Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra features two tiny openings located at the top of the frame. Both openings appear similar, yet they serve distinct purposes. One opening functions as a microphone, while the other acts as an air vent. This design isn’t limited to the Galaxy S26 series; it’s also present in other Samsung flagship models like the S25 series. Previously, some older versions didn’t share this design — for instance, the S23 series had a single microphone opening at the top, whereas the second microphone opening and air vent were located at the bottom. Moreover, the flagship S22 and S21 phones also included two openings, but these were designated solely for the microphone.
What can be perplexing is that both openings are the same size, making it easy to confuse which is the microphone and which is the air vent. The opening to the right serves as the air vent, while the left one typically corresponds to the microphone. You can check the Samsung user manual online for your specific phone model to verify this information. A properly fitting, sturdy phone case should not obstruct these openings; rather, it should have space designed to accommodate them. If a case does cover these openings, you may encounter issues. One issue relates to the microphone’s noise cancellation; it may become less efficient if you’re blocking the area where sound is detected for cancellation. Consequently, your phone calls might sound more muddled to the other caller.