There have been rumors in recent times that Samsung is leading the way with screen size with next year’s flagship phone. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will potentially have even thinner bezels than its predecessor, which will potentially allow Samsung to fit a 7-inch display without needing to significantly increase the phone’s size.
Samsung’s Next Flagship: S26 Ultra and the Push for a Larger Screen
Samsung, as rumor has it from tipster PandaFlash, will follow the trend of bezel reduction we have already seen on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The model had already managed to take screen size to 6.9 inches with bezel reduction without adding much in actual physical size in comparison to the S24 Ultra.
This gradual evolution is part of Samsung’s product vision. Samsung has each year refined its flagship designs annually, and frequently done so incrementally in a sequence of small changes and tweaks. Thinning the bezels is thus the next logical step that would earn Samsung bragging rights for producing the first contemporary flagship slab phone with a 7-inch display.
The rumor arose after speculations around the selfie camera of the S26 Ultra. Although some speculations pointed toward the possibility of an under-display camera (UDC) for next year’s model, PandaFlash debunked this.
This is according to sound reasoning – as has been noted in reviews of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, under-display camera tech is not yet on par with the performance of regular punch-hole selfie cameras.
Samsung S26 Ultra: Prioritizing Screen, Not Size
For those who value practicality, this reported shift suggests Samsung is continuing to prioritize screen real estate without compromising on camera quality or significantly changing the ergonomics of the phone. A larger screen of the same size would enhance media consumption, gaming, and productivity without the Ultra’s conventional form factor having to change.
Of course, we must be skeptical about these rumors. PandaFlash has not provided us with any solid sources for these rumors, and their previous tips about the Galaxy S25 Ultra were not very accurate. We are still about a year away from the likely release of the S26 series, and a lot can go wrong while it is in development.
The bezel reduction that is reported is plausible in light of Samsung’s pattern of incremental design refinement. The firm has always been at the forefront of display technology, starting from the very first edge displays through to today’s near bezel-less offerings. Every generation has witnessed incremental yet radical advances in the screen-to-body ratio.
Other than bezels, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely see the usual annual upgrades in processing, camera, and battery technology. Samsung reserves its most cutting-edge and newest components and features for the Ultra line, and therefore they are the technological crown jewel of what is possible in a mass-market smartphone.
The S26 Ultra Wishlist: Beyond Bezels, What Will Samsung Deliver?
Samsung has already been busy in 2025 with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series, updating its mid-rangers, and hyping the enigmatic Galaxy S25 Edge. Even with all these many launches, the rumor mill is still running speculating on next year’s flagship.
For potential customers, then, the question is whether thinner bezels and a marginally bigger screen would be strong reasons to upgrade. While there are some who want the biggest screen possible in an acceptable size factor, there are others who may require more drastic improvements in camera capability, battery life, or computational capability in order to feel compelled to upgrade to a new device.
What do you want to have on the Galaxy S26 Ultra? Would a 7-inch screen with very small bezels be sufficient to make you upgrade? The responses likely have to do with what you currently have and how you currently use your smartphone on a day-to-day basis.
