Samsung is poised to take on Apple’s iPhone Air with its forthcoming Galaxy S26 Edge, which is anticipated to feature a more expansive camera island and a sleeker body. The Galaxy S26 Edge is projected to be even more streamlined than the iPhone Air, with a thickness of merely 5.5mm at its most slender area. This latest iteration will showcase a larger battery, a revamped processor, and an ultrawide camera, establishing it as a strong contender in the smartphone arena.
The Galaxy S26 Edge is said to come with 16GB of memory and enhanced storage options, employing a dual-chip approach with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Exynos 2600 variants, in addition to a bigger 4,200mAh battery capacity. It is also rumored to feature Qi2 wireless charging with internal magnets for MagSafe-like capabilities. Nevertheless, the device is expected to have an enlarged camera bump, increasing its thickness by 5.3mm, and will provide 25W charging speeds, which could be less rapid than those of the iPhone Air.
In contrast, the iPhone Air showcases a more refined design with a reduced camera platform, operating on the A19 Pro with 12GB RAM. It packs in elements such as MagSafe, an Action button, and Camera Control, along with a refreshed 18MP selfie camera. Even with its stylish look, the iPhone Air has a lower-resolution primary camera, lacks stereo speakers, and depends exclusively on eSIM globally.
The Galaxy S26 Edge is anticipated to retail for $1,099, while the iPhone Air is priced at $999. Both devices present distinct features and design aspects, making the decision between them reliant on individual user preferences regarding design, functionality, and operating system.