Since the first Galaxy AI features appeared on board the Galaxy S24 in 2024, Samsung has followed a pretty inclusive path about which models sport those capabilities. If you bought the entry-level Galaxy S model, you could expect the same AI features found on the more premium Ultra offering.
That's how it was with the 2024 flagship release, and the Galaxy S25 models stuck to that approach earlier this year. However, one prominent leaker has suggested that Samsung is going to take a different path with next year's Galaxy S26 lineup, saving some features as Galaxy S26 Ultra exclusives.
Exclusive AI for the Ultra?
Let's take a closer look at the rumor, which comes from a Weibo post by well-known leaker Ice Universe. As spotted by Phone Arena, the post claims that not every Galaxy AI feature arriving as part of the Galaxy S26 launch in early 2026 will appear on every model.
"Samsung will keep its latest and most advanced AI functions for S26 Ultra," Ice Universe writes. "Even the S25 Ultra may have to wait several months to get these functions through the update."
The post highlights some other potential S26 exclusives, including faster charging and a privacy display feature that will limit the ability of lookie-loos to glance at your screen and see what you're working on or watching. There's talk of camera improvements like a larger main camera aperture and enhanced zooming capabilities, too.
"I don't recommend buying S26 or S26+. The only model worth considering is S26 Ultra," Ice Universe writes, according to a machine-translated version of that Weibo post. Which may be true — but it's not much consolation if you weren't planning on spending around $1,299 for your next phone.
The problem with AI exclusives
Certainly, there's nothing unique about a phone maker reserving its top features for its priciest model. Until the Galaxy S25 Edge came along, the Ultra was the only Galaxy S model with a 200MP main camera, and that feature disparity certainly didn't harm anyone who bought the standard or Plus Galaxy S models. Similarly, the Ultra edition can boast a bigger display, bigger battery and other features that set it apart from the rest of Samsung's handsets.
But AI tools feel different to me. I appreciate the fact that I can spend $799 on a Galaxy S25 and enjoy the same support for cross-app actions I'd get on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which costs $500 more more. The Now Brief summary of my daily schedule, generative image editing, deeper Gemini integration — all these would be available to me on the standard S25 as well.
We're in such an early phase of on-device AI for phones that I don't think it's a good strategy for phone makers to gate-keep which new phones do and don't support certain features. Better to cast a wide net with AI capabilities and get more people using and talking up the features. Otherwise, you run the risk that people who don't really see a need for AI won't pay up for the privilege of using your new features — if they even bother upgrading to your latest phone at all.
I wonder if we saw some evidence of that with the iPhone 15 series where only the Pro models had the necessary silicon to support Apple Intelligence features. Apple's suite of AI tools has had a pretty underwhelming rollout to date, and I think there might have been a little more excitement over the additions had Apple not told anyone owning an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus "you know, this really isn't for you."
Galaxy S26: What else is there besides AI?
It doesn't help that reports surrounding potential upgrades to the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus that have surfaced to date suggest very few significant changes for the new phones. Leaked specs — again from Ice Universe — indicate the new phones will have a lot in common with their predecessors when it comes to hardware.
That's led to some speculation that the main changes coming to the Galaxy S26 lineup will largely focus on AI, which certainly makes sense given how Samsung has stepped up its AI efforts this past year. But now, with some AI features potentially working on just the Ultra model, it's fair to wonder what incentive you have to consider either the standard or Plus versions of Samsung's upcoming flagships.
I should note that there's very little in the way of specifics regarding potentially exclusive Galaxy AI features for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Even if they do exist, they could be tied to other Ultra-exclusive features like the 200MP camera and twin telephoto lenses or the rumored privacy display. And even the presence of Ultra-exclusive capabilities doesn't mean that the S26 and S26 Plus won't receive some impressive Galaxy AI boosts of their own.
Nevertheless, at a time when excitement should be building for a flagship launch, each subsequent Galaxy S26 leak seems to have the opposite effect. Ultimately, Samsung's next phones could impress from the top of the lineup all the way down to the entry-level model, but at the moment, there's more questions facing the Galaxy S26 than there are answers.
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