Is Samsung still the Android king or is it past its peak?

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup.

For years, Samsung has reliably led the Android world, releasing new, cutting-edge devices that pushed various boundaries. Just look at its device archives. The quirky Galaxy S4 Zoom with its extendable zoom camera, the motorized swivel-camera Galaxy A80, the pioneering Galaxy Fold, and the daring Galaxy Note Edge all come to mind. All these devices left me a little giddy when I first used them.

Of course, the core of a company consists of more sensible, consumer-friendly products, and there are plenty of tamer devices that have helped Samsung secure its place in the mobile world. However, I often wonder whether this tendency to play it too safe is part of a growing problem.

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Samsung’s 2026 roadmap recently leaked, and it paints a rather bleak picture. After the Galaxy Z TriFold and the Galaxy S25 Edge unveiled months ago, it appears that few novel devices are planned for the rest of the year.

Even beyond the halo products, leaks suggest that Samsung still isn’t really trying with its upper-range models. We’ve already seen the company strip a core S Pen feature from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, while the Galaxy S26 series seemingly won’t bring any major upgrades. Then there are the Galaxy S line’s cameras, which have remained mostly unchanged for four generations. Consumers are also frustrated, at least according to recent survey results. A swathe of Android Authority readers are disillusioned with Samsung’s tame flagship phone strategy.

Personally, I still appreciate Samsung as an Android OEM. One UI is the best skin I’ve ever used, and the steady, reliable rollouts of software updates fill me with confidence. Using a Samsung phone is a safe bet, even if it’s no longer an exciting one.

All this begs the question: Do you believe that Samsung is past its peak? Is it all downhill from here, or does the company still have a few tricks up its sleeve? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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