Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Bigger screen, smaller upgrades

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Bigger screen, smaller upgrades

https://www.androidcentral.com/phones/samsung-galaxy/samsung-galaxy-s26-review

Publish Date: 2026-04-06 17:40:00

Source Domain: www.androidcentral.com

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For years, base model Samsung Galaxy S phones had two things going for them — they were the smallest flagships on the market and were relatively affordable. With the Samsung Galaxy S26 bumping the price by $100 and growing the screen to 6.3 inches, it’s time for a new identity. After using it for two weeks, the Galaxy S26 is as confusing a device as ever.

On one hand, the Galaxy S26 offers a premium design with unparalleled performance powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. I preferred the smaller form factor of the Galaxy S25, but it’s clear that most consumers want larger phones. The real concern is the price hike combined with a lack of major upgrades. Sure, we got a new processor, but where are the upgraded cameras, Qi2 magnets, or connectivity boosts? They’re nowhere to be found.

The base Galaxy S26 received more upgrades than the Galaxy S26 Plus, but they hardly address the areas that really needed them. It’s a very solid phone, but when you consider the room for improvement, it becomes a tough sell.

Today’s best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals

The Galaxy S26 is available now, starting at $899.99 for the 256GB model, with the optional 512GB upgrade costing a whopping $1,099. This is $100 more expensive than the Galaxy S25 at launch. Although you get more base storage, the Galaxy S26 still costs more than the comparable 256GB model of the Galaxy S25 cost last year.

Keep in mind that the Galaxy S26 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor in North America, China, and Japan. All other global markets will get the Samsung Exynos 2600 version.

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