The Galaxy S26 collection is official and presently up for preorder, however within the lead as much as the official launch, there’s one main query you must ask your self: do you have to purchase a Galaxy S26? Properly, the reply is dependent upon what you are on the lookout for and the cellphone you are upgrading from, so it isn’t a easy “Sure” or “No.”
I’ve already had some hands-on time with every of the telephones, that is my firsthand perception and ideas on the S26 collection and why you need to or should not purchase them.
Why you can purchase a Galaxy S26
These are the highest 5 causes I’ve discovered the Galaxy S26 collection price shopping for:
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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
The Snapdragon 8 Elite was already a robust chipset, made much more highly effective with the Galaxy variant. Nonetheless, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which launched in September of final 12 months, guarantees a 20% efficiency enhance over its predecessor, together with enhanced graphics and higher CPU and GPU effectivity.
You’ll be able to try our Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 comparability, which exhibits simply how massive of a leap it represents, particularly in single-core efficiency.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy takes {that a} step additional, as each Qualcomm and Samsung collaborated on the chip “to optimize Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy for the newest Galaxy AI experiences.” So not solely will you get unimaginable efficiency in on daily basis duties and gaming, however the chip ought to ought to allow spectacular on-device AI efficiency.
Privateness Show
The Privateness Show is among the most spectacular new {hardware} options launched with the Galaxy S26 collection. The way in which it really works is that it might probably cover the contents of your show when seen from the edges, that means you will not have to fret about onlookers seeing your spicy images or messages. Consider it as a built-in privateness display protector on your Samsung cellphone.
Nonetheless, that is truly way more granular than that, as a result of in contrast to a privateness display protector, which is at all times in impact, the Privateness Show is customizable. You’ll be able to alter it in order that it solely works whenever you open sure apps or whenever you obtain notifications, that approach the remainder of the show is seen except for the notification itself.
It’s because the Privateness Show works on the pixel stage, permitting for extra management over the way it works. The draw back is that this function is unique to the Galaxy S26 Extremely, that means you must spring for the top-of-the-line mannequin.
AI for days
Because of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the Galaxy S26 collection is way more succesful, significantly on the subject of AI. For instance, Gemini is ready to carry out duties in your behalf, resembling on-line purchasing or ordering an Uber, with out you needing to do a lot of something. And proper earlier than the tip of the method, it’ll ask you to verify any purchases so you may guarantee all the things was accomplished appropriately.
Now Nudge is one other instance of how AI is changing into extra proactive. Much like Magic Cue on the Pixel 10 collection, Now Nudge can floor info based mostly on the context of what you are doing. If somebody sends you a message asking for the deal with to an occasion you are going to or images you took throughout a visit to Australia, Now Nudge will pop up with mentioned deal with based mostly in your calendar occasions or a button that may take you straight to a set of photographs taken in Australia. This fashion, you do not have to go digging round for info or images; the AI does it for you.
The Galaxy S26 collection additionally comes with tons of latest AI enhancing options, like which make it simple to make use of generative AI to alter points of a photograph, add parts of 1 photograph to a different, and so forth. Consider it as Samsung’s model of Ask Pictures within the Google Pictures app, making it extra pure to edit a picture, particularly if you do not know fairly how one can repair or improve it your self.
Extra storage
The bottom S collection cellphone has been caught with 128GB of storage for years now. Nonetheless, we’re coming to some extent when that is now not sufficient for a flagship cellphone. Happily, Samsung heard our plea and elevated the bottom storage on the Galaxy S26.
Now, you could have 256GB of storage to start out, and that is earlier than any promotions. In truth, should you’re making an attempt to preorder the Galaxy S26 collection, you may most likely snag the bottom mannequin at 512GB for a similar value you’d pay for the 256GB mannequin.
Battery and charging upgrades
Samsung has been noticeably cautious about its batteries and charging speeds, that means we have not seen the needle transfer a lot in recent times. Nonetheless, that lastly modifications this 12 months, as Samsung has elevated each the battery measurement and charging speeds within the Galaxy S26 collection, however not all fashions acquired the identical upgrades.
For instance, the Galaxy S26 bought bumped to 4,300mAh, up from 4,000mAh on the Galaxy S25, however with none modifications to charging pace. The Galaxy S26 Plus acquired a rise in wi-fi charging pace from 15W to 20W, however the battery capability and wired charging stay the identical.
Lastly, the Galaxy S26 Extremely acquired probably the most modifications, with a rise in wired charging speeds from 45W to 60W, which Samsung says ought to cost the cellphone’s 5,000mAh battery to 75% in simply half-hour. Moreover, the S26 Extremely now helps Qi2 wi-fi chaging speeds as much as 25W, which is a reasonably vital leap from 15W.
That mentioned, you will nonetheless want a case to make the most of Qi2 magnetic charging.
Who can buy a Galaxy S26?
If you happen to’re somebody who does not improve typically and has an older mannequin just like the older than a minimum of two or three years the Galaxy S26 might be a superb purchase. The Privateness Show is already an attractive function for these of you who prefer to hold extra non-public lives.
The chipset improve can be a superb cause, and if you’d like the newest AI options and software program capabilities, then these are the telephones for you. Moreover, the prolonged software program replace promise signifies that after you have these telephones, you will be just about set for as much as seven years, assuming the chipset and battery can maintain up that lengthy.
Why you should not purchase a Galaxy S26
In fact, there are just a few explanation why you would possibly wish to suppose twice about shopping for the Galaxy S26 collection, relying in your wants:
Worth will increase
The Galaxy S26 collection comes with loads of upgrades, however which means they’re going to additionally include some value will increase. Samsung has managed to maintain the costs comparatively the identical because the Galaxy S21 collection, with solely the S24 Extremely getting a value bump. How, it is the bottom and Plus which are getting value will increase.
Each fashions now value $100 greater than their predecessors. That signifies that base begins at $899 whereas the Plus begins at $1,099. Is it price it to you? Does this push you away from the Galaxy S26 collection, or maybe nearer to the Galaxy S26 Extremely, because the hole between it and the Plus has been lowered?
Cameras are largely unchanged
Unfortuantely, the Galaxy S26 Extremely is the one mannequin that acquired any notable modifications to the cameras. The 200MP main digital camera and the 50MP telephoto digital camera each have wider apertures, that means they need to be higher at dealing with low-light conditions. Nonetheless, the remaining digital camera specs are largely unchanged.
That goes for the bottom and Plus fashions, too, which didn’t obtain the identical apertures modifications because the Extremely (or any sensor modifications, for that matter), so you do not get the good thing about higher low-light video or images. Virtually makes the worth enhance really feel not price it.
On the plus aspect, Samsung says photographs ought to enhance now that it has switched from a {hardware} based mostly hardware-based-ISP to an AI-based one. Moreover, it has additionally utilized its AI ISP to the selfie digital camera as effectively, that means selfie high quality ought to enhance. Let’s simply hope it is sufficient.
Not the battery upgrades we had been hoping for
Whereas we’re joyful to see any enhancements to battery capability and/or charging speeds on Samsung telephones, it nonetheless seems like Samsung is falling behind. The Galaxy S26 Extremely retains its 5,000mAh battery, which flagships from Chinese language OEMs are pushing effectively over 6,000mAh and going so far as 9,000mAh or extra.
Samsung’s reluctance to make use of silicon-carbon batteries is changing into extra obvious as customers push for longer battery life on their smartphones. The identical goes for charging speeds, with Samsung nonetheless behind even Motorola, which provides 68W charging on the Razr Extremely 2025 and 90W charging on the Motorola Signature.
Who should not purchase a Galaxy S26
When you have a current Samsung flagship, resembling a Galaxy S25 and S24, or perhaps a Pixel 10, I see little cause so that you can leap to the S26 collection, until you actually need that Privateness Display. Additionally, should you do not care to have all the newest AI options, the Galaxy S26 collection most likely is not definitely worth the splurge, particularly given the current value will increase of the bottom and Plus mannequin.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a cellphone with nice cameras, lengthy battery life, and quick charging, there are loads of choices on the market from different corporations outdoors Samsung, Apple, and Google.
