I get it; you are a long-time Samsung fan, and you have been eagerly ready for the model to ship respectable upgrades with the Galaxy S26 Extremely this 12 months. Possibly you needed to see newer digicam sensors, a sleeker design, an even bigger battery that makes use of silicon-carbon tech, and even one thing as routine as Qi 2 magnets built-in into the system.
Nonetheless, Samsung as soon as once more selected to play it protected, delivering a telephone that hardly qualifies as an iterative improve. Positive, there are refined design modifications and the standard {hardware} tweaks, however I would argue that the S26 Extremely is not that completely different to the Galaxy S23 Extremely in relation to the basics.
Whereas Samsung is content material to rehash the identical telephone 12 months after 12 months, that is not the case with different telephone manufacturers. Chinese language producers are pushing the boundaries of telephone tech, and in the event you’re prepared to attempt transfer away from Samsung — as daunting as that sounds — there are many nice alternate options out there.
Article continues beneath
Discover X9 Professional
The Discover X9 Professional is my go-to suggestion in the event you’re able to improve this 12 months. The telephone has superb cameras, highly effective internals, and an enormous battery. In fact, that is commonplace on most flagships as of late, however the Discover X9 Professional simply does issues slightly higher than its rivals, and that is the explanation I used the telephone for the higher a part of 4 months. Normally, I’d simply use a Pixel as my day by day driver, however the X9 Professional’s software program is nice sufficient that it proved to be a viable various — OPPO did not put a foot improper with this telephone.
I additionally just like the design, and the X9 Professional has a extremely good in-hand really feel. The telephone has confirmed to be sturdy within the 4 months I used it; after taking near a dozen tumbles, I do not see any seen harm in any way. The MediaTek-powered internals are simply as highly effective as the newest Qualcomm-based telephones, and actually, there aren’t many flaws to level out. The one level of rivalry is that the X9 Professional has restricted world availability, however it’s on sale within the U.Ok. and choose western markets, in order that’s good to see.
The principle cause you will wish to contemplate the Discover X9 Professional is the cameras; due to a brand new imaging engine and nearer collaboration with Hasselblad, OPPO took issues to a brand new stage, and the telephone takes groundbreaking photographs and movies. The principle lens comes alive in difficult eventualities, the tele shooter is nice at 3.7x and doubles as a portrait lens, and even the wide-angle is fairly good. After taking 1000’s of photographs in six nations, I am satisfied that the Discover X9 Professional has among the finest cameras of any telephone.
The Discover X9 Professional is the improve you need; the telephone clearly holds its personal towards the Galaxy S26 Extremely, and the cameras are on a wholly completely different stage.
Vivo X300 Professional
I will admit that the Discover X9 Professional is a greater all-rounder, however in relation to the cameras, Vivo’s X300 Professional is on the prime of my record. Vivo has finished an incredible job with its digicam efforts over the past two years, and I favor the model’s colour science and tuning. Whereas the digicam sensors aren’t too completely different to the Discover X9 Professional, Vivo simply has a little bit of an edge with its tuning algorithms, and on this class, even a slender benefit makes a distinction.
The X300 Professional nails the technicalities; the cameras take gorgeous photographs in nearly any lighting state of affairs, and the portrait photographs specifically are among the many better of any telephone out there immediately. There is not a lot to fault with the remainder of the telephone; it has the identical caliber of internals because the Discover X9 Professional, and an enormous battery. The one annoyance is that the mannequin bought in western markets has a smaller 5,440mAh battery, whereas the Asian mannequin will get a 6,510mAh battery.
Vivo additionally overhauled its software program with the X300 Professional, rolling out OriginOS globally. The interface is sleeker, has higher fluidity, and intensive customizability. Whereas the X300 Professional is not out there in North America, the cameras alone make it an enormous improve over the Galaxy S26 Extremely, and Vivo is doing an honest job bringing the system to pick western markets.
The X300 Professional proves that Vivo is aware of how you can make a unbelievable flagship, and the cameras could be the perfect out of any telephone you should buy immediately.
Xiaomi 17 Extremely
I did not suppose I would get pleasure from utilizing the Xiaomi 17 Extremely as a lot as I did; Xiaomi addressed plenty of the lingering software program points, and the cameras are even higher this 12 months. Xiaomi is the one model that is nonetheless utilizing a 1-inch sensor on its important digicam, and the 17 Extremely is a real imaging powerhouse.
However what I like even higher is that the model ironed out points with its tuning algorithms, resulting in better-quality photographs throughout the board. And I just like the design this 12 months; the inexperienced mannequin appears to be like beautiful, and due to an even bigger battery, I did not have any points utilizing the 17 Extremely whereas touring.
Xiaomi’s software program nonetheless is not fairly nearly as good as its Chinese language rivals, however I will admit that it’s higher than earlier years. One other upside is that the 17 Extremely is obtainable within the U.Ok. and different western nations, and whereas it prices the identical because the S26 Extremely, you get significantly better cameras.
The 17 Extremely appears to be like good, takes nice photographs, and prices the identical because the S26 Extremely; in the event you’re in a rustic the place it is out there, it’s a more sensible choice.
Pixel 10 Professional XL
Whereas I like utilizing Pixels, I do know that Google’s telephones do issues in another way to each different model. You aren’t getting anyplace as a lot customizability, and the interface takes a little bit of getting used to. Google’s insistence on AI additionally implies that the Tensor G5 is not fairly as highly effective as its MediaTek and Qualcomm rivals, so the Pixel 10 Professional XL would not deal with demanding video games anyplace as properly.
That mentioned, in the event you want a telephone with loads of helpful AI options and nice cameras, the Pixel 10 Professional XL is the closest various to the Galaxy S26 Extremely in North America. In fact, in the event you’re a longtime Samsung rival, it’s possible you’ll not just like the UI, however what’s simple is that the Pixel’s AI options are a tier above everybody else, and whereas you aren’t getting an enormous 1-inch sensor, Google continues to do a wonderful job tuning its cameras, and the Pixel 10 Professional XL takes unbelievable photographs.
The Pixel 10 Professional XL is a viable various to the Galaxy S26 Extremely in North America, and whereas you aren’t getting as a lot customizability, Google’s AI and digicam efforts proceed to be excellent.
