The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a few months away, but that doesn’t stop the rumor mill from spinning. And, in the day of AI-generated art and imagery, there are some pretty convincing renders of the new phone out there.
While some are seemingly based on insider information and others feel largely like guesswork, I took a look at a bunch of them to decide which ones might be the closest to being realistic – if not entirely accurate.
It’s also worth noting that, aside from the smaller details, it would be fair to say smartphones are pretty homogenized these days (bring back the slide-out keyboard I say), but with the caveat that I haven’t seen an S26 (and, most probably, neither have these artists), here are some renders of the new phone with my rating.
I’m taking into account the general realism of the render (no line drawings, please), as well as how closely the images here stick to what Samsung has been doing in the last few generations of Galaxy S models, and a little from other lines.
I’m also factoring in just how likely they are to be able to be manufactured. As much as I’d love a Samsung phone that turns into a Transformer, it seems unlikely. With that said, Autobots, roll out – or, y’know, let’s get to the renders.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is launching soon, and we’ve got a first look at the dummies! 👀🔥
From camera upgrades to bigger battery life and more, here’s everything you need to know: https://t.co/I5biJrKCK1
What are you expecting from the Galaxy S26 Series? Let us know. pic.twitter.com/96gihrmBDE
This set of renders claims to include the dummy units for Samsung’s latest lineup, and it’s hard to argue that it looks pretty much like what you’d expect.
The main difference from the S25 lineup is a raised platform around the lenses, which might help avoid getting dust in the sensor, while one model (which we assume is the S26 Ultra) looks to have liberally borrowed from Apple’s ‘plateau’ from this year’s iPhones – but we won’t tell.
I’m giving this one a solid 8 out of 10 – give me colors, damn it! Still, given its nature as a ‘dummy unit’, I wouldn’t be surprised for this to be pretty close to what we end up with next year.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra CAD render. What do you think about the design??#Samsung26Ultra #Samsung #Android pic.twitter.com/ufMLqdCxw3
Now we’re cooking, with a nice animated, spinning CAD render I could look at all day. It shows the Ultra, sans plateau, and looking an awful lot like an iPhone 5 at first glance with its flat sides.
That display looks so close to the top of the chassis that it’s almost floating, and it sure looks bezel-less, which you’d expect.
It’s a 9 out of 10 for me, but again, where are the colors? Aside from that nitpick, I’d argue this feels a little too sleek, and I think we’ll get some kind of plateau on the S26 models.
I would hit my head on wall if Samsung launches S26Edge with this design…😭😭
This is so ugly!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/l7prYUlCpo
Richie’s not happy with these renders, and they look an awful lot like the ones shared by Beebom above.
From this viewpoint, the middle device’s sheer volume of lenses and sensors gives me the same sort of vibes as a staring contest with a spider, and all three look impressively dull in this gray shade.
I’m going for 7/10 – flat, uninspiring, and a little unsettling, and I think it’s probably less likely to be what we end up with as a result.
For a bit of fun, Here is the early render of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Do you like it ? 😋#Samsung #SamsungUnpacked #GalaxyAI #GalaxyS26Ultra pic.twitter.com/BQjKhyWyAD
There’s a lot to take in with this one from Tech Home. For one, I quite like the idea of a raised, glass-protected camera system, although I wonder if having extra glass runs up the price or increases the opacity so the sensors have to work harder.
As commenters have noted, it perhaps looks a little closer to the Samsung Galaxy Note, but what I’m most interested in here is the slick coloring.
It’s somewhere between rose gold and a more coppery tone, and I must say, I’m vibing with it.
Another 8 out of 10 for me, I just wish we could see the rest of the phone. That glass is likely to be another cost, though, so don’t expect to see it in the final model.
Back on track since #Samsung decided to cancel the #GalaxyS26Edge, here comes your very first look at the #GalaxyS26Plus (360° video + gorgeous 5K renders + dimensions)!😏
On behalf of @Androidheadline 👉🏻 https://t.co/tejqjMXyJF pic.twitter.com/ecD09uIzQJ
Another entry from OnLeaks here. I’m a big fan of this orange shade, even if it feels derivative of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max that Apple launched this year.
Still, that edge-to-edge display looks really nice, especially with the matching hue of the wallpaper, and it looks like another suggestion that we’re getting that raised platform along the camera lenses.
Would Samsung borrow from that orange, though? I think I prefer the Coralred from the S25 for something a little more unique.
Wow – that’s the first word that comes to mind when looking at this Galaxy S26 Ultra mock-up from Miror Pro.
The sheer size of the display, with no bezels anywhere, is breathtaking – although it’s highly unlikely we’d get such a clean look (I’d be terrified of dropping it).
Naturally, the other side looks about as familiar as the others on this list, but for the commitment to a big, beautiful display, this one gets a 9 out of 10. Maybe one day, eh?
This concept from Technizo Concept looks almost exactly like an iPhone at first glance, no doubt thanks to that lovely orange shade we mentioned earlier.
Seeing the S-Pen is a nice touch, but the ‘fake OS’ on the screen looks so much like iOS that I’m trying not to imagine it just being the iPhone with a stylus.
I do appreciate that the back gets a proper look, though, and shorn of any fancy effects, this might be my favorite orange so far. For that, it gets a 7/10, and I think color aside this is probably going to end up being relatively close to what we end up with.
Google Photos is introducing a new design for the Collections tab on Android, giving users more control over their albums, folders, and photo categories. The update is all about customization, allowing users to pin collections they access often, hide sections they use rarely, and rearrange the layout to make their photo libraries easier to navigate.
According to a 9To5Google report, the change comes after Google rolled out the redesigned floating navigation bar on Android earlier this year. Rather than inventing a brand new way to store photos, Google is making it easier to get to the content people want, without having to scroll through sections they rarely open.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.