The biggest battleground in the 2026 smartphone market is AI. The Samsung Galaxy S26 series and the Apple iPhone 18 Pro are poised for a head-on collision, each touting its own on-device AI strategy. In particular, there’s a lot of buzz around whether Samsung’s newly introduced EdgeFusion architecture can actually be a game-changer.
Samsung is rumored to be equipping the Galaxy S26 Ultra with its own EdgeFusion AI engine. According to a TechTimes report, EdgeFusion significantly reduces cloud dependency and runs large language models directly on the device. This is said to enable real-time translation, document summarization, and even image generation in offline environments. Sammy Fans reports that the Galaxy S26’s AI image generation feature has reached a level where it can create high-resolution images from text prompts alone.
On the other hand, Apple is expected to further enhance Apple Intelligence in the iPhone 18 Pro. Tom’s Guide compares the two devices, analyzing that Apple has taken an approach of deeply integrating AI throughout the system, while Samsung is focusing on maximizing the performance of individual AI functions. Apple’s strength lies in its ecosystem integration. The seamless AI experience that connects to Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches is something that Samsung will find difficult to catch up with.
There are also differences in price and specs. According to a comparative analysis by Sammy Fans, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has a larger battery and higher RAM, showing a hardware configuration that is advantageous for AI calculations. However, it remains to be seen after launch whether the difference in hardware specs will be noticeable in actual use.
For EdgeFusion to be a true game-changer, it needs to go beyond simply listing features. Offline AI processing speed, battery consumption, and integration with third-party apps are key. The direction of the AI smartphone era will be determined when both products are released in the second half of 2026. From a consumer’s perspective, it is wise to carefully consider the practical usability of AI functions in either case.
FAQ
Q: How is EdgeFusion AI different from existing Galaxy AI?
A: EdgeFusion is an architecture that runs large AI models on the device itself without the cloud. Previously, complex tasks had to be sent to a server, but EdgeFusion can handle advanced functions such as translation and image generation even offline.
Q: Compared to Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 18 Pro, which is more advantageous?
A: Samsung excels in the performance of individual AI functions, while Apple has strengths in ecosystem integration between devices. Samsung is likely to have an advantage in single-device AI performance, while Apple is likely to have an advantage in multi-device AI experience.
Q: Is the AI image generation function of the Galaxy S26 Ultra practical?
A: It can generate high-resolution images from text prompts alone, making it useful for creating SNS content or simple design work. However, it is difficult to completely replace professional design tools, and its value as an auxiliary tool is greater.