Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Satellite communication and S Pen
Samsung already offers smartphones with satellite communication support, but this wasn’t explicitly mentioned in the recently unveiled Samsung Galaxy S26 series. Now the Korean company has finally officially confirmed it: The Samsung Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26+ and the S26 Ultra support satellite communication.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series with satellite communication
Samsung stated that the expansion of satellite communications support with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to enhanced user safety and a seamless mobile experience. For those unfamiliar, satellite communications provides users with access to satellite-based messaging and data services, as well as emergency assistance when regular cellular networks are unavailable.
“Samsung has a long tradition in wireless communication technologies and strives to be an innovation leader in this field through open collaboration with global partners. As satellite connections become an important part of the mobile communications landscape, we are committed to ensuring Galaxy users have reliable access to communication, especially when they need it most.”
Won-Joon Choi, President, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Research and Development for the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business Unit at Samsung Electronics
Samsung has partnered with telecommunications providers in North America, Europe, and Japan to offer satellite communications for selected Galaxy smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 series.
In the US, Samsung is partnering with Verizon to bring eSOS and SMS services to all Galaxy flagship models starting with the S25 series to offer. In addition, the company is cooperating with AT&T to enable satellite communication on Galaxy smartphones. Select Galaxy flagship models and models in the Galaxy A series released after the Galaxy S21 series support T911, SMS, and data services on the T-Mobile network.
In Europe, Samsung is partnering with Virgin Media O2 to enable satellite communication on select Galaxy smartphones. They are also working with Vodafone on this feature, while joint trials with MasOrange in Spain will begin in March.
In Japan, Samsung entered into a partnership with KDDI last year to develop satellite-based text and data services, as well as the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Systems (ETWS) for the Galaxy A series and flagship Galaxy S22 and newer models. Samsung is also working with SoftBank, Docomo, and Rakuten Mobile to bring satellite communication capabilities to Galaxy A-series and Galaxy flagship smartphones.
Samsung confirms: S Pen is here to stay
Samsung removed the Bluetooth functionality of the Galaxy S25 Ultra S Pen last year. The removal of the S Pen led some to believe that the Korean manufacturer would completely discontinue it in the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. And the good news is: Samsung has confirmed that the S Pen will still be available.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Won-Joon Choi confirmed that Samsung is currently working on a successor to the S Pen pen.
“We are working on a more advanced technology for the S Pen to develop a new display structure so that the disadvantages of the S Pen are minimized. The S Pen will continue to be one of our core technologies,” said Choi, without revealing further details about this improved S Pen.
Choi also explained that Samsung has not yet made a decision regarding the successor to the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Galaxy Z TriFold. However, he did not rule out a broader Galaxy Z Fold Wide, which can be folded once.
A wider Galaxy Z Fold Wide was already spotted in One UI 9, confirming that Samsung is working on such a model. A similar aspect ratio is also expected for the Apple iPhone Fold.
