The landscape of Android flagship phones has evolved considerably over the years, resulting in fewer companies dominating the scene. Samsung firmly stands as the leader in the Android smartphone ecosystem with its Galaxy S line. Following the latest Unpacked event, the newly revealed Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 are anticipated to become the most popular Android devices for the upcoming year.
Samsung opted for a more conservative approach this time, focusing on introducing new models with cosmetic refinements and enhanced internal components. The company is doubling down on artificial intelligence. The S26 lineup is described as featuring the first 'Agentic AI phones.' Despite the limited hardware advancements, the rising cost of components amidst the AI era has led to a $100 increase in price for the two cheaper models, while the Ultra remains priced at a steep $1,300.
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From a design perspective, the Galaxy S26 series is strikingly similar to its predecessors, with adjustments like a new camera surround and minor changes in the dimensions of the smallest and largest models. A notable change is the shift from titanium to aluminum for the S26 Ultra's body—a step back echoed by Apple in their latest high-end phones. Additionally, the Ultra continues to include the S Pen stylus.
| Specs at a glance: Samsung Galaxy S26 series | Galaxy S26 ($900) | Galaxy S26+ ($1,100) | Galaxy S26 Ultra ($1,300) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoC | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| Memory | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB, 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Display | 6.3-inch OLED, 10-bit color, 2340×1080, 1-120Hz | 6.7-inch OLED, 10-bit color, 3120×1440, 1-120Hz | 6.9-inch OLED, 10-bit color, 3120×1440, 1-120Hz, S Pen support |
| Cameras | 50MP primary, f/1.8, 1.0 μm; 12MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 1.4 μm, 10MP 3x telephoto, f/2.4, 1.0 μm; 12MP selfie, f/2.2, 1.12 μm | Same as S26 | 200MP primary, f/1.4, 0.6 μm; 50MP ultrawide, f/1.9, 0.7 μm; 10MP 3x telephoto, f/2.4, 1.12 μm; 50MP 5x telephoto, f/2.9, 0.7 μm; 12MP selfie, f/2.2, 1.12 μm |
| Software | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 16 |
| Battery | 4,300 mAh | 4,900 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 3.2, Sub6 5G | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 3.2, Sub6 and mmWave 5G | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C 3.2, Sub6 and mmWave 5G |
| Measurements | 71.7×149.6×7.2 mm, 167g | 75.8×158.4×7.3 mm, 190g | 78.1×163.6×7.9 mm, 214 g |
The new series will be powered by the latest Snapdragon flagship processor, featuring exclusive customizations for Samsung in markets like North America, Japan, and China. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a 3 nm chip equipped with third-gen Oryon CPU cores, an Adreno 840 GPU, and an advanced Hexagon NPU for on-device AI processing. Samsung boasts double-digit performance improvements across the board, although similar claims are made annually.
Samsung's flagship phones are known for their extremely fast hardware, performing well in benchmarks. They have a tendency to heat up and throttle after sustained use, but this may be less of a concern with the S26 series. Samsung has introduced a larger vapor chamber than ever before to manage temperature more effectively.