Samsung Galaxy S26 Review: Compact Flagship Sees Minor Updates, Higher Price
The Story
The Samsung Galaxy S26 is the smallest and most affordable of this year’s top Samsung models, priced at £879 with double the starting storage. It features a slightly larger 6.3in screen, a new Exynos 2600 chip outside North America, and a 40-hour battery life under average use. The rear cameras remain unchanged from previous generations and are showing their age, though the selfie camera has improved.
Key Facts
- The S26 costs £879 (€949/$899/A$1,349), an increase of £80 from its predecessor, with double the base storage.
- It weighs 167g and has a 6.3in FHD+ Dynamic Amoled 2X 120Hz screen, only 2.7mm taller and 1.2mm wider than the previous model.
- Outside North America, the S26 uses Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; the article states performance is close to Qualcomm’s.
- Battery lasts about 40 hours between charges with average use (about five hours of screen-on time across wifi and 5G). With lighter use on wifi, it can last more than two days; heavy gaming reduces battery life significantly.
- The phone runs One UI 8.5 (Android 16) with AI tools including text, transcription, image editing, call assist, and “Now Nudge” proactive suggestions.
- Software updates are guaranteed until 28 February 2033.
- The rear camera setup is identical to the predecessor: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto. The selfie camera is improved to 12MP.
- The main camera performs well in good light; ultrawide cannot focus very close; telephoto is described as unremarkable. Lower-light images are soft and noisy.
- Video quality is good with a new horizontal lock feature; the selfie camera is among the best on a phone.
- Battery is rated for 1,200 full-charge cycles. Screen repair costs £149 (includes battery replacement). Self-repair program is available. The phone contains 21.2% recycled content.
- Comparison prices given: S26+ £1,099, S26 Ultra £1,279, Google Pixel 10 £799, iPhone 17 £799.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
The article does not provide comparative performance benchmarks between the Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, nor does it detail the specific improvements in the selfie camera beyond stating it is “improved.” It does not specify regional availability of the “Now Nudge” AI assistant or whether Qi2 magnet support may be added in future models.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
No specific individuals named in the source article.
Sources: The Guardian
