Galaxy 26 Extremely has arrived. It’s excellent for 2026, taking an AI-first strategy to many issues, which is both a activate or rapid flip off relying on the consumer.

Samsung’s purpose was to ship a lighter, quicker, and smarter expertise from its flagship gadget. Did they obtain that? That’s what we’re right here to search out out. You gained’t discover many bodily adjustments between this telephone and final yr’s Galaxy S25 Extremely, however we do really feel like there’s a compelling argument to be made in favor of this mannequin. Let’s try what’s new for 2026.

That is our Galaxy S26 Extremely overview!

The Good

Show: The largest {hardware} change now we have on the Galaxy S26 Extremely is the introduction of Privateness Show. Principally, Samsung is guaranteeing that patrons of this telephone won’t ever have to use a privateness display screen to this gadget, which we all know lots of people do. When enabled, folks wanting over your shoulder gained’t have the ability to see what’s taking place in your display screen. You possibly can choose between a gentle impact or drastic impact, however that greater “Most privateness safety” does change the way in which your display screen seems to be in a considerably unfavorable means. What we actually like is which you could allow the function for choose apps, in addition to while you’re inputting gadget PINs and for notification pop-ups. It’s a really properly designed function that works completely as designed.

Specs sensible, the telephone has a 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ show that will get very brilliant (peak brightness of 2600 nits) and is lots colourful. The refresh charge is adaptive from 1Hz to 120Hz, plus you’ll discover all your S Pen help. Contained in the Settings menu, Samsung remains to be offering options like Simple Mode and Edge Panels, although, most of you may already know that Edge Panels are one of many first issues I disable as I discover it tends to get in the way in which of my swipe gestures.

Battery: I’m unsure what sorcery Samsung and Qualcomm cooked up with this gadget, however I’m getting battery life like the parents who touch upon this web site. My common common for display screen on time is about 4 hours, however I’m getting 7-8 hours of this gadget with loads of juice left over. I wouldn’t say my utilization has modified in any respect, however I’ve been house extra this previous week fostering a pet. That does imply I’ve been watching extra YouTube and TikTok, which I believed would drain the battery quicker. However no, this factor is placing in work. My day proper now’s about 7am to 10pm, with my common between 7.5 hours of display screen on time and about 20-30% battery remaining. I’ve been very impressed.

Within the Different Notes part I included an announcement from Samsung relating to the absence of Qi2 magnets, which isn’t actually a large deal, however is value speaking about since different main Android OEMs (and Apple) provide inside magnets.

Digicam: Cameras are comparatively unchanged on the Galaxy S26 Extremely from final yr. That’s not a foul factor, because the {hardware} is an efficient setup. There’s a 200MP broad angle, 50MP ultra-wide angle, 10MP that handles as much as 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP that does optical as much as 5x and “optical high quality” as much as 10x. For extremely adaptability, the telephone does provide a 100x stage zoom, however in contrast to the Pixel 10 Professional, the standard and element of the photographs are very digital (grainy, missing element). Whereas loads of of us moan about AI, now we have to confess that Google’s utilization of it to scrub up high-res zoom photographs is sort of superior.

One slight {hardware} change is a wider f/1.4 aperture on the 200MP digicam, permitting for extra mild to hit the sensor. This performs instantly into the improved Nightography mode that ships with the gadget. There are just a few new issues on this telephone we must always level out. There’s the brand new Ocean Mode, designed to assist these taking this telephone underwater seize extra true colours alongside the ocean depths, in addition to a brand new horizontal lock possibility when taking pictures motion movies. This function will probably be extraordinarily helpful for individuals who try to seize movies of fast-paced topics, reminiscent of a baby enjoying sports activities or a pet operating by the tall grass.

After every week of taking pictures with the telephone, it’s just about an identical to final yr’s Galaxy S25 Extremely. It’s very fast to lock focus onto a topic and snap photographs, which for a telephone, is the first concern. For many who need to dive deeper into settings, there is no such thing as a scarcity. There are zoom ranges, controls for each little factor (WB, filters, facet ratio, and so forth.), and all the modes you can ever want. Skilled RAW, Professional Video, Gradual Movement, Hyperlapse, and Portrait Video are all baked in.

Beneath I’ve digicam samples. All have been resized, however past that, untouched and unedited.

Specs/Efficiency: Powered by the Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy (3nm) chipset, Galaxy S26 Extremely rips. There aren’t any stutters, onboard processing is quick (like when processing 200MP images), and gaming has been a delight. I’m not the kind of consumer who would have the ability to redline this gadget, however the quantity of gaming and video viewing I’ve been doing has been met with zero points. For these involved, Samsung says the chipset affords bumps of 19% in CPU efficiency, 39% in NPU efficiency, and a 24% improve in GPU efficiency.

We’ve got the total spec sheet accessible here, however different highlights embrace as much as 16GB RAM, as much as 1TB storage, 5,000mAh battery with Tremendous Quick Charging 3.0, and an IP68 score.

{Hardware}/S Pen: Right here’s one other part the place you gained’t discover many adjustments from the Galaxy S25 Extremely. Even when true, what Samsung did change has been noticeable, reminiscent of a shift again to an aluminum body for a lighter and slimmer gadget, a slight tweak to the digicam plateau (that’s what we’ll name it), and the non-inclusion of Qi2 magnets for wi-fi charging coil alignment. Whether or not it’s as a result of it was messing with S Pen tech or Samsung needed to make sure the slimmest Extremely gadget it might, it was reported for fairly a while that Qi2 magnets have been primarily confirmed for the gadget, so the truth that they’re absent has clearly despatched myself right into a tailspin. However no worries, Samsung makes Qi2-compatible telephone circumstances and charging equipment. Let’s not talk about this anymore.

Again to what the {hardware} does provide, it is a very mild and slim Extremely gadget, just like the in-hand expertise of a Galaxy Z Fold 7. It weighs in at 214g and is simply 7.9mm thick, whereas S25 Extremely was 218g and eight.2mm thick. It affords an IP68 score, together with a mixture of Corning-made Gorilla Armor 2 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Samsung additionally inbuilt its largest vapor chamber but, permitting the gadget to remain cool even throughout intense gaming periods. Having gamed slightly bit with the telephone, I’ll say, the telephone by no means acquired sizzling. 

Possibly most significantly to at the very least just a few Extremely patrons, the S Pen stays intact. I’ve used it a single time, simply to check an AI-powered function, however it’s there if I ever want it. There stays loads of issues to do with it, reminiscent of Inventive Studio which has all types of AI generative functionality now, AI Choose, be aware creation, and Display screen Write. When you occur to be a artistic or possibly need to let your baby have some enjoyable, then I can see Inventive Studio being fairly a very good time. You possibly can draw your individual photos, then have AI upscale them to one thing value appreciating. You possibly can create sticker units, add present photos to different images, and lots else. Whereas highly effective, it does require the precise need to need to use it, which I sadly lack. 

Software program/AI: That is the place Samsung needed to innovate and provide a novel expertise. Galaxy S26 Extremely is an AI telephone, designed to be agentic with the power to finish duties for you while not having to be requested. A number of of the options are definitely cool for a keynote occasion, however do require the consumer to be totally purchased into the Galaxy ecosystem of apps and companies. For instance, Now Nudge picks up on context in your display screen and prompts you with shortcuts. It then minimizes the steps to your subsequent motion and likewise gives Autofill solutions. Let’s say a pal asks you for images from a current journey to San Francisco contained in the messaging app. Galaxy AI will acknowledge the request, then take you to the Gallery and present you photographs particularly from that journey. It’s designed to take away as many steps as attainable so that you can get actions performed extra shortly, which is definitely admirable and “cool.” 

One other neat keynote-centric function is Picture Help. Contained in the Gallery app, customers can now make any AI-powered edits they could need, however there are limitations. You possibly can add hats to a canine or add animals to a photograph, however you possibly can’t make it appear like a pure catastrophe has taken place to a panorama. Disappointing, however comprehensible. I examined it on just a few phots and all of it seems to be comparatively good. I made it appear like my foster canine was at a birthday celebration and I added a purple sports activities automobile with gold wheels to an alley in Seattle. Whereas the bounds to this appear countless, I’m wondering what precisely we’re making an attempt to attain right here? As AI advances, internally I now lengthy extra deeply for issues which are “actual” and imperfect. The quantity of AI slop I see on my numerous timelines is attending to be a bit a lot, and in the end, I don’t need to add to that. I see no concern in eradicating undesirable objects/folks from images, however past that, I’ve little need to change the previous.

Bixby acquired a slick improve. We’ve mentioned it already in a writeup, however consider Bixby as your AI helper for gadget controls. When you can’t discover a sure setting, possibly as a result of there are 10,000 of them, Bixby can assist you find it. “Bixby, my eyes are drained, are you able to repair that?” Bixby can then level you to Eye Consolation Protect and even place a system toggle inside its responses. It’s a really slick improve for a service that we thought was useless years in the past. Welcome again, Bixby.

AI-powered Name Screening is now additionally baked into the gadget, which is gorgeous. Lately, it’s largely spam calls that I obtain, so it’s good to ship these folks on to an AI to assist maintain them busy. When utilizing, you possibly can view on the display screen what the caller and AI are saying, then you possibly can select to reply the decision at any time or cling up. You possibly can select to auto display screen all incoming calls or you possibly can determine for every name as they arrive in.

Galaxy S26 Extremely comes out of the field operating Android 16 with One UI 8.5 on prime. It’s a a really clear software program expertise, although, there are such a lot of customization settings that it may be slightly overwhelming. When you’re searching for solutions, I’d suggest the next. Underneath Panel Settings, I go for “Collectively,” which mixes your notifications and system toggles right into a single pulldown. That is the traditional Android strategy, which works greatest for me. I disable the Edge Panel, which interferes with my swipe gestures typically, and I additionally suggest that you simply determine which actions you need the facility button to deal with, since firms appear content material on having it do something however flip the telephone on/off. I like a double-press for opening the digicam and lengthy press for accessing Gemini, however there are many choices to select from.

Could possibly be Higher

Samsung Keyboard: My largest takeaway from my week with Galaxy S26 Extremely is how terrible Samsung’s inventory keyboard app is. Holy. After 3 days of what I can solely describe as pure jank, I made the swap to Gboard. That is upsetting as a result of for those who aren’t utilizing the Samsung Keyboard, you miss out on a few of the deeper AI integration that Samsung carried out. Oh properly, I suppose. The keyboard wasn’t set to auto capitalize out of the field, however even after enabling, it was app dependent. Some apps I typed in, it could auto capitalize “I” and a few wouldn’t. The swiping function was extremely inaccurate and after a number of circumstances of terrible, terrible autocorrect, I used to be over it. Why would I waste my time making an attempt to show the keyboard how I discuss? Gboard is so significantly better in primarily all facets.

Different Notes

  • No Qi2 Magnets: Right here’s the assertion we acquired from Samsung on the matter. “Galaxy S26 collection helps Qi2-compatible telephone circumstances, providing customers flexibility with out embedding the function instantly into the gadget. This resolution displays Samsung’s broader dedication to thinner, lighter designs, pushed by superior engineering that prioritizes compactness and portability.“
  • Messaging: This concern isn’t unique to Galaxy S26 Extremely, however Android generally. I got here from an iPhone 17 Professional, and actually, it’s time Google and Apple mounted the messaging mess. RCS isn’t the reply. iMessage is the superior messaging platform and I’m telling you proper now, I’d pay $10/mo as an Android consumer to entry it. Apple, you’re leaving hundreds of thousands on the desk maintain it unique. The toughest half about switching from iOS to Android? The messaging.
  • Updates: Samsung is offering 7 years of Android OS and safety updates for the gadget, confirming help by 2033.

Pricing and Availability

The worth for 2026 goes unchanged, which is superior. Galaxy S26 Extremely is priced beginning at $1299, however patrons from Samsung’s web site rarely must pay full worth. With trade-in choices, in addition to instantaneous financial savings available, we hope nobody is having to ever spend full worth on this gadget. However even for those who do, there are worse issues on the market to spend this sort of cash on. Given it’s a Samsung flagship, yow will discover it at all your native retailer and provider shops, who’re additionally often operating promotions to assist knock that worth down a bit.

The Verdict

Galaxy S26 Extremely looks like a pure development for the lineup. Samsung baked in additional AI, which you’ll select to get pleasure from or not, however from the {hardware} standpoint, it doesn’t get significantly better than this. I am keen on Privateness Show, plus the battery life and digicam expertise have been actually incredible. From my $1299 smartphones, that’s paramount. Even the factor I disliked probably the most, which was the keyboard, was a simple repair due to the Android OS.

I’ve been studying different critiques and feedback concerning the gadget. Many individuals discover this to be a reasonably boring replace, and whereas I don’t essentially disagree, I believe given the historical past that Samsung has by way of adopting newer tech, this telephone doesn’t disappoint me. Samsung chooses to innovate within the areas that it’s proficient in and is aware of that almost all of shoppers care about, such because the show and digicam. I get it, Chinese language OEMs are doing very neat issues with their telephones, however us US-based patrons have to just accept that Samsung and Google aren’t fairly prepared for something too drastic. I’m not saying that I prefer it, however I’m not in a headspace to consistently complain about it.

If you’d like a good-looking telephone that delivers the high-end specs you need, an amazing digicam and superior battery life, I’d look no additional than Galaxy S26 Extremely.


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