Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26, the latest addition to its flagship smartphone lineup. The new device builds on the foundation of last year’s model, bringing a series of updates across AI, performance, and software, though not much has changed in terms of looks and core hardware chops.
But let me get the bad part out first. The asking price of Galaxy S26 has climbed up to $899, while the Galaxy S26 Plus now starts at $1,099 in the US, up from the $999 retail value last year.
What’s new?
Like the previous two years, Samsung’s main focus is on adding and improving AI features. It starts with the new SoC. Samsung Galaxy S26 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. The new chipset delivers significant performance gains, with the CPU, NPU, and GPU improving by 19%, 39%, and 24%, respectively.
That said, like previous years, Exynos 2600 will power the S26 in some markets, while the rest get a Qualcomm chip. Samsung has said that its Exynos silicon is no slouch and brings significant performance improvements.
The CPU is 39% faster, while a new built-in NPU should result in 113% faster AI performance. On the other hand, the included Xclipse 960 GPU delivers twice the performance compared to last year’s Xclipse 950, and 50% better ray-tracing performance.
Aside from the SoC upgrade, the phone is not so different from the outgoing Galaxy S25. The display sees a modest increase in size and now measures 6.3 inches, while battery capacity has increased by a mere 300mAh.
The cameras remain unchanged from previous years, so any improvements will stem from the new image engine and AI processing. Below is the full specifications list:
| Aspects | Details | ||||
| Dimensions | 71.7 x 149.6 x 7.2mm | ||||
| Weight | 167 grams (5.8 ounces) | ||||
| Display | 6.3-inch FHD+ | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display | 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz) | ||
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy / Exynos 2600 | ||||
| Camera | Rear cameras: | 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera (F2.2) | 50MP Wide Camera (OIS F1.8, 2x optical zoom) | 10MP Telephoto Camera (3x Optical Zoom, F2.4) Front camera: |
12MP, f/2.2 |
| RAM and storage | 12 + 512GB | 12 + 256GB | |||
| Battery and charging | 4,300 mAh | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 | 25W wired charging | Wireless PowerShare | |
| Operating system | One UI 8.5 based on Android 16 | ||||
| Network and connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
A generous dose of AI features
Samsung is calling the S26 the third generation of AI phones. This year, the company is focusing on features that make everyday tasks quicker and easier. Photo Assist lets you edit images by describing what you want in plain language, while Creative Studio can turn your sketches or text prompts into polished visuals.
There’s an improved Bixby that should provide better multi-step performance. But if you don’t like it, you can always switch to Gemini or Perplexity thanks to their native integration. The Samsung Galaxy S26 will be available to pre-order today and will be up for grabs in Cobalt, Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, alongside the Samsung-exclusive Pink Gold and Silver Shadow colors.