It is time to improve your Galaxy, otherwise you’ve determined that you really want one thing contemporary altogether, and the brand new Galaxy S26 collection popped up in your radar. In case the fun-sized Samsung Galaxy S26 meets your wants, then you could positively be contemplating the older Samsung Galaxy S25 as nicely. It is a barely extra inexpensive various to the Galaxy S26 and presents basically the identical person expertise.
When you’ve got not been following Samsung’s Galaxy S evolution for the previous couple of years, you may need missed the truth that upgrades annually are few and much between, which in flip pushes shoppers to look into the older fashions, too. In any case, Samsung presents 7 years of full software program help, so you aren’t actually dropping a lot for those who go for an older mannequin.
Desk of Contents:
With the S26 collection, Samsung is again to the dual-chip technique, leaving locations like Europe and South Korea with the Exynos 2600, whereas the US, China and Japan get all of the S26 telephones within the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy taste.
For context, final 12 months’s S25 collection was solely powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, so this comparability will probably be notably of curiosity to customers deciding between the Snapdragon and the Exynos. Stick round to seek out out.
For starters, you possibly can evaluate the whole specs sheets or immediately proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Measurement comparability
The 2 gadgets undertake a near-identical design and construct. Each handsets have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panels on the front and back, saved collectively by an Aluminum armor 2 body. Dimensions and weight are additionally comparable, however the S26 is a bit taller as a result of 0.1-inch bigger show.
The one small distinction is that the newer S26 has an entire digicam island that protrudes and causes the cellphone to wobble on a flat floor. The S25 has a considerably cleaner design. Then once more, some might desire the S26 over the S25.
Show comparability
There are not any surprises within the show division this 12 months both. The 2 handsets share the identical LTPO OLED panel, providing a 120Hz refresh charge with granular management and virtually 1,400 nits most brightness. The 0.1-inch improve in measurement can simply go unnoticed.
The dearth of improve within the show division is not an enormous disadvantage, although, because the one used within the earlier two generations is completely effective.
Battery life
The newer Galaxy S26 will get a modest improve in battery capability over final 12 months’s mannequin, which partially explains the uptick in endurance. There might be some further software program and {hardware} optimizations concerned as nicely, however whatever the motive, the S26 is the one with longer battery life.
The 2 handsets appear to attain equally within the name and gaming assessments, however the S26 pulls forward of the S25 within the different two screen-on eventualities – net shopping and video streaming. The beneficial properties aren’t negligible both.
Charging velocity
On paper, the 2 Galaxy telephones ought to have comparable charging instances. They each help as much as 25W wired quick charging over Energy Supply, regardless that Samsung says the newer Galaxy is 5 share factors sooner within the first half-hour of charging.
Nevertheless, our assessments present a extra vital enchancment. The S26 turned out to be markedly sooner on the 15-minute and 30-minute checkpoints. It additionally charged a lot sooner to 100%. We imagine that Samsung utilized a extra aggressive charging curve this time round.
There are not any upgrades to the wi-fi charging – each gadgets help as much as 15W over Qi2, and so they each require magnetic circumstances to be paired with magnetic wi-fi charging equipment.
Speaker take a look at
The newer audio system are only a tad quieter in comparison with the S25’s, however additionally they sound higher. They convey extra depth and extra pronounced bass with out overpowering the vocals. The S25 sounds flatter as compared.
Efficiency
The efficiency part is probably going essentially the most fascinating one, as that is the one significant {hardware} change. The complete world acquired a Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered Galaxy S25 final 12 months, whereas this time, the US, China and Japan get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy S26. The remainder of the world will get the brand new Exynos 2600.
One key distinction between the 2 chipsets is that the Exynos 2600 is predicated on a 2nm manufacturing course of, whereas the SD8 Elite is 3nm. Additionally, the Exynos makes use of an AMD-designed Xclipse 960 GPU, whereas the Snapdragon depends on an in-house Adreno 830 GPU.
Whereas the Galaxy S25’s default storage choice is 128GB, the S26 begins from 256GB in most markets. You may nonetheless discover a 128GB model, however it’s not extensively out there. Sadly, the improve comes at a price. The 256GB storage variant final 12 months was $40/€40 cheaper. All storage configurations are fitted with 12GB reminiscence on each telephones.
Benchmark efficiency
The artificial benchmarks counsel that the Exynos 2600 is certainly extra highly effective than final 12 months’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. Nevertheless, the beneficial properties are quite modest.
Within the CPU-bound Geekbench 6, the Exynos 2600 exhibits an 8% distinction, and so does the GPU-intensive 3DMark Wild Life Excessive take a look at. The mixed AnTuTu 10 take a look at provides an 11% edge over the SD8 Elite.
Digital camera comparability
The Galaxy S26 cameras have remained unchanged in comparison with final 12 months’s mannequin – much more so than the Extremely and much more so than the S26+. All three modules on the again report the identical {hardware}, all the way down to the sensor mannequin names (not less than for the principle digicam and the telephoto – the ultrawide digicam’s sensor is not specified).
It is a 1/1.56″ optical format sensor on the principle digicam with a 50MP nominal decision, paired with a stabilized 23mm-ish lens. The telephoto digicam makes use of the identical sensor as final 12 months, the 3K1 (from comparability, the Plus and the Extremely have the identical measurement imager, at 1/3.94″, however a unique mannequin). The ultrawide digicam’s sensor is a traditional RGB unit with a 1/2.55″ optical format and there is nonetheless no autofocus on this digicam.
The one new bit, and it is an vital one, is the lens on the selfie digicam – all of the S26s get a 23mm equal lens instead of the 25-26mm ones on the older fashions.
Picture high quality
Daylight
Principal digicam daylight images are fairly comparable, however the brand new mannequin does present a little bit of warming up in its coloration rendition, notably noticeable in greenery. You would say that the S26’s element has a finer construction and fewer intense sharpening too.
Daylight comparability, primary digicam (1x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
The colour variations stay at 2x, however the element rendition discrepancy will get smaller to non-existent in out of doors photographs, whereas it is the S25 that offers higher with dimmer indoor scenes.
Daylight comparability, primary digicam (2x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
At 3x zoom, you possibly can count on to see the identical element presentation from each telephones, however the S26 nonetheless insists on hotter greenery (which is an efficient factor, most likely?).
Daylight samples, telephoto digicam (3x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
some ultrawide photographs, there is a trace of that very same yellowish inexperienced tendency, however it’s not as pronounced. Element is virtually the identical between the 2 telephones.
Daylight comparability, ultrawide digicam (0.6x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
Low gentle
The Galaxy S26 adopts Samsung’s new method to low-light processing with no instantly out there devoted night time mode. You do get the auto night time mode motion in Photograph mode, which is not notably convincing – it does not at all times have interaction, and oftentimes when it does have interaction, it is not the perfect of outcomes – and in some scenes the total auto images aren’t nice. The S25 can be not essentially the most reliable of low-light shooters.
The primary cameras’ ends in full auto are broadly comparable between the 2, with little noise discount utilized, loads of grain, and never notably nice sharpness. Perhaps the S26’s photographs are barely higher in some methods, however the S25 has its small benefits right here or there – we’re probably not satisfied.
Low-light comparability, primary digicam (1x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
The S26 may be inclined to paint shifts for those who get it to max out its auto night time mode. The S25 is considerably extra reliable.
Low-light comparability, primary digicam (1x), max night time mode: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
There are some nuances within the 2x outcomes, however neither is a transparent winner and you would be getting a liberal quantity of noise both manner.
Low-light comparability, primary digicam (2x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
The max auto night time mode on the S26 produces considerably higher outcomes than the S25’s standalone Night time mode photographs, which may be fairly synthetic.
Low-light comparability, primary digicam (2x), max night time mode: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
Equally, the 3x outcomes aren’t wanting nice from both cellphone, although they strike totally different balances with their sharpening and noise discount selections. We simply would possibly desire the S25’s takes.
Low-light samples, telephoto digicam (3x): Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
With extra intense night time processing, issues are headed in the direction of a toss-up.
Low-light samples, telephoto digicam (3x), night time mode: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
On the ultrawide cameras, we’re seeing the 2 telephones commerce victories from scene to scene when capturing in full auto.
Low-light comparability, ultrawide digicam: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
For those who’re extra deliberate with the S26’s night time mode, you’d most likely have the ability to get higher outcomes than the S25’s night time mode efforts, with some extent of consistency.
Low-light comparability, ultrawide digicam, night time mode: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
Selfies
Final 12 months’s Galaxy had an incredible selfie digicam, however the one on the S26 is even higher – one of many few notable adjustments to the 2026 mannequin. We’re getting sharper pictures on the S26 and the broader protection now (23mm vs 25/26mm lens) makes the brand new digicam much more versatile.
Selfies comparability: Galaxy S26 • Galaxy S25
Video high quality
Not lots has modified within the video recording division – the S26 offers you Horizon lock stabilization and LUTs for real-time preview in Log recording. Aside from that, each telephones supply an identical video recording capabilities, with 4K60 on all cameras, 8K30 on the principle rear ones, and decently succesful Professional video modes.
Video high quality in daylight is just about the identical. Minute variations in coloration rendition or sharpening may be noticed after staring lengthy sufficient at side-to-side comparisons, however these are completely immaterial.
Daylight video screengrabs, Galaxy S26: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x
Daylight video screengrabs, Galaxy S25: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x
At the hours of darkness, there are some extra notable variations. The S26 has an edge in sharpness on the ultrawide, whereas the S25 is meaningfully higher at 3x. The primary cameras are broadly comparable.
Low-light video screengrabs, Galaxy S26: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x
Low-light video screengrabs, Galaxy S25: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 3x
Verdict
As you possibly can see, the newer Galaxy S26 is nominally higher than the Galaxy S25 however solely in some elements. The brand new mannequin is quicker to cost, has higher battery life and presents a modest improve in uncooked efficiency. However then, the show, digicam {hardware} and design are virtually the identical. It is extra of a refresh, not a generational improve.
Therefore, we do not imagine the roughly €150/$150 value hole is justifiable. The Galaxy S25 simply feels just like the extra wise decide between the 2, providing a near-identical person expertise for much less cash.
- The longer battery life.
- The higher audio system.
- The marginally sooner charging.
- The marginally extra highly effective chipset.
- The broader and sharper selfies.
- The LUTs in Log video recording, Horizon lock stabilization
Get the Samsung Galaxy S26 for:
- The cheaper price tag.
- The largely comparable person expertise.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S25 for:
