Samsung Galaxy S26

The Samsung Galaxy S26 was made available to pre-order on 25 February 2026, and then available to buy from 11 March 2026.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 introduces several notable upgrades compared to previous Galaxy models:

Chipset – Exynos 2600

The Galaxy S26 is equipped with Samsung’s industry-first 2nm mobile chip, whereas the S25 uses the Snapdragon® 8 Elite. The Exynos 2600 chip integrates CPU, NPU and GPU to enable enhanced AI and gaming experiences.

The chipset is always a good indicator of a device’s performance, since it acts as the ‘central nervous system’ or ‘traffic controller’ of your phone, laptop or computer – it manages how all the different parts communicate with each other. It determines how fast data can move between your processor, memory, storage, and more. The chipset also determines what features your device can have, like how many USB ports it supports, whether it can connect to WiFi 7 or if it can handle fast charging. A better chipset means everything works together more efficiently, which means that your device can support newer, faster technologies and handle more tasks at once without slowing down.

Screen – 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X

The Galaxy S26 boasts a 2,340 x 1,080 pixels resolution display with Adaptive Vision Booster. Due to its display brightness of 2,600 nits, the AI display of the Galaxy S26 offers clear visibility, even in harsh sunlight, while the 10-bit mDNIe image data processing handles over 10 billion colours and ensures smoother gradients.

Out of the S26 range, the base model has the smallest screen. For comparison, the Galaxy S26 Plus and Ultra models feature a 6.7-inch and a 6.9-inch display, respectively, both with a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels (QHD+). All three smartphones are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass.

Operating system – Android 16

Like all Samsung flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26 also uses the latest Android OS version at launch. Like the other S26 models, it launches with Android 16 and promises seven years of both OS upgrades (up to Android 23) and security updates.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 also carries Samsung’s usual IP68 rating based on IEC 60529, which means that it is completely dust-tight (digit 6) and it’s water-resistant for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water (digit 8). Bear in mind that water and dust resistance can degrade over time due to normal wear and tear, drops, shocks, physical damage, repairs, and more.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 doesn’t come with an S Pen and isn’t compatible with one. If you’re looking for this feature in your smartphone, explore the Ultra models from Samsung’s Galaxy S Series, including the Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 offers several noteworthy enhancements compared to previous smartphones from the Galaxy S Series.

The Galaxy S26 is an AI phone and is equipped with an even bigger and more improved range of AI features than the Galaxy S25 models, expanding across Galaxy AI, Google, and camera AI.

• Now Nudge learns your habits and provides suggestions based on the context – like a digital personal assistant. It can read your messages, dig out long-forgotten appointments, texts and media, which you can share in an instant.

• Bixby now understands requests spoken in a natural, conversational tone, and you’ll not only receive answers, but can also watch how it executes the requests on the screen for you, as well as find old appointments, emails and more.

Google Gemini can be activated quickly via the side button – just like in the case of Galaxy S25 models. It’s fully integrated, which means it’s always ready to give smart assistance, including interacting across apps, providing summaries, analysing images, files and other forms of media, providing contextual responses, and more. Thanks to Circle to Search with Google, you can now find multiple items in one search. You can hold real-time conversations with Gemini Live to brainstorm or troubleshoot.

But it’s not only about assistance – it’s also about creation. Nightography lets you capture vivid photos and sharp videos even in low light, thanks to the Advanced ProVisual Engine powered by Galaxy AI. The AI Image Signal Processor enhances the finest details and textures in your shots, making your selfies come to life. Live music has never been clearer either – record your favourite tunes on video and hear the fan chatter disappear, thanks to Audio Eraser. For even further easy editing, there’s also Photo Assist, which lets you add, remove, and tweak specific objects within your shots.

Hardware upgrades – Exynos 2600 chip and 4,300mAh battery

As far as other hardware specifications go, Galaxy S26 has an impressive chipset upgrade to the Samsung Exynos 2600. The improved vapour chamber with thermal interface material prevents overheating, while the 4,300mAh battery (compared to 4,000mAh on the Galaxy S25) ensures smooth gaming for hours.

Bigger display – 6.3 inches

The screen is also bigger, brighter, and more immersive than that of the Galaxy S25 range – the Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X AI display with 10-bit mDNIe image data processing, 2,600 nits display brightness and a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate.

For more in-depth breakdowns, check out how the Galaxy S26 performs against previous models from the S Series range:

• Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Samsung Galaxy S26

• Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Samsung Galaxy S26

• Samsung Galaxy S25+ vs Samsung Galaxy S26

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S26

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is an AI phone – it has fully integrated AI assistance, from Galaxy AI and Google Gemini features to camera AI capabilities.

Galaxy AI is one of the most advanced device-based AI systems. This means that the AI model runs locally on the phone’s processor, and not only in the cloud. This has several practical benefits, including:

• Faster responses

• Stronger privacy

• Reliable performance, even with unstable network connection

It also combines powerful device-based models with cloud-level intelligence from Google Gemini. This allows features like Circle to Search with Google, Note Assist, and Gemini Live to work seamlessly across apps.

Since Gemini is fully integrated into the device, the AI phone can understand text, speech, images, and screen content in real time, which is how features like Live Translate, Transcript Assist, and some camera enhancements can work seamlessly. For a deep dive in how AI works in smartphones, as well as some AI phone recommendations, visit our Best AI phones page

Thanks to Galaxy AI, the Galaxy S26 is your AI-powered assistant:

• Photo Assist lets you add, remove and edit objects within your picture, which reduces the time spent on perfecting your snapshots to seconds instead of hours.

• Now Nudge is like a digital personal assistant – it can give context-aware suggestions, read past conversations, look for appointments, photos and videos, and let you share them with a tap.

• Bixby can now provide quick access to the setting you are looking for, like turning on your torch or adjusting your screen’s brightness.

Google Gemini is the Galaxy S26’s default AI assistant. Just press and hold the side button to activate it. Upgraded artificial intelligence features include:

• Circle to Search with Google, which lets you look for multiple items in one search and find the answers in an instant.

• Gemini Live, which lets you share your camera mid-conversation to let Gemini help identify problems and find solutions for you.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 also comes with several camera AI features, such as:

• Nightography enhanced by the Galaxy AI-powered Advanced ProVisual Engine for epic low-light shots

• Audio Eraser, which eliminates unnecessary background noise from your videos.

• AI Image Signal Processor, which makes the finest details come to life in your selfies, like those loose hair strands or freckles, as well as fabric textures.

Gemini Live is Google’s conversational AI feature that enables real-time, spoken interactions with the Gemini assistant on mobile devices and smart speakers. Unlike traditional voice assistants that require specific commands, Gemini Live allows you to have natural, free-flowing conversations. You can interrupt the assistant, ask follow-up questions and even switch topics seamlessly.

Gemini Live now includes visual capabilities, which means that you can share your phone’s camera or screen so Gemini can provide guidance on what it’s seeing, from identifying tools to offering renovation ideas. It also integrates with key Google applications like Maps, Calendar, Taks and Gmail, helping you manage your daily activities through conversational requests.

Now Brief is a full-screen daily dashboard that greets you with a summary of your day, including your upcoming schedule, weather forecast, and top news headlines. Now Bar, on the other hand, is a compact navigation tool located at the bottom of the display that offers quick access to AI tools while you’re using other apps.

All in all, Now Brief and Now Bar are both Galaxy AI features designed to streamline how you access information. Although they help you in different ways, both are engineered to save you time by putting the most relevant information right where you need it.

Circle to Search with Google allows you to find information about anything displayed on your screen, without having to exit your current app. Just draw a circle around an object on your screen, which will automatically trigger a Google search. This AI tool identifies the object and provides contextually relevant information in an instant. What’s more, now you can look for multiple items in one go and instantly receive an answer.

When it comes to voice assistance, Samsung Galaxy S26 models come with significant upgrades – on both fronts:

Bixby

Samsung’s official voice assistant, Bixby is now able to understand if you tell your requests in a natural, conversational tone. Just ask it to adjust your screen’s brightness or your volume, and Bixby’s on it. And thanks to Bixby, Galaxy AI can now scan your smartphone for information you received in your emails or messages.

Gemini Live

You can activate Gemini Live instantly via the side button, initiating real-time conversations with Gemini while sharing your screen or camera. This means that Gemini can now assist you based on what it’s seeing – whether it’s a broken device or an outfit mishap.

Live Translate is an AI-powered feature that provides real-time, two-way voice and text translation during live phone calls. Samsung’s Live Translate stands out among other similar features because it’s integrated directly into the phone’s native calling app, meaning no third-party software is required. Because the processing occurs on the handset itself, your conversations remain private and secure. At time of launch, it supports 22 languages, as well as various regional dialects.

It’s a common misconception that the base models miss out on more premium features – when it comes to the Galaxy S26 range, it’s not really the case. All three models share the core Galaxy AI and Gemini features, including tools like Circle to Search with Google, Live Translate, Now Nudge, Photo Assist, and Gemini Live.

With that said, the Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a superior Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset built for Galaxy with 12GB or 16GB RAM, optimised for deep searches and learning your habits thanks to its Personal Data Engine. The Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus both support Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset, also with 12GB RAM.

Moreover, the Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts the world’s first ever Privacy Display on mobile, limiting side-angle visibility, to protect your privacy. And when it comes to snapshots, the S26 Plus and S26 Ultra models both have an improved algorithm on ProScaler, an AI feature meant to boost the quality of your photos for an immersive viewing experience.

Battery life determines how long your phone stays functional between charges, directly impacting productivity, entertainment and connectivity throughout your day. The Samsung Galaxy S26’s 4,300mAh battery strikes the perfect balance, delivering enough power to keep you connected, streaming, and snapping photos throughout even the busiest days without constantly hunting for a charger or power outlet. This capacity represents a solid mid-to-high range performance, offering enough reserve power to handle demanding tasks like navigation or photography, while still maintaining charge security for essential calls and messages when you need them most.

And when you’re low on power, the Galaxy S26 supports both 25W super-fast charging and 15W fast wireless charging. Wireless charging uses electromagnetic induction to power your phone – all you need to do is place it on a charging pad. No cable is required, which makes it incredibly convenient for quick top-ups without the wear and tear of constantly plugging it in. 15W fast wireless charging sits at the top end of wireless charging speeds and is considerably quicker than standard 5W wireless chargers. Plus, the Galaxy S26 also supports Wireless PowerShare, acting as a portable charging pad for your compatible devices, such as earbuds, smartwatches, and more. You can wirelessly charge these by placing them on the back of your device for a last-minute top-up.

In the box, you’ll find a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool and a quick start guide. Other accessories, such as chargers and wireless charging pads are available through Vodafone Accessories

The Samsung Galaxy S26 has the same camera system as the Galaxy S26 Plus. This includes a 12MP front camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

The S26 shares these key camera specifications with the older Galaxy S25 models. However, it does come with quite a few upgrades in terms of camera AI features. Both the S26 and S26 Plus have AI cameras, which means that they harness the power of Galaxy AI to enhance their capabilities. Thanks to Nightography, now enhanced by the Advanced ProVisual Engine, you can turn even the most dimly lit environments into scenic landscapes. For selfies, AI Image Signal Processor sharpens the little details for a real-life effect. For videos, you can use Audio Eraser – the AI feature that eliminates unnecessary background noise, whether that’s fan chatter or the washing machine.

The Galaxy S26 is compatible with both physical SIM (nano-SIM) and eSIM. What’s more, it has dual SIM functionality, which allows you to use two phone numbers simultaneously, either through two physical SIM card slots or by combining a physical SIM with an eSIM. This means you can maintain separate work and personal numbers without carrying two phones, use a local SIM on your travels while keeping your home number active, or take advantage of different networks and tariffs depending on your needs – all from one smartphone.

These features showcase perfectly how SIM cards have evolved from the original format, which was the size of a credit card, to today’s compact nano-SIMs. The latest technology is the eSIM – a virtual SIM embedded directly into your phone’s hardware that eliminates the need for a physical card. Rather than inserting a plastic chip, eSIMs allow you to download your mobile plan digitally via a QR code or app, making it straightforward to switch networks, add a second number for work or activate a local plan when travelling abroad. For more information, check out everything you need to know about eSIM