Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Small steps

Greatest Costs At the moment: Samsung Galaxy S26

The smallest sibling in Samsung’s latest S-family, the S26, is an fascinating cellphone. On the {hardware} aspect, it seems like Samsung has taken this system so far as it may possibly go. On the software program aspect, it feels as whether it is nonetheless discovering its toes.

Little or no differentiates it from the Galaxy S25 that got here earlier than, with extra iterative updates than a complete overhaul. Samsung has given this new cellphone the identical display screen as its predecessor, however with barely larger decision and higher brightness. It additionally has a bit of extra processing energy (for the next worth) and a longer-lasting battery.

However below the hood, Samsung has thrown loads of synthetic intelligence (AI) options at nearly every little thing — whether or not that’s with its personal Bixby assistant, Google Gemini, or an upcoming partnership with Perplexity. A few of this works decently, however most of it’s unpolished, and it’s the most important block to what this system may very well be.

Finally, the S26 is a stable flagship cellphone, but in addition one which’s enjoying it protected. It could be good to see Samsung push the boat out additional, and never tie a few of its most fascinating options – just like the Privateness Show discovered on the Galaxy S26 Extremely – to its highest price-tagged gadgets.

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Design & Construct

• Modern aluminium physique
• Lighter and sturdier
• IP68 mud and water-resistant

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 is, if nothing else, a completely attractive cellphone to carry and use. The black aluminium physique – additionally out there in Cobalt Violet, White, Sky Blue, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold (the final two Samsung.com exclusives) – seems supremely smooth, and the cameras, layered on a vertical, oval, island, are nicely positioned.

That additionally makes it look a bit of extra subtle, in my eyes, than its Extremely brother, which has two extra lenses surprisingly caught out the aspect.

Luke Baker

At 167g, it weighs rather less than the iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10, however in a approach that belies a form of futurism relatively than flimsiness. IP68 mud and water resistance implies that this cellphone ought to survive most climate it’ll face; I introduced it out throughout a hailstorm to quickly discover a practice station, and it remained unfazed.

On the appropriate are the anticipated quantity buttons and a digital camera button-come-assistant summoner, and there’s a USB-C port on the backside.

Display screen & Audio system

• Brilliant, easy 120Hz show
• Blue hues
• Sturdy audio output

The Galaxy S26’s display screen is barely bigger than the Galaxy S25, touting 6.3-inch as an alternative of 6.2, however with the identical FHD+ (2,340 by 1,080) decision. Most brightness now reaches 2600 nits, which was useful below the solar.

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With the 120Hz refresh charge, scrolling is impressively easy, and on the entire, the S26 performs comparatively nicely. In comparison with different high-priced telephones, it does have a bluer color stability – watching the second collection of Ted, the temporary asides in a jail setting come throughout colder, as do Ted and his buddy John Bennett’s nighttime talks of their bunk mattress – and whereas some would possibly desire that, I really feel it makes movies much less thrilling.

There’s a good stage of element, capturing the scratches of a vandalised college desk or the curls of Ted’s fur properly. Switching to Blade (1998), there’s additionally a good try on the delicate stability of sunshine throughout the opening membership scene, the place ethereal, white rays illuminate vampires’ eyes and tooth. However there’s nonetheless extra to be carried out to eke out the element afforded to the Professional-level iPhone, and side-by-side, Samsung is a bit of disappointing.

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On the subject of sound high quality, the S26 does higher. Dialogue and different midrange frequencies come throughout robust and even on the highest quantity, the place lesser gadgets pressure.

Excessive-pitched strings and different mild percussion devices, triangles or cymbals, additionally shine and whereas the small audio system can not seize the deep bass of tracks like Love Lockdown – few smartphones actually may – the S26 makes a valiant effort. 

Specs & Efficiency

• Break up Snapdragon/Exynos technique
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage as commonplace

Samsung affords 12GB of RAM and the storage is now 256GB as commonplace on the S26, the latter being double that of its predecessor.

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As regards to the processor, Samsung has break up it between the US and Europe; the previous will get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, whereas the latter (together with my system) has the in-house Exynos 2600.

Whereas the S26 lacks the superior cooling system Samsung launched on the Extremely this 12 months, I didn’t discover any warmth after I was utilizing it.

The system works tremendous with video games like Genshin Affect or Lifeless Cells, on the most specs, and provides no hassle switching between apps in on a regular basis use – as you’ll count on from a flagship cellphone which prices this a lot.

Samsung Galaxy S26 benchmarks

Cameras

• Glorious evening pictures
• Sturdy zoom, weak close-up
• AI modifying unreliable

The S26 has a 50Mp fundamental digital camera, a 12Mp ultrawide, and a 10Mp telephoto, whereas on the entrance is a 12Mp sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. 

Whereas a step down from the Extremely (200Mp fundamental digital camera, 50Mp ultrawide, and 50Mp 5x zoom telephoto), it’s nonetheless a formidable system. The neon lights of the Moulin Rouge come throughout clear and crisp within the evening, the place different gadgets go away it murky, and its dealing with of color is really commendable.

Adam Smith / Foundry

The string of lights from the windmill, which different telephones solely seize as blobs of yellow mild, are captured in all their colors – regardless of the gap. The zoom functionality right here is actually fairly good; within the daytime, it is ready to scale the edges of the Notre Dame and seize the gargoyles with ease.

There are different areas the place it may very well be improved, although. Shut up, the S26 struggles to seize little particulars, just like the smattering of pollen on the petals of a flower, or the brushstrokes on an oil portray, which lets it down.

Samsung has additionally given the S26 a brand new video setting – Horizontal Lock – which stabilises video to a a lot better diploma, making it simpler to seize footage when shifting round. Shifting and shaking the cellphone round didn’t hassle it in any respect.

The mode is a bit of fiddly to activate, because it requires going to the Digicam app’s video tab, then the in-app settings, after which enabling it (each time you turn to video), however it’s fairly a neat addition.

Within the modifying suite, Samsung has additionally added an inflow of AI options, together with the power to make use of text-based prompts to edit pictures.

These work decently for some edits. Prompting it to make the picture darker labored fairly nicely, and the AI eraser is sort of efficient, though there have been nonetheless some artefacts round areas that it discovered tough to duplicate, equivalent to round brickwork.

For extra artistic work, it’s surprisingly unhealthy. Drawing a circle round a crow, and asking Samsung’s AI to “make the hen larger” resulted in a Frankenstein-like creation; one other try was higher, however modified the hen breed utterly.

Battery Life & Charging

• Lasts shut to 3 days
• Charging speeds under flagship stage
• Magnetic wi-fi charging wants a appropriate case

Samsung has given the S26 a bump in battery for a complete of 4300mAh, in comparison with 4000mAh on the S25 (although that is nicely below common for 2026).

Nonetheless, it lasts nicely and through my testing, it lasted practically three days earlier than I wanted to recharge it, with no slack on the scrolling, texting, and photo-taking that I put it by way of.

In our PCMark battery take a look at, the S26 recored a middling results of 14 hours and 56 minutes.

On the subject of charging, nevertheless, that’s much less flattering. There’s no enchancment (in contrast to the Extremely), so it’s caught at 25W wired and 15W wi-fi.

Utilizing an older 65W OnePlus Warp Charger – since there’s no plug within the field, you’re reliant on no matter you already personal – the cellphone scraped to simply 5% in fifteen minutes and 11% in thirty, indicating that you simply want the proper of charger, too.

With a MacBook charger, the S26 obtained to 18% in quarter-hour and 35% in half-hour.

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Samsung has additionally declined to provide the S26 first rate wi-fi charging, as whereas it’s “Qi2 Prepared,” it doesn’t have the magnets constructed into the system. 

Which means if you wish to snap the cellphone to a magnetic charger, you may, however solely with a appropriate case.

Software program & Apps

• Android 16
• AI options hit or miss
• UI points stay

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely runs One UI 8.5, over Android 16. 

Now Temporary is probably the most seen characteristic – sitting proper on the high of the cellphone. Fairly than ready so that you can search or kind, it analyses what’s in your display screen and surfaces related options earlier than you even ask. 

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In idea this sounds helpful. In observe it’s tremendous: an unobtrusive icon seems primarily based on what’s taking place on display screen, suggesting issues like sharing contact numbers or flagging calendar occasions whilst you’re coping with work emails, which works tremendous however is just not the transformative characteristic one would hope. For instance, tapping the calendar hyperlink to an occasion, after which opening the map, takes you to a miniature model of Google Maps’ performance, not the precise app.

Bixby can also be current – and theoretically upgraded. It has a redesigned interface and improved pure language understanding courtesy of Perplexity integration. It will possibly now navigate related system settings relatively than simply describing the place they’re, which is helpful, however I would like it within the Settings app – plus, Gemini can do that as nicely, toggling issues like Do Not Disturb, so it’s exhausting to see why anybody would select Bixby.

There may be additionally Now Nudge, for predictive messaging, which is able to carry up prompt actions primarily based on what’s in your display screen – equivalent to setting a reminder or suggesting pictures to ship primarily based on a message you’ve obtained from a buddy. This doesn’t work with every little thing, nevertheless, as there have been no beneficial messages when utilizing the all-in-one app Beeper, though it does have built-in AI summation, writing, and bullet level instruments.

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Outdoors of the AI stuff, Samsung’s software program was not tremendous. Looking for a primary app by way of Samsung’s personal UI search produces a baffling procession of outcomes – associated Google apps, a calendar assembly from years in the past, varied settings choices, widget options – earlier than ultimately surfacing the Play Retailer. 

It’s the form of friction you’d forgive on a finances system, however at £800-plus, it simply seems like Samsung nonetheless hasn’t put this cellphone within the fingers of odd folks and watched what occurs.

On the plus aspect, you get class-leading software program help (matching the likes of Google Pixel) with seven years of OS and safety updates.

Value & Availability

The Galaxy S26 base mannequin comes with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for £879/$899/€999, whereas the 512GB mannequin prices £1,049/$1,099/€1199. It has the identical RAM configuration, however there’s room for a significantly bigger digital camera roll.

You should purchase it straight from Samsung (the place the shop has two unique colourways) or loads of third-party retailers, together with Amazon, Currys and, within the US, BestBuy.

This makes it dearer than the iPhone 17, and the identical because the Google Pixel 10 and Xiaomi 17 (in 256GB sizes) – a excessive worth for folks seemingly aiming to save cash and keep away from the bigger price ticket of the superior S26 Extremely.

Take a look at our information to the finest telephones out there proper now.

Do you have to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S26?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a reliably glorious cellphone wearing a genuinely lovely physique. Its evening pictures is especially spectacular; the show – whereas not class-leading – is greater than succesful for on a regular basis use; and the Horizontal Lock video mode is a type of options that sounds gimmicky till you employ it.

With just a few extra refinements, the lower-end system may actually be one thing that blows customers away. Sadly, Samsung simply isn’t fairly there but – so whereas there won’t be a motive for anybody to take the leap from final 12 months’s cellphone, these shifting from an S23 or older will really feel the enhancements in battery life, digital camera efficiency, and processing energy.

Specs

• One UI 8.5
• Android 16
• 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2340, 120Hz refresh charge
• Ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (US) / Exynos 2600 (Europe)
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• 50MP f/1.8 fundamental sensor
• 12MP ultrawide
• 10MP 3x telephoto
• 12MP selfie digital camera
• As much as 8K @ 30fps rear video
• Stereo audio system
• Twin-SIM + eSIM
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• NFC
• USB-C 3.2
• 4300mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• 15W wi-fi charging
• 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2mm
• IP68 licensed
• 167g
• Colors: Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Pink Gold, Silver Shadow