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Samsung Galaxy S26
Get Galaxy S26 if you want the S26 series in its smallest size: 6.3 inches, 167 grams and $899.99 with 256GB, plus seven years of updates.
Product images
Samsung Galaxy S26, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get Galaxy S26 if you want the S26 series in its smallest size: 6.3 inches, 167 grams and $899.99 with 256GB, plus seven years of updates. It shares S26+'s 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x cameras, and its 4,300mAh battery charges to 55% in about 30 minutes on a 25W adapter. Pay $1,299.99 for S26 Ultra if you want the S Pen, a 200MP camera or 5x zoom.
Who it is for
- People who want a smaller phone. At 6.3 inches, 149.6mm tall and 167 grams, S26 is the smallest of the three S26 models; S26+ is 6.7 inches and 190 grams.
- Buyers who want a 2026 Galaxy S for the least money. $899.99 gets 256GB, the same cameras as S26+ and the seven-year update promise every S26 model has.
- Anyone who wants a real telephoto without Ultra pricing. The 10MP camera zooms 3x optically, and digital zoom reaches 30x.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants the S Pen, a 200MP camera, 5x zoom or the Privacy Display. Those are S26 Ultra features, and S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99.
- Buyers who want a bigger, sharper screen and faster charging. S26+ has a 6.7-inch QHD+ display, a 4,900mAh battery and 45W charging that reaches 69% in 30 minutes, for $1,099.99.
- Happy Galaxy S25 owners. The changes are a slightly bigger battery, a faster top-up and double the starting storage, in a body just as thin at 7.2mm.
What sets it apart
- The smallest S26: a 6.3-inch screen in a body 149.6 × 71.7 × 7.2 mm that weighs 167 g.
- More battery than S25: 4,300mAh typical (4,175mAh rated) against 4,000mAh, and about 55% in 30 minutes on 25W instead of 50%.
- 256GB to start, with 12GB of RAM, where S25 began at 128GB.
- A 2,600-nit peak on a 1–120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen, the same peak Samsung gives S26 Ultra.
- Seven Android upgrades and seven years of security updates, like the rest of the S26 series.
Caveats
- Samsung's US pages disagree on the chip. Its US product FAQ says Exynos 2600 for S26 and S26+, its US spec table names Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, and Samsung says the processor varies by market.
- Wireless charging tops out at 15W, against 20W on S26+ and 25W on S26 Ultra.
- Samsung lists Sub6 5G and LTE for S26 but no mmWave; S26+ has mmWave.
- The 25W adapter behind the 55% charging figure is sold separately.
Key specs
In the same order on every phone page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 6.3-inch FHD+; 6.1 inches allowing for the rounded corners | Samsung US Newsroom S26 and S26+ specificationsS26+ is 6.7 inches and S26 Ultra 6.9 inches. |
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, adaptive 1–120Hz; Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back | Samsung US Newsroom; US product pageS26 Ultra adds the Privacy Display and uses Gorilla Armor 2. |
| Display resolution | FHD+ | Samsung US NewsroomSamsung gives the resolution class, not a pixel count; S26+ is QHD+. |
| Refresh rate | Adaptive 1–120Hz | Samsung US Newsroom |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits peak | Samsung US NewsroomSamsung quotes the same peak for S26+ and S26 Ultra. |
| Dimensions | 149.6 × 71.7 × 7.2 mm (Sub6 model) | Samsung US NewsroomS25 measured 146.9 × 70.5 × 7.2 mm. |
| Weight | 167 g (Sub6 model) | Samsung US NewsroomS26+ weighs 190 g and S25 weighed 162 g. Samsung says weight can vary by region. |
| Build materials | Armor Aluminum frame (except the volume and side keys, SIM tray and camera lens barrels); Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back | Samsung US product FAQ |
| Colors | Cobalt Violet, White, Black, Sky Blue; Pink Gold and Silver Shadow only at Samsung.com | Samsung US NewsroomWhich colors you can get depends on country and carrier. |
| Water and dust resistance | IP68: up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes; dust-tight | Samsung US NewsroomRated in Samsung's lab conditions; the protection isn't permanent. |
| Chip | Exynos 2600 in the US, per Samsung's US product FAQ | Samsung US product FAQ; US Newsroom; Global NewsroomSamsung's US spec table names Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy instead, and Samsung says the processor can vary by market. S25 used Snapdragon 8 Elite. |
| RAM | 12GB with both 256GB and 512GB | Samsung US NewsroomThere's no 8GB or 16GB version, and Samsung says memory options can vary by market. |
| Storage | 256GB or 512GB | Samsung US NewsroomNo 128GB model, where S25 started, and no 1TB, which is an S26 Ultra option. S26+ comes in the same two sizes. |
| Rear cameras | 50MP wide F1.8 (2x optical-quality); 12MP ultra-wide F2.2; 10MP telephoto F2.4 (3x optical) | Samsung US Newsroom; Global Newsroom camera tableS26+ has the same three cameras. S26 Ultra has a 200MP main camera and adds a 5x telephoto. |
| Zoom | 3x optical; 2x optical-quality (Adaptive Pixel); up to 30x digital | Samsung US NewsroomS26 Ultra adds 5x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom. |
| Front camera | 12MP wide with autofocus, 85° field of view; 4K video at 60fps | Samsung US Newsroom |
| Video | 4K at 60fps; 8K at 30fps | Samsung US NewsroomS26+ records at the same settings. |
| Battery capacity | 4,300mAh typical; 4,175mAh rated (IEC 61960) | Samsung US NewsroomS26+ has 4,900mAh (4,755 rated) and S26 Ultra 5,000mAh (4,855 rated). Typical is Samsung's average from third-party lab tests. |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours of video playback | Samsung US product FAQSamsung's US FAQ gives 30 hours of 720p video in its battery answer, but 31 in another answer; S26+ is rated for 31. |
| Wired charging | Super Fast Charging up to 25W: about 55% in 30 minutes with a 25W adapter and 3A USB-C cable (adapter sold separately); QC2.0 and AFCPD compatible | Samsung US NewsroomS25 reached 50% in the same time. S26+ gets 69% with 45W, and S26 Ultra 75% with 60W. |
| Wireless charging | Fast Wireless Charging up to 15W; Wireless PowerShare (works while the phone has more than 30% battery) | Samsung US NewsroomS26+ charges wirelessly at up to 20W and S26 Ultra at up to 25W. |
| Operating system | Android 16 with One UI 8.5 at launch | Samsung US Newsroom |
| Updates | Seven Android upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch (Samsung footnote 21) | Samsung US Newsroom |
| Cellular | 5G (Sub6) and LTE; Samsung lists mmWave for S26+, not S26 | Samsung US Newsroom5G works only where carriers offer it. |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB | Samsung US NewsroomS26+ has Bluetooth 6.0. Wi-Fi 7 speeds need a Wi-Fi 7 router. |
| Ports | USB-C (3A cable for fast charging; 25W adapter sold separately) | Samsung US Newsroom |
| SIM | SIM tray; eSIM and dual-SIM details not published | Samsung US product FAQCheck the carrier model if you need eSIM. |
| NFC and payments | Samsung Wallet; NFC isn't listed separately | Samsung Galaxy platform |
| US launch price | From $899.99 with 256GB (US), announced 25 February 2026 | Samsung US Newsroom, 2026-02-25S26+ starts at $1,099.99 and S26 Ultra at $1,299.99. S25 launched at $799.99 with 128GB. |
| Price band | Compact flagship ($800–$1,000 US list) | Based on Samsung's $899.99 US price |
| Announced | 25 February 2026 in the US, at Galaxy Unpacked; Samsung's global announcement is dated 26 February 2026 | Samsung US Newsroom; Global Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 25 February 2026; on sale from 11 March 2026; still on Samsung's US store on 19 September 2026 | Samsung US Newsroom; US product page |
Samsung Galaxy S26 extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| S Pen | No; the built-in S Pen is an S26 Ultra feature | Samsung US Newsroom; US Ultra product FAQ |
| Privacy Display | No; Samsung offers it on the Ultra | Samsung US Newsroom |
| S26 against S26+ | S26: 6.3-inch FHD+, 167 g (Sub6), 7.2 mm, 4,300mAh, 25W (55% in 30 min), 15W wireless, Bluetooth 5.4, Sub6 5G, up to 30 hours of video, $899.99. S26+: 6.7-inch QHD+, 190 g, 7.3 mm, 4,900mAh, 45W (69% in 30 min), 20W wireless, Bluetooth 6.0, Sub6 and mmWave 5G, ProScaler, up to 31 hours of video, $1,099.99 | Samsung US Newsroom; US product FAQ |
| Seven years of updates | Seven Android upgrades and seven years of security updates across the series, from global launch (footnote 21) | Samsung US Newsroom |
| Model number | Likely SM-S942; Samsung's US battery-test footnotes list it with SM-S947 and SM-S948, the Ultra | Samsung US product page footnotesConfirm the model number on the box before you rely on it. |
S26, S26+ or S26 Ultra?
All three came out of the same Galaxy Unpacked in February 2026, and S26 is the small, least expensive end of it. S26+ has the same cameras in a bigger, sharper and faster-charging phone. S26 Ultra is where the S Pen, the 200MP camera and 5x zoom live.
| Spec | Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S26+ | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.3-inch FHD+ | 6.7-inch QHD+ | 6.9-inch, Privacy Display |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x | Same | 200MP main, adds 5x |
| Battery | 4,300mAh | 4,900mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Wired charging | 25W, 55% in 30 min | 45W, 69% in 30 min | 60W, 75% in 30 min |
| Wireless charging | Up to 15W | Up to 20W | Up to 25W |
| Chip in the US | Exynos 2600 | Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| S Pen | No | No | Built in |
| Storage | 256GB or 512GB | 256GB or 512GB | Up to 1TB |
| US launch price | $899.99 | $1,099.99 | $1,299.99 |
Pick S26 if a smaller phone matters more than screen size or charging speed. S26+ makes sense if you’d use the bigger QHD+ screen and the faster top-ups, since the cameras don’t change. S26 Ultra is the one to stretch for if you’d use the S Pen, the 200MP camera or 5x zoom.
What changed from Galaxy S25
| Spec | Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S25 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip in the US | Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Battery | 4,300mAh | 4,000mAh |
| Wired charging, 30 minutes on 25W | About 55% | About 50% |
| Wireless charging | Up to 15W | No wattage given |
| Size | 149.6 × 71.7 × 7.2 mm | 146.9 × 70.5 × 7.2 mm |
| Weight | 167 g | 162 g |
| Starting storage | 256GB | 128GB |
| US launch price | $899.99 | $799.99 |
It’s a modest update. S26 is a touch taller, wider and heavier but no thicker, and the bigger battery and quicker top-up are the changes you’d notice. The launch price went up by a hundred dollars, but the base model now has twice the storage.
Cameras
S26 uses the same three rear cameras as S26+: a 50MP main camera at F1.8, which Samsung says gives optical-quality 2x zoom through Adaptive Pixel; a 12MP ultrawide at F2.2; and a 10MP telephoto at F2.4 with 3x optical zoom. Digital zoom goes to 30x. Video reaches 8K at 30fps or 4K at 60fps, and the 12MP selfie camera has autofocus, an 85-degree view and 4K at 60fps.
There’s no 5x telephoto, 200MP sensor or 100x Space Zoom here; those are S26 Ultra features.
Battery and charging
The 4,300mAh battery (4,175mAh rated) is the smallest in the series but bigger than S25’s 4,000mAh, and Samsung rates S26 for up to 30 hours of 720p video playback. With a 25W adapter and a 3A USB-C cable it reaches about 55% in 30 minutes, against 50% on S25. Wired charging works with QC2.0 and AFCPD chargers. The adapter is sold separately, and Samsung doesn’t publish a full list of what’s in the box.
Wireless charging runs at up to 15W, and Wireless PowerShare can charge other devices as long as the phone has more than 30% left. If charging speed matters, S26+ reaches 69% in 30 minutes on 45W and charges wirelessly at 20W, and S26 Ultra’s Super Fast Charging 3.0 reaches 75% on 60W.
Screen and build
The 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen (6.1 inches allowing for the rounded corners) is FHD+, refreshes at 1 to 120Hz and peaks at 2,600 nits, the same figure Samsung gives S26 Ultra. S26+ steps up to QHD+ on a 6.7-inch panel.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front and back, around an Armor Aluminum frame. S26 Ultra uses Gorilla Armor 2 instead and adds the Privacy Display. S26 is IP68-rated for up to 30 minutes in 1.5 meters of fresh water. It comes in Cobalt Violet, White, Black and Sky Blue, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow sold only at Samsung.com.
Chip, software and connections
Samsung’s US FAQ lists Exynos 2600 for S26 and S26+, where S25 used Snapdragon 8 Elite; S26 Ultra runs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. S26 has 12GB of RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage.
It launched with Android 16 and One UI 8.5, and Samsung promises seven generations of Android upgrades and seven years of security updates from the global launch. That’s the same promise as S26+ and S26 Ultra, so buying the small one doesn’t cost you support.
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and ultra-wideband are built in, and 5G is Sub6 only. S26+ moves to Bluetooth 6.0 and adds mmWave.
Price
S26 launched at $899.99 with 256GB on 25 February 2026, went on sale on 11 March 2026 and was still on Samsung’s US store on 19 September 2026. S26+ launched at $1,099.99 and S26 Ultra at $1,299.99. Carrier deals and trade-in offers move all three a lot, so compare today’s prices before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Samsung US Newsroom — Galaxy S26 series announcement, specifications and pricing — accessed 2026-09-19
- Samsung Global Newsroom — Galaxy S26 series announcement — accessed 2026-09-19
- Samsung US — Galaxy S26 and S26+ product page and FAQ — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Which chip is in the US Galaxy S26?
Exynos 2600, according to Samsung's US product FAQ, which gives S26+ the same chip and notes that S25 used Snapdragon 8 Elite. Samsung's US spec table names Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy instead, and Samsung says the processor can vary by market, so confirm the chip for the exact model you buy. S26 Ultra uses Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
What does Galaxy S26+ add?
A 6.7-inch QHD+ screen, a 4,900mAh battery, 45W charging that reaches 69% in 30 minutes, 20W wireless charging, Bluetooth 6.0, mmWave 5G and ProScaler, for $1,099.99. The cameras and the 256GB starting storage are the same as S26's.
Does Galaxy S26 have an S Pen?
No. The built-in S Pen is on S26 Ultra, along with the Privacy Display, the 200MP camera and 5x zoom.
How long does the Galaxy S26 battery last?
Samsung rates it for up to 30 hours of 720p video playback. One answer in Samsung's US FAQ says 31 hours, but its dedicated battery answer says 30, and 31 is the figure it gives S26+.
How fast does Galaxy S26 charge?
About 55% in 30 minutes with a 25W adapter, which isn't included, and up to 15W wirelessly. S26 Ultra's Super Fast Charging 3.0 reaches 75% in 30 minutes with a 60W adapter.
Should I upgrade from Galaxy S25?
Only if you're short on battery or storage. S26 has a 4,300mAh battery against 4,000mAh, charges to 55% in 30 minutes instead of 50% and starts at 256GB instead of 128GB. It's as thin as S25 at 7.2mm, a little taller and wider, and weighs 167 grams against 162.
Does Galaxy S26 support mmWave 5G?
No. Samsung lists Sub6 5G and LTE for S26; S26+ is the one with mmWave.
Is $899.99 what I'll pay?
Not necessarily. $899.99 is Samsung's US launch price for the 256GB model, set on 25 February 2026; storage, carrier deals and trade-ins all change what you pay.
Official product page: Samsung Galaxy S26. Tech specs: Samsung Galaxy S26 specs.