The Galaxy S26 Professional may very well be a game-changer for small cellphone followers

Historically, we count on Samsung to launch three telephones: a base mannequin, a Plus variant, and its flagship Extremely — as you see with the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Extremely. Nonetheless, with the Galaxy S26 sequence, we might as a substitute get the Galaxy S26 Professional, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Extremely.

There’s a lot to unpack right here, however what stands out to me essentially the most is the Galaxy S26 Professional. If that is the cellphone we expect it’s, it may fill a lacking hole that has lengthy existed in Samsung’s smartphone portfolio. And if executed appropriately, it may very well be all the things I’ve wished out of a Samsung cellphone for the final a number of years.

Ever since 2020, Samsung has maintained a trio lineup for its Galaxy S household annually. The Galaxy S Extremely is the top-of-the-line flagship, the Galaxy S Plus has a equally large display screen with some pared-back specs, and the bottom Galaxy S is actually the identical cellphone because the Plus, simply with a smaller display screen and battery.

This lineup has labored fantastic over time, however there’s all the time been one core concern. If you’d like Samsung’s greatest cameras, nicest show, and essentially the most quantity of RAM and storage, you need to splurge for the Extremely. That’s fantastic if you happen to like large smartphones, however if you happen to favor one thing extra compact, you haven’t any alternative however to compromise.

In a world the place Google and Apple supply its flagships in two distinct sizes, Samsung’s methodology doesn’t work. If you’d like the highest-end Pixel from Google, you’ve got a alternative between the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. Each telephones have the identical cameras, show tech, RAM, and storage. The XL has a bigger battery and, most significantly, a much bigger display screen, however that’s in the end it. It’s the identical take care of the iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max. If you’d like the flagship iPhone, you will get it in whichever measurement you like: compact or gargantuan.

Samsung has by no means provided such a alternative, and it’s an omission that turns into extra noticeable and annoying with every passing 12 months. Not everybody desires an enormous cellphone, however not everybody who desires a small cellphone desires to sacrifice their digital camera, efficiency, and so forth.

If the Galaxy S26 Professional is actual, it might lastly add that option to Samsung’s Galaxy S household. In case you don’t thoughts an enormous cellphone and wish Samsung at its greatest, get the Galaxy S26 Extremely. However if you happen to favor your flagship in a smaller measurement, you’ve received the Galaxy S26 Professional. Everybody wins.

As somebody who’s been ready for such a alternative, the prospect of the Galaxy S26 Professional is immensely thrilling. Though we don’t but know what this all means by way of digital camera sensors, battery capability, charging speeds, and so forth., the addition of the “Professional” title suggests these specs will probably be a lot better than what we’ve seen beforehand with different base mannequin Galaxy S handsets.

Let’s assume the Galaxy S26 Professional retains the identical measurement because the Galaxy S25, with a show of round 6.2 or 6.3 inches. Now, pair that with a very revamped digital camera system — probably with a 200MP major digital camera sensor, a 50MP ultrawide digital camera, and a much-improved telephoto digital camera (perhaps even two of them, like we see on the Extremely). The bottom storage may very well be bumped up from 128GB to 256GB, the RAM might improve to 16GB, and we may even see Corning’s Gorilla Armor 2 glass with its glorious anti-reflective coating.

Samsung will clearly need to make some cuts in comparison with the Galaxy S26 Extremely apart from the shows measurement — particularly battery capability and cost speeds – however the reality stays that we ought to be a vastly upgraded smartphone within the Galaxy S26 Professional in comparison with the Galaxy S25, S24, and some other base Galaxy S that’s come earlier than it.

That every one stated, there are some issues that bounce to thoughts. If Samsung is staying true to the Professional title and making the required upgrades to match the brand new moniker, we’re virtually actually a value improve. However how a lot are we speaking? $100? $200? Perhaps much more?

Nonetheless, if Samsung does proper by the brand new Professional label, even when which means a substantial value hike, it’s vital to grasp simply how large of a deal the Galaxy S26 Professional would actually be.

A compact Samsung cellphone that may lastly go toe-to-toe with the Pixel Execs and iPhone Execs of the world. A Samsung cellphone that gives an Extremely expertise in a cellphone you should utilize one-handed. If that’s certainly what we get from the Galaxy S26 Professional, signal me up proper now.