In case you’re requested to explain the Samsung Galaxy S26 sequence simply launched as we speak, one phrase that involves thoughts is likely to be “similar similar however completely different”, when in comparison with final 12 months’s flagship fashions.
Certainly, maintain up the three new telephones this 12 months – the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Extremely in S, M and L sizes – and also you is likely to be mistaken for pondering they’re from 2025.
Among the many new telephones, the most important Galaxy S26 Extremely sports activities a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display screen and weighs 214g. That’s only a few grams shaved off final 12 months’s top-end mannequin.
The smaller 190g Galaxy S26+ comes with a 6.7-inch QHD+ display screen whereas the entry-level 167g Galaxy S26 solely has a 6.3-inch FHD+ display screen. Each are AMOLED shows that supply nice distinction and colors.
Given the small adjustments, the graceful satin end, rounded corners and elongated digital camera array within the rear are harking back to a year-old design.
Look extra fastidiously and you could discover a barely raised design surrounding the cameras on the again, which isn’t there on the Galaxy S25. The newer design does appear to align with Samsung foldable telephones, although I discover it including to the majority.
What’s extra vital are below the quilt. If the AI pitch hasn’t already made you a convert, Samsung is throwing no fewer than 4 AI instruments within the new Galaxy S26.
You get Galaxy AI, which has among the snazzy photograph instruments that allow you to edit out a loud background or an additional individual you want to take away from an image.
There’s additionally Samsung’s good outdated Bixby, which surprisingly, remains to be sticking round. This time, it’s for the lesser chores of letting you entry telephone settings by way of pure language. Wish to change a background picture? Discuss to the telephone.
Apart from Samsung’s personal AI instruments, Google Gemini can also be embedded within the telephone. This lets circle something on the display screen to look and do maybe extra advanced issues like guide a cab sooner or later.
Notably, Samsung can also be throwing in Perplexity AI to hold out what ought to be related seamless duties within the new telephones – effectively, no less than for South Korea and the USA, for a begin.
It guarantees to allow you to communicate to the telephone to hold out duties throughout, say, your calendar and gallery with the tight integration.
Might these AI options assist promote the Galaxy S26? It’s onerous to say – Microsoft Copilot+ has bombed on the PC to date – however telephones have a greater probability as a result of they’re deeply private gadgets and AI might help in lots of on a regular basis chores.
For instance, it might proactively discover a picture from the gallery if a pal messages you for particulars, say, of the bottle of wine you’re bringing over for dinner.
What about {hardware}? Right here, Samsung has souped up the top-end Galaxy S26 Extremely however left among the new options out of the cheaper fashions.
One much-hyped characteristic is the brand new privateness show. Solely on the Extremely mannequin, it permits you to maintain prying eyes from peeping at your display screen from the facet if you end up caught in a busy practice or lengthy elevator journey.
The great factor is you could specify which components of the display screen to dam off. A simple on/off management additionally permits you to rapidly swap between personal and regular shows.
That is a kind of useful on a regular basis options you’d want is in all the brand new Galaxy S26 telephones. Sadly, Samsung has solely positioned it in the costliest mannequin.
The identical might be mentioned of a modest digital camera improve. The Galaxy S26 Extremely nonetheless sports activities a 200-megapixel wide-angle principal digital camera however this now has a wider aperture of f1.4. The 50-megapixel telephoto digital camera additionally has an improved f2.9 aperture.
These adjustments imply the telephone can seize extra gentle for higher pictures, particularly in low-light conditions. We’ll have extra after we check out the telephones.
One other vital change is within the processors. Once more, the Galaxy S26 Extremely stands out this 12 months as the one one with a Qualcomm chip – a personalized model of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
It ought to supply blazing quick efficiency and make quick work of as we speak’s apps and AI duties. Even video games shouldn’t be a difficulty, when run on the most recent and best cellular processor.
The Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+, nonetheless, will include Samsung’s personal Exynos 2600 chip, which ought to be no slouch however it isn’t the most effective that cash can purchase. Final 12 months, all three Galaxy S25 fashions sported a top-end Qualcomm chip.
The extra options (apart from a bigger display screen) would possibly make the top-end mannequin this 12 months extra enticing. In case you’re going to spend a lot anyway…
How a lot? The Galaxy S26 Extremely is on the market for pre-orders in Singapore now. It prices from S$1,828 for a mannequin with 12GB reminiscence and 256GB storage. Max issues out and also you get a 16GB/1TB combo that goes for a hefty S$2,578.
In case you choose a smaller telephone in your hand, then the Galaxy S26+ comes with 12GB reminiscence and gives both 256GB storage (S$1,628) and 512GB storage (S$1,928).
Lastly, probably the most primary of the Galaxy S26 sequence will pack in 12GB of reminiscence and price S$1,438 for the essential mannequin with 256GB storage and S$1,738 for one with 512GB.
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