Here’s how the new Samsung Galaxy S26 compares with last year’s S25

The Verge · Feb 25, 2026 · Collected from RSS

Summary

Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S26 lineup at its recent Unpacked event in San Francisco. As expected, the new series consists of the baseline S26, which starts at $899.99, and the bigger S26 Plus, which starts at $1,099.99. At the high end, there's also the $1,299.99 S26 Ultra, which is the largest in the lineup and comes with a bigger battery, better cameras, S Pen support, and expanded options for both storage and RAM. The price difference between Samsung's cheapest and most expensive S26 phones is $400 (last year, it was $500). While some of its updated Galaxy AI software features are new, it's another year of minor hardware updates for Sam … Read the full story at The Verge.

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The S26 and S26 Plus both cost $100 more, though the base model contains more upgrades to warrant the price increase.The S26 and S26 Plus both cost $100 more, though the base model contains more upgrades to warrant the price increase.by Cameron FaulknerFeb 25, 2026, 8:09 PM UTCPhoto: Allison Johnson / The VergeCameron Faulkner is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S26 lineup at its recent Unpacked event in San Francisco. As expected, the new series consists of the baseline S26, which starts at $899.99, and the bigger S26 Plus, which starts at $1,099.99. At the high end, there’s also the $1,299.99 S26 Ultra, which is the largest in the lineup and comes with a bigger battery, better cameras, S Pen support, and expanded options for both storage and RAM. The price difference between Samsung’s cheapest and most expensive S26 phones is $400 (last year, it was $500).While some of its updated Galaxy AI software features are new, it’s another year of minor hardware updates for Samsung’s flagship phones. However, there are some notable changes that you should know about upfront. The base S26 costs $100 more than last year’s model, but comes with 256GB of storage instead of 128GB. It also has a bigger battery and a slightly larger 6.3-inch screen (not great news if you appreciated the S25’s smaller size), but it’s now missing mmWave 5G support. The S26 Plus is $100 more, yet, as noted in the chart below, it offers even fewer upgrades.If you want a side-by-side comparison of how the Galaxy S26 lineup fares in terms of specs to the last-gen models, we’ve made a table for your perusal. All of the new phones are up for preorder starting today, February 25th, and will ship on March 11th. Samsung also announced the forthcoming Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, which are also available for preorder starting today ahead of their release on March 11th.Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. S25SpecificationSamsung Galaxy S26Samsung Galaxy S26 PlusSamsung Galaxy S26 UltraSamsung Galaxy S25Samsung Galaxy S25 PlusSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraOSAndroid 16Android 16Android 16Android 16Android 16Android 16Display6.3-inch OLED6.7-inch OLED6.9-inch OLED6.2-inch OLED6.7-inch OLED6.9-inch OLEDResolution2340 x 10803120 x 14403120 x 14402340 x 10803120 x 14403120 x 1440Max. refresh rateUp to 120HzUp to 120HzUp to 120HzUp to 120HzUp to 120HzUp to 120HzDimensions (mm)149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2158.4 x 75.8 x 7.3162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2Weight5.89 ounces (167 grams)6.70 ounces (190 grams)7.55 ounces (214 grams)5.71 ounces (162 grams)6.70 ounces (190 grams)7.68 ounces (218 grams)Battery4,300mAh4,900mAh5,000mAh 4,000mAh4,900mAh5,000mAhProcessorSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Snapdragon 8 EliteSnapdragon 8 EliteSnapdragon 8 EliteStorage256GB, 512GB256GB, 512GB256GB, 512GB, 1TB128GB, 256GB, 512GB256GB, 512GB256GB, 512GB, 1TBRAM12GB12GB12GB / 16GB12GB12GB12GBPortsUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CRear cameraWide: 50MP, f/1.8 / Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2 /Telephoto:10MP, f/2.4Wide: 50MP, f/1.8 / Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2 /Telephoto:10MP, f/2.4Wide: 200MP, f/1.4 / Ultrawide: 50MP, f/1.9 / Telephoto 1: 10MP, f/2.4 / Telephoto 2: 50MP, f/2.9Wide: 50MP, f/1.8 / Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2 / Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4Wide: 50MP, f/1.8 / Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2 / Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4Main: 200MP, f/1.7 / Ultrawide: 50 MP, f/1.9 / Telephoto: 50MP, f/3.4; 10MP, f/2.4Front camera12MP, f/2.212MP, f/2.212MP, f/2.212MP, f/2.212MP, f/2.212MP, f/2.2Front video4K at 60fps4K at 60fps4K at 60fps4K at 30 / 60fps4K at 30 / 60fps4K at 30 / 60fpsRear video8K at 30fps / 4K at 60fps8K at 30fps / 4K at 60fps8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps8K at 24 / 30fps (main lens only), 4K at 30 / 60fps (all lenses)8K at 24 / 30fps (main lens only), 4K at 30 / 60fps (all lenses)8K at 24 / 30fps (main lens only), 4K at 30 / 60 / 120fps (all lenses)BiometricsUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionUltrasonic fingerprint and facial recognitionWater and dust protectionIP68IP68IP68IP68IP68IP68Connectivity5G (no mmWave) / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.45G (includes mmWave) / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 65G (includes mmWave) / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 65G / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.45G / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.4 / Ultra wideband5G / Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.4 / Ultra widebandWireless charging?Yes, 15WYes, 20WYes, 25WYes, 15W Qi2Yes, 15W Qi2Yes, 15W Qi2Stylus support?NoNoYesNoNoYesColorsViolet, blue, black, white (online exclusives: silver, gold)Violet, blue, black, white (online exclusives: silver, gold)Violet, blue, black, white (online exclusives: silver, gold)Green, silver, light blue, navy (online exclusives: coral, black, gold)Green, silver, light blue, navy (online exclusives: coral, black, gold)Green, silver, light blue, navy (online exclusives: coral, black, gold)Starting price$899.99$1,099.99$1,299.99$799.99$999.99$1,299.99Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Cameron FaulknerThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)

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Following Samsung’s Unpacked event, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is available for pre-order, and it looks very familiar. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Like recent updates in the Galaxy S line, Samsung is refining its flagship rather than dramatically reinventing it. Both phones share a lot of core DNA, including compact designs, high-refresh AMOLED displays and similar camera hardware. The S26 does introduce a handful of meaningful updates, however, including a slightly larger battery and newer software out of the box. Those changes also come with a higher starting price: the Galaxy S26 begins at $899.99 compared to the S25’s $799.99 launch price. The entry model now includes 256GB of storage instead of the S25’s base 128GB. Here's how the Galaxy S26 compares with last year’s Galaxy S25 on paper and whether the newer model is worth your attention. Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Design, display and performance Physically, the Galaxy S26 stays very close to the design Samsung established with the S25. You still get a compact handset with flat edges, an aluminum frame and IP68 water and dust resistance. The overall look and feel should be immediately familiar to anyone who used last year’s phone. The display story is similarly steady. Both phones use Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, and the S25 is rated for peak brightness of up to 2,600 nits. In everyday use, whether you are scrolling, gaming or watching video, the viewing experience should feel broadly similar between the two devices. Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 is powered globally by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset paired with 12GB of RAM. The Galaxy S26 continues to target flagship-class performance. While Samsung has made internal refinements, overall speed should remain firmly in high-end territory for routine tasks, multitasking and mobile gaming. On the software front, the S25 launched with Android 15 and One UI 7, while the Galaxy S26 ships with a ne

Here’s how the new Samsung Galaxy S26 compares with last year’s S25

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How the new Galaxy S26 phones stack up against each other on paper
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 phones introduce a slate of new AI-powered features, including some new photography tools. | Image: Samsung Samsung has just announced its new Galaxy S26 lineup, which includes the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. While they aren't radical departures from last year's models, they bring a handful of notable upgrades. All three run on Qualcomm's Galaxy-centric Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which delivers improved performance and powers a slew of new AI-based features. This includes the ability to screen unknown calls and edit photos by typing what you want changed, along with an update to Google Gemini that can carry out certain tasks in supported third-party apps, like Uber and DoorDash, on your behalf. Starting at $899.99, the S26 is the smallest and mo … Read the full story at The Verge.

Gizmodoabout 8 hours ago
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. iPhone 17: Is It All About AI?
On paper, the Apple and Samsung's latest phones are nearly neck and neck on all major features.

Ars Technicaabout 8 hours ago
The Galaxy S26 is faster, more expensive, and even more chock-full of AI
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is available for preorder today and ships on March 11.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is available for preorder today and ships on March 11.

Engadgetabout 8 hours ago
Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked: The Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Buds 4 and more
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The Vergeabout 11 hours ago
Preorders for Samsung’s S26 phones come with up to $200 in gift cards
As expected, Samsung has taken the wraps off its flagship lineup for 2026. Introduced during the company's recent Unpacked event, the new Galaxy devices - which include the standard S26, the larger S26 Plus, and the high-end S26 Ultra - will be available on March 11th. Preorders are now open ahead of launch, with pricing starting at $899.99 for the base-model S26, $1,099.99 for the Plus, and $1,299.99 for the Ultra. Overall, the forthcoming S26 lineup looks largely similar to last year's S25 series, only with a handful of notable upgrades. The biggest changes this year are on the software side, with Samsung introducing a privacy display in … Read the full story at The Verge.

Engadgetabout 11 hours ago
Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: What’s changed and which one should you buy?
Following Samsung’s Unpacked event, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is available for pre-order, and it looks very familiar. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Like recent updates in the Galaxy S line, Samsung is refining its flagship rather than dramatically reinventing it. Both phones share a lot of core DNA, including compact designs, high-refresh AMOLED displays and similar camera hardware. The S26 does introduce a handful of meaningful updates, however, including a slightly larger battery and newer software out of the box. Those changes also come with a higher starting price: the Galaxy S26 begins at $899.99 compared to the S25’s $799.99 launch price. The entry model now includes 256GB of storage instead of the S25’s base 128GB. Here's how the Galaxy S26 compares with last year’s Galaxy S25 on paper and whether the newer model is worth your attention. Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25: Design, display and performance Physically, the Galaxy S26 stays very close to the design Samsung established with the S25. You still get a compact handset with flat edges, an aluminum frame and IP68 water and dust resistance. The overall look and feel should be immediately familiar to anyone who used last year’s phone. The display story is similarly steady. Both phones use Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz, and the S25 is rated for peak brightness of up to 2,600 nits. In everyday use, whether you are scrolling, gaming or watching video, the viewing experience should feel broadly similar between the two devices. Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 is powered globally by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset paired with 12GB of RAM. The Galaxy S26 continues to target flagship-class performance. While Samsung has made internal refinements, overall speed should remain firmly in high-end territory for routine tasks, multitasking and mobile gaming. On the software front, the S25 launched with Android 15 and One UI 7, while the Galaxy S26 ships with a ne