduce its planned upgrades without raising the S26 price above the Galaxy S25. To avoid that gap, Samsung allegedly reduced the battery to 4,300 mAh and accepted the thicker design.
The strategy also affects the rest of the lineup. According to the leaks, the Galaxy S26+ will keep the same thickness and battery as before. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will take a different route by fitting a 5,000 mAh battery into a body that is 0.3mm thinner than the S25 Ultra.
It will also introduce Samsung Display’s Flex Magic Pixel technology, which enables an electronic privacy screen without extra film. If these reports are accurate, Samsung is prioritizing price alignment with Apple over physical upgrades, making the Galaxy S26 launch even more intriguing.