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Samsung has all the time had a little bit of a problem with its S-series flagships: How can it differentiate the Plus mannequin sufficient that folks would need to purchase it over its cheaper and costlier siblings? It is an issue that has plagued the Plus mannequin for years, and with the introduction of the Galaxy S25 Edge final 12 months, it appeared like Samsung may need the makings of a compelling Plus providing for 2026.
Sadly, what we acquired was nothing as I hoped for, and Samsung hasn’t appeared to study from its classes with the Edge, nor does it appear involved in giving the Plus its personal edge, so to talk. That is to not say the Galaxy S26 Plus is not cellphone, as a result of it’s, nevertheless it’s a lot much less compelling a purchase given the upgrades its two siblings acquired, and with a better $1,099 price ticket, it seems like Samsung is pushing customers in direction of the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
As we speak’s greatest Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus offers
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Class
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
Show
6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Reminiscence
12GB
Storage
256GB, 512GB
Entrance Digicam
12MP, f/2.2
Rear Digicam 1
50MP (large), OIS f/1.8
Rear Digicam 2
12MP (ultrawide), f/2.2, FOV 120˚
Rear Digicam 3
10MP (telephoto), 3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4
Battery
4,900mAh
Charging
45W (wired)
20W (Qi2 wi-fi)
4.5W (reverse wi-fi)
Connectivity
5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 6
Biometrics
Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner, Face Recognition
Ingress Safety
IP68, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (entrance glass), Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (rear glass), Aluminum
Dimensions
75.8 x 158.4 x 7.3 mm
Weight
190 grams
Software program
One UI 8.5 (Android 16)
7 years OS/safety upgrades
Colours
Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White
On-line unique: Silver Shadow, Pink Gold
At first look, it is really arduous to inform the Galaxy S26 Plus aside from its predecessor, which is not too stunning. Samsung has largely caught to the identical design cues for years on its non-Extremely S fashions, to the purpose that even the scale are similar to the Galaxy S25 Plus.
That is not essentially a nasty factor; the Galaxy S25 Plus was skinny sufficient that I questioned the necessity for a fair thinner Edge mannequin, given all its shortcomings. The identical goes for the Galaxy S26 Plus, which feels fantastic within the hand if yours are sufficiently big.
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The one main design change, for those who may even name it “main,” is the digital camera housing on the again. As an alternative of three particular person lenses protruding from the glass again, they now every protrude barely from a single vertical housing. It is a very curious change as a result of it stands out way more than on the S25 Plus and causes the cellphone to take a seat much more inconsistently on flat surfaces, with way more wobbling than earlier than.
Additionally, it isn’t like Samsung modified any of the digital camera {hardware} on the Galaxy S26 Plus, so I can not think about why Samsung made this alteration apart from to pressure us to purchase new Galaxy S26 Plus instances. Go determine.
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
On the entrance, we get the identical 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED show, which is lots vibrant however pales compared to the competitors’s brighter shows. These with PWM sensitivity might also be unhappy to study that Samsung hasn’t improved on this entrance, although it would not trouble me. What does trouble me is the dearth of a Privateness Show, as a result of after even a quick time with the S26 Extremely, I can not consider I have been residing with out it.
Nonetheless, content material on the show seems crisp and vibrant, even on Pure display screen mode. The 120Hz refresh price is fairly normal at this level, and whereas I’d’ve favored to see Samsung transfer the needle on this regard, One UI 8.5 makes it largely pointless.
All the things about this UI feels silky and refined, from the way in which the app drawer appears to flick open simply as quick as your finger can swipe upwards, to easily flipping by means of apps within the multitasking view, and the notification shade and fast settings menu materializing with a lovely translucent gradient towards the background. All the things simply feels so properly animated and pleasing.
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
A giant a part of the One UI 8.5 expertise is the AI options that Samsung has both launched or upgraded, and so they’re simply the most effective half about utilizing this cellphone. Most of the new options are both instantly from Google or a by-product of options we have already seen on the Pixel 10.
For instance, Samsung takes Audio Eraser a step additional than Google by permitting you to make use of it in third-party apps for clearer voices, one thing the Pixel cannot do. Name Screening additionally capabilities just about the identical because it does on the Pixel, and the Now Bar and Now Transient really feel like two halves of the At a Look widget.
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There’s additionally Now Nudge, which is basically Samsung’s model of Magic Cue and presents related on-device info based mostly on the context of a dialog. Throughout my preliminary hands-on, it was capable of counsel and collect pictures from Australia when somebody requested for them through textual content. Nonetheless, after two weeks, Now Nudge has solely appeared a couple of times.
In a single occasion, I acquired a textual content invite to a commencement, with the small print included within the hyperlink preview picture. Now Nudge acknowledged the knowledge and “nudged” me to create a calendar occasion, whereas additionally reminding me that I’ve one other calendar occasion scheduled for a similar day and time, which I really discovered fairly useful.
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
To additional showcase how useful and proactive AI might be, Samsung additionally launched the brand new Gemini display screen automation with the Galaxy S26 sequence, which lets Gemini take the reins and work within the background to order meals, groceries, or rideshares with minimal person enter. I’ve tried it just a few instances, and it really works surprisingly properly. I requested it to order “my normal” from McDonald’s, and I watched it search by means of just a few of my latest orders to see which meals I get most frequently, add them to the cart, and even take away objects that have been now not accessible at my location.
You may cease Gemini display screen automation at any level to make modifications, or it should pause itself if it wants enter from you, reminiscent of clarification on a drink measurement. It’s going to absolutely cease earlier than checkout, permitting you to make the ultimate affirmation, which I recognize.
All in all, I am fairly impressed with Gemini’s capabilities, though I want I might order an Uber with a number of stops (for now, it solely permits you to go from level A to level B).
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(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Bixby additionally acquired an improve and might now perceive pure language that can assist you navigate your cellphone. It is good to see Samsung give Bixby some love, nevertheless it seems like a futile effort as Gemini overshadows it and different assistants.
Sadly, Samsung Keyboard remains to be horrible, and I want it weren’t essential to make use of a few of Samsung’s extra helpful options, like chat translation. That mentioned, for those who can go with out this specific characteristic, I extremely counsel simply switching to Gboard.
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(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The cameras have not modified both. That is not essentially a nasty factor, as you possibly can nonetheless get some good pictures from the Galaxy S26 Plus, particularly in good lighting circumstances, however I do want Samsung had given it some decision bumps or at the least wider apertures because it did with the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
Regardless, you should not be disillusioned by the digital camera high quality, as pictures seem lots detailed and vibrant, with out overdoing it. I really feel just like the dynamic vary might be higher, however I have not taken a photograph I did not like with the primary 50MP sensor. The ultrawide and telephoto sensors additionally carry out properly, and pictures look fairly good at as much as 10x zoom, though issues begin to collapse past that. And in comparison with the Galaxy S25 Plus, it appears Samsung has barely improved the digital zoom, which is good to see.
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Horizontal lock is a brand new characteristic that I discover most attention-grabbing, permitting you to maintain an extremely regular video regardless of how shaky your actions are. The truth is, you possibly can flip the S26 Plus utterly round, and it’ll nonetheless retain the horizon, which is type of wild to see.
The Gallery app acquired some good enhancements, just like the upgraded Picture Help. That is one among my favourite options, as you should utilize pure language to do issues like change your clothes, add or take away objects from a picture, and even mix in parts from different pictures. I can take a photograph of a hat I like and inform Picture Help so as to add it to an image of me, and it’ll intelligently place it on my head. I may also swap out a photograph of a donut for a more healthy choice, like a bowl of yogurt.
It will not make extra granular edits like lighting or colour modifications; for that, you may want Assist Me Edit within the Google Pictures app, nevertheless it’s a enjoyable characteristic nonetheless.
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Powering all of that is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “For Galaxy,” which performs in addition to a flagship chipset ought to, particularly with 12GB of RAM. Apps open rapidly, multitasking is a breeze, and graphics-intensive video games like Honkai: Star Rail and Endfield run fairly easily, even on the highest settings.
Sadly, the battery stays at simply 4,900mAh. I say “simply,” however whereas I do want Samsung had opted for a bigger and even thinner silicon-carbon battery, the S26 Plus nonetheless manages to get by means of a full day with out situation, averaging 6-8 hours of display screen time in my use. Battery measurement is not an issue per se, however more moderen flagships just like the OnePlus 15 are averaging two days of battery life, which might be good to see right here.
Charging can be largely unchanged, and you may wait over an hour to totally cost the battery at 45W wired charging. And whereas wi-fi charging did see a small bump from 15W to 20W, you may nonetheless want a case to profit from Qi2.
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
However the lack of a silicon-carbon battery or built-in magnetic charging actually speaks to the Galaxy S26 Plus as a complete and Samsung’s unwillingness to alter. Certain, there is a new chipset, however the Plus seems like Samsung resting on its laurels and giving us the naked minimal with only a chip improve and new software program. Most of the modifications I needed to see simply aren’t right here, and Samsung is charging extra for it, which type of would not add up.
Consequently, the Plus is as soon as once more overshadowed by the Extremely, and this genuinely good cellphone will as soon as once more be relegated to the awkward center little one. It deserves greater than that, and I actually hope Samsung can determine what to do with future Plus fashions to assist them stand out, as a result of because it stands now, I can perhaps advocate the Galaxy S26 Plus, however the Extremely seems like the higher purchase.
A giant cellphone with a giant coronary heart
The Galaxy S26 Plus is presently probably the most highly effective smartphones available on the market, with a robust set of cameras, a big show, and all-day battery life to energy the most recent AI options from Google and Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: Worth Comparability
