After another round of yearly rumors predicting the end of the Galaxy S Plus line, it looks like the Plus might be here to stay for at least another year. Samsung may release the
Galaxy S26+ in 2026 after all, and as a fan of Plus phones, I couldn't be happier.
But if that's the case, I now have to wonder what the
Galaxy S26+ could or should bring to the table to make me want to leave my beloved Galaxy S24+ behind. I narrowed it down to three changes that could persuade me to make the switch next year.
If the Galaxy S26+ has a brighter screen
For me, a brighter screen has always been one of the most immediately noticeable and rewarding hardware upgrades when switching from an older Galaxy device to a newer one.
The Galaxy S22+ had a brighter screen than the Note 10, and the Galaxy S24+ has a brighter screen than the S22+. Going from one device to the next always felt rewarding in this regard.
Now, with Apple's latest iPhones boasting 3,000 nits of peak brightness, I am hoping that the Galaxy S26+ can bring its own set of display upgrades next year.
My Galaxy S24+ and the newer S25+ top out at 2,600 nits of peak brightness, so if the Galaxy S26+ can do at least 3,000 nits, it might be good enough to feel like it's worth the switch.
If the Galaxy S26+ has a new design
I think Samsung's Galaxy S Plus design language is highly optimized. I can appreciate that in its own right, but it's hard to deny that things are looking a little bit boring nowadays.
Or, at the very least, I can't say that the exterior design has been a reason to upgrade for the past few years. It hasn't.
If the Galaxy S26+ can bring back some excitement through a few unique design cues, I would appreciate that.
I wouldn't want massive design changes or a return to curved Edge displays. However, if the Galaxy S26+ could have a horizontally aligned camera housing, that might be just enough to pique my interest.
If the Galaxy S26+ fully adopts the Qi2 standard
Last but not least, since I have become a fan of using my Galaxy phones without a protective case, a massive boon would be the inclusion of the full Qi2 standard.
While the Galaxy S25+ is “Qi2 Ready,” that's not enough for me to want to leave my Galaxy S24+ behind. “Qi2 Ready” means that the phone still needs a Qi2 magnetic case before it can support other Qi2 magnetic accessories.
However, if the Galaxy S26+ were to boast the full Qi2 standard and embed the magnets required to make it compatible with Qi2 accessories out of the box, that could be a game-changer for me.
Will I leave my Galaxy S24+ behind next year?
Regarding the question above, I'm not sure. It depends on several factors. Nevertheless, as far as the Galaxy S26+ is concerned, I think the phone should boast at least the three upgrades mentioned above before I could consider an upgrade from my S24+.
In a way, that's just a testament to how well the
Galaxy S24+ is holding up. The latest OS upgrades are great, and I never felt the need to replace my S24+ with the newer S25+.
Maybe the Galaxy S26+, if Samsung will indeed release it next year, will change my mind, or maybe it won't. I am also wondering if 2026 might be the year of foldable phones for me, so I really can't be sure what my next Samsung device will be. It's still to be determined.
Either way, I hope that the Galaxy S26+ will push the limits a bit harder than the S25+ did earlier this year.
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I might forget my Galaxy S24+ if the S26+ has these 3 upgrades appeared first on
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