Samsung is back with the new Galaxy S26 series and like previous years there are three models namely Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra. In terms of design, this series looks almost the same as the previous generation, but when you look at the internals there are interesting updates. In addition, the Exynos chip is also back, marking Samsung's attempt to provide more diverse options compared to last year which focused more on Snapdragon chips.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy S26/
Samsung Galaxy S26+ Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, LTPO
QHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
6.3″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO
FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO
WQHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
Processor Samsung Exynos 2600 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (3nm)
1x 3.8 GHz Chip – C1-Ultra
3x 3.25 GHz – C1-Pro
6x 2.75 GHz – C1-Pro 2x Oryon V2 Phoenix L 4.47 GHz
6 x Oryon V2 Phoenix M 3.53 GHz
GPU Samsung Xclipse 960 Adreno 830
RAM 12GB LPDDR5x 12GB LPDDR5x
16GB LPDDR5x
Storage 128/256/512GB UFS 4.0 256/512/1000 GB UFS 4.0
Main Camera 50MP f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)
12MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
10MP f/2.4, OIS (3X Telephoto) 200MP f/1.7, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP f/1.9 (Ultra Wide Angle)
10MP f/2.4, OIS (3X Telephoto)
50MP f/3.4, OIS (5X Telephoto)
Front Camera 12 MP f/2.2 12 MP f/2.2
Battery 4300/4900 mAh
Wired charging 45W/25W
Wireless charging 15W 5000 mAh
Wired charging 60W
Wireless charging 35W
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM/5G Dual SIM/5G
NFC Yes Yes
Audio jack None None
Waterproof IP68 IP68
Scanning System Under-screen fingerprint
Face scanning Under-screen fingerprint
Face scanning
Price To be updated To be updated
Usage experience
Samsung emphasizes that the Galaxy S26 series this time is thinner and lighter, while still maintaining a level of durability. The construction material uses Armor Aluminum with Corning Gorilla Glass, especially for the Ultra model. Interestingly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is only 7.9mm thick compared to the S24 Ultra (8.6mm) and S25 Ultra (8.2mm). Although the difference in numbers seems small, this shows Samsung's efforts to produce a thinner premium phone without sacrificing durability.
Although durability is not compromised, the absence of titanium this year provides a slightly different perspective. It seems to reduce the sense of luxury that is usually associated with the premium material. Thus, although the build is still solid, the exclusivity that came with the use of titanium in previous generations is no longer felt. Like Apple, Samsung also no longer uses the exotic material used in spacecraft, race cars and SR-71 Blackbird jets.
This raises the question of whether Samsung really wants to emphasize the premium aspect or focuses more on the balance between durability and ease of use. Perhaps this concept may be influenced by Apple which also no longer uses titanium in their premium devices last year. For some users, the absence of the material can be considered a form of downgrade although from a usage point of view it makes the device lighter and easier to use.
A noticeable change can be seen in the oval-shaped camera bump like the Z Fold7 while the Galaxy S25 previously used separate metal loops vertically. This time, Samsung combines all the cameras in one curved bump, making the design neater. Although not a major change, at least it shows an effort for a more organized appearance. This new design is present on all models but the Ultra version with the addition of two camera lenses looks more prominent than the others.
The body of the Galaxy S26 series devices also looks more rounded, including the Ultra model. When held, it feels more comfortable because it is no longer sharply boxy like the previous generation. However, with the more rounded side shape, the S Pen slot on the Ultra looks slightly protruding towards the side. From an ergonomic point of view, this position feels a bit awkward when compared to the previous generation which is flatter. In the image shown, the position of the slot looks as if it is slightly protruding to the side. However, in terms of function there is no major change because the S Pen is still the same as on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, so the user experience should not change.
Apart from that, there are no major changes because we have entered the recycling design phase. The front still maintains a flat screen with a small hole camera in the middle. The only change is slight on the S26 model, which is the screen size increased to 6.3″ compared to 6.2″ in the previous year. For the S26+ and Ultra models, the size remains 6.7″ and 6.9″ respectively. The panel is also unchanged, still using a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. The resolution and brightness levels are also the same as before without any significant increase.
However, this year's Ultra screen comes with something interesting because in addition to the anti-glare layer, Samsung also introduced Privacy Display technology. This function makes the display automatically dark or blurry when viewed from the side, thus ensuring that the content is clearly visible when viewed directly from the front. If someone next to you tries to peek, they will only see a blurry display. This feature can be enabled or disabled according to user convenience, and there are even applications such as media and banking that can automatically activate this function when needed.
This new feature is indeed useful, especially when reading important messages in public places because it makes it difficult for others to see the screen content. However, when this function is activated, the display is slightly blurred as if using a matte privacy layer. From a security point of view, this technology provides added value because it protects personal and sensitive information from the risk of visual intrusion. However, users need to be smart about assessing the situation because when this feature is activated, the display experience is slightly affected. Therefore, the balance between privacy and comfort of use is an important factor in evaluating the effectiveness of this technology.
Hardware And AI Software
For hardware, this year Samsung is trying to differentiate between models again. Only the Galaxy S26 Ultra receives the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip. According to Samsung, this chip provides a 19% increase in CPU, 24% in GPU, and 39% in NPU (AI brain). Therefore, the Ultra model is more powerful for video games, multitasking, and AI-based functions. For the Galaxy S26 and S26+, Samsung uses the Exynos 2600 chip. Although not Snapdragon, Exynos still has its own advantages. It comes with a Pro Scaler function that can improve the quality of low-resolution images or videos so that they look sharper in addition to the display with accurate colors.
The cooling system is improved through the use of a new larger Vapor Chamber to ensure that the device is less hot when playing heavy games or multi-tasking for a long time. Memory starts with 12GB of RAM, then increases to 16GB of RAM for the Ultra model. Internal storage starts at 128GB for the Galaxy S26, while the S26+ and Ultra start at 256GB and can reach up to 1TB depending on the variant. There is no microSD card support provided like in previous generations.
The reappearance of the Exynos chip raises questions about Samsung's direction as the company chose to return to using it after focusing on Snapdragon last year. Some believe that this move is aimed at giving users more choice, while others see it as a strategy to highlight the capabilities of its own chips.
Compared to the Galaxy S25 series, this result clearly shows a change because the series is more consistent with Snapdragon, thus giving confidence to users who prioritize high performance, unlike the approach on the Galaxy S24 which is still mixed.
However, with the Galaxy S26, Samsung is seen trying to balance premium performance through the Ultra model and a variety of options through the S26 and S26+ models. Whatever the reason, this decision is sure to be a discussion among users, especially those who are more inclined to Snapdragon. This move can be considered Samsung's effort to maintain the identity of the Exynos chip while continuing to take advantage of the advantages of Snapdragon in the most premium models.
Samsung this year also emphasized AI features in the Galaxy S26 series. This is not surprising because they have already introduced Galaxy AI before, but this time the improvements have been made more comprehensively. Among the improvements provided are Bixby which is now smarter at talking, allowing users to speak normally without having to use technical terms and the system still understands commands. Changing settings on the phone has also become easier, as if chatting with a friend. In addition, Bixby is able to continue to search for information from the internet, such as flight status or hotels for travel.
Samsung also introduced Creative Studio, which allows users to edit images with just text commands. Through this function, objects can be added, backgrounds changed or images corrected easily. It can also convert simple sketches to images, create images from text and convert photos to cartoon or drawing styles. When images are generated from sketches or text including sensitive data, the information will be processed but not stored by Samsung.
In addition, the Audio Eraser function is now more flexible because it can be used directly in other applications such as YouTube, Netflix and Instagram. At the same time, AI also helps scan documents to be free of shadows and automatically organize screenshots by category.
Samsung also added a new Now Nudge feature that provides real-time suggestions based on user messages or activities. It is able to understand the content on the screen and suggest relevant information or functions. With one touch, users can switch from a friend's message directly to the map application to see directions. In addition, Now Nudge also understands the context of the task. For example, when a task requires a reference from the past, it will automatically display related information. In fact, it can also suggest information to fill in such as name, email or passport number, thus facilitating daily affairs.
The Now Brief feature offers a more personal experience as it takes information from emails, calendars and notifications and displays it on the edge panel and home screen for quick access. The Circle to Search function is also simplified as users no longer need to make a circle but simply point using the camera. Another interesting feature is Call Screening where AI filters unknown calls by asking the caller's purpose before the user decides to answer.
Camera Settings
Samsung still maintains the camera arrangement for the Galaxy S26 series. The S26 and S26+ models come with three rear cameras of 12MP, 50MP and 10MP respectively while the Ultra version is more complete with four cameras of 50MP, 200MP, 10MP and 50MP. All models are also equipped with a 12MP front camera with 3x optical zoom support and are capable of recording videos up to 8K at 30fps.
Although the specifications appear to be almost the same as the previous generation, Samsung insists that the camera this time is more powerful due to a larger aperture that allows more light to be captured. As a result, photos and videos look brighter and clearer, especially at night or in locations with poor lighting. In addition, the Nightography function has also been improved where it is no longer just about taking night photos like before but now AI is able to identify the atmosphere, adjust color tones according to mood, and produce more natural automatic edits.
Battery And Charging
The Galaxy S26 Ultra comes with a 5000mAh battery with 60W fast charging support that can reach up to 75% in 30 minutes and also supports 25W wireless charging. The Galaxy S26+ is equipped with a 4900mAh battery with 45W charging and 20W wireless. While the Galaxy S26 uses a 4300mAh battery with 25W and 15W wireless charging. The base model is also seen to show an improvement over the Galaxy S25 which only offers a 4000mAh capacity while the S26+ is the same as the new generation.
Although competitors like the Vivo X300 Pro with 120W charging offer higher speeds, making Samsung seem a little behind in terms of charging speed, the increase from 45W to 60W on the Ultra model still shows positive development. At least there is a clear change compared to the previous generation, which is the same.
Initial Views
Overall, the Galaxy S26 series gives a mixed impression. In terms of appearance, it looks similar to the previous generation, causing a lack of excitement because there are no major changes in design or hardware. In fact, some think that the improvement this time is more focused on software than hardware. However, when examined, there are still some updates given.
Changes to the camera design, Privacy Display technology and AI integration make this series even more interesting. When compared to the Galaxy S25 series, this series shows Samsung's efforts to bring smarter experiences, especially in more natural low-light photography and an increasingly mature Galaxy ecosystem.
Pros
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and Exynos 2600 chips are powerful.
New screen technology for more privacy on the S26 Ultra.
Improved AI features.
IP68
Support for seven Android version updates and seven years of security patches.
Faster charging on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Cons
Minimal specification changes.
Battery capacity is now small and charging is also slow compared to competitors.
More improvements on the S26 Ultra model.
Like Apple, there is no longer a titanium body on the S26 Ultra.
