According to Digital Trends, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 might measure just 6.9mm thick, making it 0.3mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 and potentially one of the thinnest phones to feature the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This design change would be achieved through either a smaller battery or higher-density battery cells, though Samsung has historically been hesitant to adopt the latter technology. The current Galaxy S25 already packs a modest 4,000 mAh battery that trails competitors like the Google Pixel 10, and further reductions could impact daily usability. To maintain that slim profile, Samsung might also need to remove the vapor chamber cooling system entirely. These engineering choices could lead to significant heat management problems given the power-hungry nature of the Snapdragon chipset. The Galaxy S26’s launch has reportedly been moved up to late January, with the same leak suggesting possible Qi2 wireless charging support.
When thin becomes a problem
Here’s the thing about the relentless pursuit of thinness: we’ve been here before. Remember when Apple made the iPhone 6 so thin it started bending in people’s pockets? Or when various Android manufacturers sacrificed battery life for sleek profiles that nobody actually asked for? Now Samsung seems to be heading down that same questionable path.
And let’s be real – does anyone actually want a thinner phone at this point? We’ve reached a point of diminishing returns where shaving off another 0.3mm doesn’t meaningfully improve the user experience. What it does do is create engineering headaches that inevitably compromise the things people actually care about: battery life and performance.
The battery reality check
Look, the Galaxy S25’s 4,000 mAh battery is already borderline for power users. I’ve tested enough phones to know that number barely gets most people through a full day with moderate usage. Now imagine pairing that with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is basically a desktop-class processor crammed into a phone.
So we’re looking at a scenario where Samsung either reduces battery capacity or keeps it the same but removes cooling. Neither option sounds great. Higher-density batteries could be a solution, but Samsung hasn’t embraced that technology yet, and there are valid concerns about safety and longevity. Basically, we’re trading actual usability for bragging rights about thickness.
The cooling compromise
This is where things get really concerning. Modern flagship processors generate serious heat, and without proper cooling, thermal throttling becomes inevitable. That means your expensive new phone might feel fast for the first five minutes of gaming, then slow to a crawl as it overheats.
Removing the vapor chamber to save space is like removing the radiator from a sports car to make the hood lower. It might look better in photos, but good luck actually driving it. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will absolutely need robust cooling, and sacrificing that for thinness seems like a classic case of form over function.
Should you actually care?
Maybe. If you’re someone who values all-day battery life and consistent performance, these compromises should give you pause. But Samsung has pulled off impressive engineering feats before, and they might have some tricks up their sleeve that we haven’t seen yet.
The good news is we’ve got time before the expected January launch to see how this plays out. I’m skeptical, but not completely writing off Samsung’s ability to balance these competing demands. Still, if I were betting, I’d say we’re likely to see some real-world compromises that make that sleek profile feel less appealing once you actually start using the phone daily.
