Big changes could be coming to Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and fans of the S Pen might want to pay attention. According to a reliable leak from PandaFlashPro, Samsung is considering removing the built-in slot for the S Pen. It is a signature feature that’s been around since the Galaxy Note days. Why? To make room for a larger battery.
For years, the Ultra lineup has stuck with a 5,000mAh battery, even in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. That’s decent, but in a world where competitors are pushing boundaries with 6,000mAh or even 7,000mAh batteries. It is starting to feel a little underwhelming, especially for power users who rely on their phones all day.
To address this, Samsung is reportedly reworking the internal layout of the S26 Ultra. Removing the S Pen’s housing could free up just enough space to bump the battery capacity up to around 7,000mAh. This might be achieved through stacked battery technology and potentially even newer Silicon-Carbon battery materials. Some Chinese manufacturers are already testing similar tech, with batteries reaching as high as 8,000mAh.
But the S Pen isn’t going away completely, it just might live outside the phone for the first time. Think Apple’s iPad Pro: a magnetic attachment system on the phone’s flat edges, possibly with wireless charging support for the stylus. It could be a clever compromise, giving users both longer battery life and stylus convenience.
In another space-saving move, Samsung might also remove one of the rear telephoto lenses, with rumors suggesting the S26 Ultra will get a main camera with a variable aperture that can handle more flexible zoom ranges. That means fewer lenses, less bulk, and more room inside the chassis.
Visually, early renders point to a smoother design with thinner bezels and the familiar punch-hole selfie camera. Samsung’s still not jumping on the under-display camera trend, likely due to quality concerns. Under the hood, expect top-tier performance: the U.S., China, and Canada versions will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8 “Elite” Gen 2 with a custom Galaxy core, while other regions will get Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chip.
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Additional insights
- New Materials & Cooling:- With bigger batteries come heat concerns. Samsung might also be refining its vapor chamber cooling system or incorporating graphene-based thermal solutions to keep the S26 Ultra running cool under pressure.
- AI-Powered Features:- Expect deeper integration of Galaxy AI, especially in photography, voice assistants, and productivity tools—possibly taking advantage of on-device AI models to compete with Google’s Gemini and Apple’s rumored local AI efforts in iOS 18.
- Sustainability Push:- Samsung has been leaning into sustainability lately, so don’t be surprised if the S26 Ultra features more recycled materials, eco-friendly packaging, and improved software longevity, likely promising at least 5 years of OS updates and security patches.
If the rumors hold true, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could be the most significant redesign of the year, not just in form, but also in function. And if better battery life is the trade-off for a slightly less integrated S Pen? That might just be a deal worth making.
