Samsung’s new naming strategy: not everyone is convinced by the company’s reorganisation of its flagship lineup for 2026. A new leak casts doubt on the Galaxy S26 Pro’s ability to live up to its “Pro” moniker.
According to reports from Korean outlets, Samsung will ditch the familiar S+ branding and release three models next January: the Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra. However, Ice Universe, a well-known tipster, isn’t buying into the Pro hype.
In a post on X, he argued that the S26 Pro doesn’t offer enough to justify the “Pro” title, pointing out that only two changes stand out—a new primary camera (with the same sensor size) and a switch to what he called a “useless” 50MP ultra-wide sensor, replacing the older 12MP, 1/2.55-inch unit from the S25.
The criticism likely refers to the tiny sensor area, which is only marginally larger than before. To put things into perspective, cramming more pixels onto a smaller sensor frequently results in increased noise and larger file sizes, with little to no improvement in the quality of the actual image.
Other elements, such as the 10MP telephoto lens and Full HD+ display, are said to remain unchanged, fueling criticism that the device is more of a refresh than a true step forward. However, rumors suggest that the S26 Pro has some merit.
It is anticipated to have a slightly larger battery and either the upcoming “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5” from Qualcomm or Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 (depending on the region).
While Ice Universe downplays these tweaks, the phone could still pack enough flagship-grade hardware to appeal to Galaxy fans looking for an upgrade. The lack of a periscope telephoto lens remains a clear dividing line between the “Pro” and Ultra model, keeping the latter as Samsung’s photography showcase.
Sadly, Ice Universe recently revealed that the Ultra’s 3x periscope telephoto, which had been unchanged for a few years, will be downgraded rather than upgraded.
With launch day only a few months away, the debate around the Galaxy S26 Pro highlights the tricky balance Samsung faces: making its mid-tier flagship distinct without watering down the “Pro” name.
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