Samsung galaxy s26 & s26 plus hands-on review: upgrade only if.
Phone enthusiasts often obsess over the Ultra flagship, but for many, the mainstream Galaxy S series is where it's at. So what's new with the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus this year? In my recent hands-on, I found some meaningful improvements, but not enough to convince everyone to upgrade.
Design: galaxy s26 & s26 plus get a mini ultra makeover
With the S25 Ultra, Samsung started to blur the lines between its flagships. Now, the S26 and S26 Plus are even more alike, thanks to a tweaked corner radius that gives them a sleeker, more unified look. Both phones instantly appear fresh and modern – a win in my book.
Battery life: s26 gets a boost, s26 plus remains the same
Good news for S26 owners: Samsung has bumped up the battery capacity from 4000mAh to 4300mAh. That's a 7.5% increase, which could translate to noticeable longer battery life, especially when paired with the new chipsets.
Unfortunately, the S26 Plus misses out on this upgrade, sticking with its 4500mAh cell.
Ai enhancements: photo assist & circle to search get smarter
Samsung's AI capabilities across its Galaxy range have been refined, with Photo Assist now capable of not just removing unwanted objects from photos but also adding missing elements. For instance, you can restore a slice of cake that's been taken from a group shot.
Circle to Search has also improved, allowing you to identify and link to multiple items in a circled image. This could be handy when trying to find an outfit from a photo.
Price & availability
The bad news is that the S26 and S26 Plus have both received $100 price hikes. The S26 now starts at $900, while the S26 Plus begins at $1100.
On the bright side, the S26 is now available with 256GB or 512GB storage options, eliminating the 128GB variant.
Conclusion
While the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus don't bring revolutionary changes, they do refine the formula where it counts. With One UI, solid cameras, robust performance, and timely software updates, these phones are still top-notch options for those seeking a premium Android experience.
Just be prepared for a higher price tag. The S26 and S26 Plus are now available for pre-order, with a release date set for March 11. Our in-depth reviews, including camera and battery benchmarks, are coming soon to provide a comprehensive look at Samsung's 2026 flagships.