Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus spotting spells bad news for a make-or-break feature
A battery that is either the same capacity, or smaller, than its two-year-old predecessor? Oh, well, that’s bad.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Samsung is reportedly eyeing a late February launch for its next set of flagship phones in the Galaxy S26 series. So far, leaks have painted a rather modest picture of the upgrade situation for these upcoming phones. Now, a recent spotting on a certification database has seemingly confirmed rather disappointing news for the mid-tier Galaxy S26 Plus.
The key takeaway
A Samsung smartphone carrying the SM-947B model identifier was recently spotted on the SGS database. Though the documents don’t show any pictures of the device or any other technical aspect, they confirm the battery capacity. And it’s not good news.
The certificate confirms the battery capacity at 4,755 mAh. In case you’re wondering, the battery capacity of the phone’s spiritual predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Plus, is listed at 4,900 mAh on Samsung’s website. That means the Galaxy S26 Plus is either sticking with the same rated battery capacity as a two-year-old phone, or going even smaller.
Either way, it’s a bad situation for a phone with a “Plus” moniker. For comparison, mainstream phones such as the OnePlus 15 come equipped with a 7,300mAh battery, while the likes of Honor have already reached the 10,000mAh capacity without making the phone look like a tank.
What else?
The status of the Galaxy S26 Plus has been rather shaky over the past few months. The “Plus” model was dropped from the line-up to make space for the Galaxy S25 Edge. Then, it was reported that the Galaxy S26 Edge has been cancelled, and that a “Pro” model will replace it in 2026.
If Samsung continues to adhere to its distinctive and differentiated design, the current Galaxy S6 Ultra should look like this. Unfortunately, there is no “if.” pic.twitter.com/ZVxvUPcYsz
— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 9, 2026
But it appears that the Galaxy S26 Plus is back on the final line-up, and it doesn’t look like a meaningful upgrade. Leaks suggest a familiar design language and camera hardware. The processor will likely be one of Samsung’s Exynos chips, at least in some markets.
Nadeem is a technology and science reporter at Digital Trends.
FOSSiBOT’s rugged tech illustrates the convergence of power, vision, and mobility
From backup power to night vision: FOSSiBOT’s take on modern resilience
Rugged technology is moving out of the margins. As power outages, off-grid travel, and outdoor-first work become more common, users increasingly expect energy resilience and mobile capability to work together. At CES 2026, FOSSiBOT is leaning into that convergence, showcasing a portfolio that pairs industrial-grade backup power solutions with highly specialized rugged smartphones.
Founded in 2022, FOSSiBOT focuses on two complementary categories – portable power stations and rugged mobile devices – built for use in unpredictable environments without sacrificing modern usability, connectivity, or control.
Take one stressful task off your vacation planning list
Holidaygoers should pick up one of Nomad’s eSIMs to make travelling stress-free
If you’re going travelling, you’ve hopefully remembered to check your passport, convert your cash and pick up a regional power adaptor, but an easily-overlooked extra thing to prepare is a SIM card or plan which will let you get data overseas. Thankfully, eSIMs make it easy to pick up those gigabytes last-minute, or prepare ahead with a few easy steps.
eSIMs aren’t physical cards that you put in your smartphone, but digital ones which load into your phone at the tap of a button. One of the world’s top eSIM brands is Nomad eSIM, which offers you easy-to-use and affordable data packets for your holiday.
Motorola’s new Signature gives you flagship power in a slim frame
But it might not make it to the US.
Motorola just expanded its Razr brand beyond flip phones with a new book-style foldable dubbed the Razr Fold. The device packs a massive 8.1-inch folding screen and flagship-grade specs, but it’s not the only device turning heads at Motorola’s CES booth.
Alongside the new foldable phone, Motorola also unveiled a slim flagship phone called the Motorola Signature at the trade show. While not as thin as Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge or Apple’s iPhone Air, the Signature is slimmer than most other flagship phones on the market, measuring just 6.99mm.
