Galaxy S26 cost cutting might claim another victim as Galaxy S26 series display allegedly retains last-gen max brightness

It appears Samsung is trying everything possible to keep the price of the Galaxy S26 down. From introducing conservative camera improvements and battery size gains to dismissing planned upgrades like a slimmer profile, leaks point to Samsung cutting corners wherever it can to keep the price of the Galaxy S26 competitive with the iPhone 17. It seems this cost cutting has now affected the display.

Ice Universe claims that the Galaxy S26 series doesn’t improve upon the 2,600 nits Peak Brightness of the Galaxy S25 series, which was also the same as the Galaxy S24. Even the Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to retain the 2,600 nits Peak Brightness. As a reference, here’s how the base Galaxy S26 competitors stack up when it comes to Peak Brightness:

• Apple iPhone 17 at 3,000 nits
• Xiaomi 17 at 3,500 nits
• Vivo X300 at 4,500 nits
• Oppo Find X9 at 3,600 nits

So, while a 2,600 nits brightness is more than enough for outdoor use, we can’t help but think that Samsung is capping the max brightness of the Galaxy S26 because either the AMOLED panel used can’t get bright enough or to keep thermals in check. The former is not a big issue as the display on the Galaxy S25 is already quite good, but the latter would suggest that Samsung doesn’t have a lot of faith in the cooling solution inside the Galaxy S26 series.

Finally, Ice Universe asserts that Samsung potentially capping the Peak Brightness of Galaxy S26 series to 2,600 nits doesn’t necessarily mean that the company won’t use the latest M14 OLED panels. The biggest draw of the latest M14 AMOLED displays is the reduced thickness, higher brightness, and improved power efficiency. 

It remains to be seen whether Samsung uses the M14 OLED on the Galaxy S26 Ultra alone or the entire Galaxy S26 series benefits from the tech.

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