Samsung Galaxy S26+

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus began on 25 February 2026, with the official launch commencing on 11 March 2026.

The Galaxy S26 Plus delivers an impressive list of features and specifications, with a few significant upgrades compared to previous models. Key features of the device include:

Chipset – Exynos 2600

The Galaxy S26 Plus boasts Samsung’s industry-first 2nm mobile chip. It was created to handle heavy workflows involving AI and gaming. Due to the newly designed vapour chamber with thermal interface material, it offers sustained performance and better thermal management.

When purchasing a smartphone, the chipset is an important feature to consider because it defines the device’s long-term speed and its ability to run complex applications. The chipset coordinates communication between the processor, memory, storage and other hardware components. Beyond basic performance, the chipset dictates a smartphone’s specific capabilities, including:

• Connectivity – support for the latest standards, such as WiFi 7 or 5G

• Hardware compatibility – the resolution of cameras supported and the maximum display refresh rates

• Efficiency – advanced chipsets, such as those built on 2nm processes, manage power more effectively to improve battery life

• AI – the speed of on-device artificial intelligence

With the Galaxy S26 Plus’ market-leading chipset, you’ll experience brilliant performance across these areas.

Screen – 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X

The Galaxy S26 Plus features a 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, with a 1–120Hz refresh rate. It has an immersive AI display, with features like Adaptive Vision Booster, which automatically adjusts the screen to different lighting environments to ensure consistent visibility. At the same time, the improved ProScaler works to scale up blurry videos to match the display. The Galaxy S26 Plus also promises 2,600 nits display brightness for clear visibility, even in harsh sunlight, as well as 10-bit mDNIe image data processing. This means the smartphone can handle over 10 billion colours.

Within the S26 range, the Galaxy S26 Plus sits in the middle in terms of screen size: the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra boast a 6.3-inch and a 6.9-inch display, respectively. All three models are protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass, for great durability.

Operating system – Android 16

The S26 range ships the latest Android OS version at launch. This means that, at time of release, the Galaxy S26 Plus runs on Android 16, with seven years of both OS and security upgrades guaranteed.

Along with the other S26 models, the Galaxy S26 Plus also has an IP68 rating based on IEC 60529. The ‘6’ means that the smartphone is completely dust-tight, while the ‘8’ promises water resistance for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water. Please note that dust and water resistance can degrade over time due to normal wear and tear, physical damage and other shocks to the device.

The Galaxy S26 Plus doesn’t come with an S Pen and isn’t compatible with one. Out of the S26 range, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the only model compatible with the S Pen.

While the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus shares its core hardware and flagship features with the Galaxy S26, it also offers several distinct advantages over the base model:

• Screen size: the Galaxy S26 Plus boasts a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels (QHD+), whereas the Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch display of the same type, with a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels (FHD+). Even though both are immersive AI displays, the Plus model offers extra clarity on lower-resolution content thanks to the improved ProScaler feature.

• Battery capacity: the Galaxy S26 Plus ensures up to 30 hours of video playback because of the 4,900mAh battery, compared to 4,300mAh on the S26 base model.

• Charging speed: when it comes to super-fast charging, the Galaxy S26 Plus almost doubles the speed, with 45W super-fast charging and 20W fast wireless charging compared to the Galaxy S25’s 25W and 15W respective speeds.

To see how the Galaxy S26 Plus performs against other S Series models, check out our detailed comparison breakdowns:

• Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus

The Galaxy S26 Plus is an AI phone, which means that it offers fully integrated AI assistance through Galaxy AI, Google Gemini, camera AI capabilities, and more. Samsung is a market leader in the space, since it was the first brand to launch an AI phone range with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series, originally released in January 2024.

Galaxy AI

Galaxy AI is a sophisticated intelligence system that works directly on your smartphone. By running models directly on the device (rather than relying solely on the cloud), it offers faster responses, enhanced privacy, and reliable performance. Plus, it allows access to an extensive list of features that turn the Galaxy S26 Plus into an AI-powered personal assistant.

Upgraded capabilities include:

• Now Nudge – get context-aware suggestions, information, and content that’s ready to be shared with a tap of the screen. It can scan your messages and dig out long-forgotten appointments and information you might need.

• Bixby – Samsung’s official voice assistant is now optimised to understand natural, conversational speech. It can intuitively search your smartphone for information you received in emails or text messages and more.

• Photo Assist – add, remove, or edit specific objects within your shots using this generative image editing tool.

Google Gemini

The system also combines these on-device models with cloud-level intelligence from Google Gemini. This allows the phone to understand text, speech and images in real time to power several smart features, such as:

• Circle to Search with Google – find information about anything on your screen with a simple gesture. Thanks to the latest update as of launch, you can now look for multiple items in a single search.

• Note Assist – quickly summarise long documents or capture the main points of a meeting.

• Gemini Live – have natural, flowing conversations with your AI assistant. Having had a significant upgrade since the last Samsung release, you can now share your camera or screen mid-conversation and let Gemini find solutions for you.

• Live Translate – get real-time, two-way, live translation during phone calls. Its strength relies in the fact that it’s integrated into the phone’s calling app – no third-party software required. At time of launch, it supports 22 languages and numerous regional dialects.

Learn more about how AI works in smartphones

Camera AI

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus also offers numerous camera AI features, including Nightography with Advanced ProVisual Engine powered by Galaxy AI for sharp and vibrant shots, even in low light. Thanks to the AI Image Signal Processor, your selfies can now incorporate the finest details. Audio Eraser removes unnecessary background noise from your videos, allowing you to concentrate on what’s important.

All three Galaxy S26 models share the core AI features, including the Galaxy AI and Gemini capabilities.

When it comes to the chipset, the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus both contain the Exynos 2600 with 12GB RAM.

When it comes to battery capacity and charging capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus keeps you powered up, even on the go.

Battery capacity – 4,900mAh

A long-lasting battery provides the necessary power to support high-performance features, such as AI operations, advanced processing and bright displays, while maintaining consistent access to essential apps. A 4,900mAh battery can ensure up to 30 hours of video playback, ensuring that the Galaxy S26 Plus remains functional and reliable throughout the day.

Fast wireless charging – 20W

Wireless charging allows you to power your device by placing it on a compatible charging pad. It removes the need for physical cables and reduces wear on the charging port. This technology uses electromagnetic induction to transfer energy safely and conveniently – with a 20W solution, the Galaxy S26 Plus sits at the more powerful end of the wireless charging spectrum.

Super-fast charging 2.0 – 45W

Super-fast charging uses higher wattage and advanced power management to reduce the time your device needs to stay plugged in. With 45W super-fast charging, the Galaxy S26 Plus can replenish hours of power in just minutes.

Wireless Powershare

Powershare allows your smartphone to act as a portable charging pad for other compatible devices, including smartwatches, earbuds and more, so you can share battery across your devices when you need it most.

The Galaxy S26 Plus comes with a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool and a quick start guide. You can find other compatible accessories through Vodafone Accessories

The Galaxy S26 Plus has the same camera system as the base model, featuring the following components:

• 12MP front camera

• 12MP ultra-wide lens

• 50MP wide lens

• 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom

The most significant improvement the S26 Plus has over previous Galaxy models lies in its improved camera AI capabilities:

• Nightography – a specialised camera technology that allows you to capture clear, vivid shots in low-light environments. Now enhanced by the Advanced ProVisual Engine for even more detailed pictures.

• AI Image Signal Processor (AI ISP) – a specialised hardware component inside the Exynos 2600, which uses machine learning to convert what the camera is seeing into a more polished final photo. This comes into great use in portrait photos or selfies, where the finest details hold great relevance.

• Audio Eraser – an AI feature powered by Galaxy AI, which eliminates unnecessary background noise from videos – this is especially useful in concert settings or busy city settings.

Nowadays, we tend to rely on our smartphones as our primary cameras, expecting them to capture everything from food snaps to holiday landscapes and birthday photos – all at a moment’s notice. To get those perfect shots, you really need a device with a versatile multi-lens setup, that can effortlessly switch between a sharp portrait mode and a wide-angle view for urban and landscape shots. If AI features come into play, they can also help tweak the colours and lighting, so your snapshots mimic your real-life experiences. With a balanced set of various lens types and AI features, the Galaxy S26 Plus is a device that you can rely on for any type of content creation.

The Galaxy S26 Plus is designed for maximum flexibility as it supports both nano-SIM and eSIM. It also has dual SIM functionality, meaning you can use two physical SIMs simultaneously or combine one physical SIM with an eSIM. This solution allows you to separate work and personal calls, or use a local plan while travelling abroad without losing access to your home number.

An eSIM is a virtual SIM embedded into your phone’s hardware, which removes the need for a physical SIM card. You can simply download your plan via a QR code or app. For more information, check out everything you need to know about eSIM