Samsung has finally unveiled its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S26 range, which includes the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. These phones come with some selective upgrades and changes that are worth noting.
The Galaxy S26 series follows the successful Galaxy S25 lineup and continues Samsung’s promise of providing seven years of software updates. While the phones may not be groundbreaking compared to their predecessors, they still offer compelling features and improvements.
One of the standout features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the world-first Privacy Display. This innovative technology allows users to block out segments of the screen from prying eyes, ensuring sensitive information remains secure. However, this feature is exclusive to the S26 Ultra, leaving the standard S26 and S26+ without this added security measure.
In terms of battery life and charging, the Galaxy S26 sees a slight increase in battery capacity, jumping from 4000mAh to 4300mAh. The S26 Ultra also gets faster charging speeds, with wired charging now reaching 60W and wireless charging at 25W. However, the absence of magnetic Qi2 wireless charging is a notable omission, especially when compared to competitors like Pixel and iPhone.
Camera upgrades are limited to the S26 Ultra, with changes to the aperture counts on the wide-angle and telephoto lenses. These adjustments should result in better low-light performance for users who enjoy capturing moments in darker settings.
Samsung has introduced new chipsets for the Galaxy S26 range, including the Exynos 2600 for the S26 and S26+ in certain regions, while the S26 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU. The move back to Exynos chips may raise concerns for some users, but Samsung promises improved performance with these new chipsets.
A subtle design tweak on the back of the phones includes a raised camera bar, similar to the design seen on Apple’s recent iPhone models. Additionally, Samsung has eliminated the 128GB storage option, with all models starting at 256GB to accommodate the increasing storage needs of users.
The Galaxy S26 lineup comes with the latest OneUI 8.5 software out of the box, offering improved features like AI-infused Bixby updates and enhanced usability options. Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S26 range are now live, with the full launch scheduled for 11 March.
However, the price of the Galaxy S26 range has seen a substantial increase, with the entry-level Galaxy S26 starting at £879. The S26+ and S26 Ultra are priced higher at £1,099 and £1,279, respectively. Samsung is offering pre-order deals with double the storage and trade-in options to help offset the higher prices.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S26 range offers some exciting upgrades and features, making it a compelling choice for users looking to upgrade their smartphones. With a mix of innovative technology, improved performance, and enhanced software, the Galaxy S26 series is set to make a mark in the smartphone market.
