The Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely has impressed us with its processor efficiency, digital camera expertise and naturally its revolutionary Privateness Show, which really works in addition to the corporate boasted it will. It is a powerhouse of an Android telephone and it comes with a price ticket to match. At $1,300 (£1,279) it requires a variety of money to get one into your pocket however there’s a cheaper choice. Final 12 months’s Galaxy S25 Extremely has lots of the similar specs and you’ll choose it up used for round $720 on Gazelle — a whopping financial savings over the unique.
It is really extraordinary how a lot much less the S25 Extremely prices when shopping for a used one, particularly when you think about simply how related it’s to the newest mannequin. Positive, you will not get the brand new Privateness Show, however the digital camera efficiency is analogous, the shows are the identical measurement and determination and each have 5,000-mAh batteries. The S26 Extremely is generally an iterative improve over its predecessor, however you will need to shell out virtually twice as a lot for it. After all, in case you’re promoting your S25 Extremely then that quantity of depreciation actually sucks. However in case you’re seeking to improve from an older telephone, then you have got your self a cut price on a high-end machine.
So what distinction does one era make? Can final 12 months’s mannequin nonetheless carry out like the present flagship? Let’s put these telephones facet by facet and see what we get.
Watch this: Do not Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. Save Cash With a Used S24 Extremely As a substitute
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Which one’s which? It is tough to inform.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Key specs in contrast
On paper, the important thing specs are related. They each have large shows with equivalent resolutions and refresh charges. They each have potent Qualcomm processors, 12GB of RAM, 200-megapixel cameras, and an IP68 ranking for mud and water resistance. And sure, each have the S Pen stylus tucked inside if you wish to doodle photos whereas pretending to be working. The S25 Extremely is constituted of titanium, whereas Samsung opted for Aluminum for the S26 Extremely. That change sheds 4 grams off the brand new mannequin, which is not an quantity you are ever prone to discover, and probably radiates warmth out of the telephone extra successfully.
From a purely numbers perspective, there’s little to decide on between the S26 Extremely and S25 Extremely — definitely nothing that warrants such a steep value distinction. So what are they like to make use of in individual? Let’s begin with the cameras.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Cameras
Digicam efficiency is a central method phone-makers attempt to improve their telephones annually, with the newest fashions sometimes boasting higher imaging expertise than earlier generations. Whereas there are some upgrades on paper — just like the S26 Extremely’s wider f/1.4 aperture on the principle digital camera — Samsung hasn’t actually altered its format that a lot for its previous couple of Extremely fashions, so the variations in on a regular basis use are negligible.
I’ve taken quite a lot of photographs on each telephones and, for probably the most half, I feel you’d battle to inform a lot distinction, not to mention choose a winner. They’re each able to taking pretty photographs with vast dynamic vary, sometimes punchy colours and loads of element. The zooms on each telephones are wonderful, and the evening modes are very good.
The broader aperture of the principle digital camera ought to technically assist it seize extra mild for low mild pictures however side-by-side, I am unable to inform a lot distinction as each are wonderful performers on this space. The S26 Extremely’s greatest marketed upgrades come within the type of new AI instruments with the corporate’s “AI Photograph Help” instruments, which allow you to do issues like change the fashion of hat somebody is sporting. Samsung sometimes brings most, if not all, of its software program options to earlier telephones although, so it is possible that even these new instruments will turn out to be obtainable for S25 Extremely house owners.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Processor
One of many main upgrades within the S25 Extremely over its predecessor is its processor. The S25 Extremely packs a customized model of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, versus the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip on the S25 Extremely. On our benchmark checks, there is a roughly 10% enhance in processor efficiency on the brand new mannequin or a roughly 6% enhance for graphics efficiency. It isn’t an enormous bump by any means and I truthfully doubt you’d ever discover the distinction in on a regular basis use.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. Galaxy S25 Extremely processor efficiency
Galaxy S25 Extremely 3,173 10,047Galaxy S26 Extremely 3,578 10,700
- Geekbench 6 (single core)
- Geekbench 6 (multicore)
Word: Longer bars equal higher efficiency
I discovered each telephones have been greater than able to taking part in demanding 3D video games like Genshin Influence and PUBG at max settings whereas nonetheless giving clean body charges. Modifying photographs in Adobe Lightroom was responsive and navigating across the Android 16 interface felt nippy and clean.
So positive, the newest mannequin might need a bit extra energy. However do you actually need it? A Ferrari might need a bit extra energy than an Aston Martin, however the Aston Martin remains to be an exceptionally potent machine that’ll outperform most different issues on the street.
Test Out the Galaxy S26 Extremely’s Modern Design and Privateness Show
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Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Software program
Software program-wise, each telephones run Android 16 with Samsung’s newest One UI 8 pores and skin excessive. You will discover the identical options throughout each fashions, together with Samsung’s varied AI instruments like reside translation, audio eraser and drawing help, which turns your doodles into actual photos. Then you have got Google’s AI instruments like Gemini Stay and Circle to look, which once more you will discover on each fashions.
Aside from the aforementioned AI Photograph Help within the digital camera, there are not any new software program options you are lacking out on by going with the final era. But it surely’s at all times vital to maintain the software program help interval in thoughts, particularly when shopping for used. Samsung dedicated to seven years of safety help for each telephones. Because the more moderen mannequin, the S26 Extremely will subsequently be secure to make use of till 2033, however the S25 Extremely will nonetheless be good via to at the very least 2032, which is a big lifespan.
Each telephones are greater than highly effective sufficient to play video games like Genshin Influence at max settings.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Battery life
Each Ultras pack 5,000-mAh batteries however via varied software program optimizations, the S26 Extremely carried out barely higher on our varied battery rundown checks. After 3 hours of YouTube streaming the S26 Extremely had dropped to 87% whereas the S25 Extremely was all the way down to 81% after the identical time. Equally, after 45 minutes of blended use the S26 Extremely dropped from full to 95% whereas the 25 Extremely went from full to 92%. Is it a large distinction? No, under no circumstances and your utilization will rely solely on how demanding you might be of your telephone, however for individuals who actually wish to squeeze each minute of use out of your telephone the S26 Extremely technically wins.
In case you’re shopping for a used S25 Extremely, the battery might have aged barely however I would not anticipate it to have degraded a lot in only one 12 months of use.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Which do you have to purchase?
After I began penning this piece, I assumed that there can be extra variations between the S26 Extremely and the S25 Extremely. However there’s hardly any adjustments made between fashions; they even look principally the identical. Positive, the Privateness Show is kinda cool, however is it actually one thing you’d must spend large on? Are you actually plagued that a lot by folks peering over your shoulder in elevators as Samsung’s advert prompt?
With processor and digital camera efficiency being just about on par, and Samsung bringing a lot of its new AI expertise and software program to earlier generations, there’s little or no to decide on between them, apart from the large distinction in value. All in all, selecting final 12 months’s mannequin on the used market is a brilliant technique to save some huge cash on a succesful machine that might in any other case be too costly.
The logic right here is not restricted to Samsung’s telephones. With virtually all corporations, together with Apple, Google, OnePlus and others providing massively highly effective units with lengthy software program help durations, it is doable you could by no means want to purchase a brand new telephone ever once more.
The S25 Extremely is not a lot completely different to the S24 Extremely both, so shopping for the even older era is perhaps a good way to avoid wasting but extra cash.
Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S24 Extremely: Save much more cash
Here is an additional spanner within the works in your decision-making: Why not contemplate the older Galaxy S24 Extremely? My first model of this text in contrast the S25 Extremely and S24 Extremely and for probably the most half all I’ve wanted to do right here is change the numbers every time I point out the product title. The reason being that Samsung hasn’t really overhauled its merchandise in a very long time, as a substitute every time including a bit of bit extra processing energy or one other tiny tweak right here and there.
The S24 Extremely completely holds its personal in opposition to the S25 Extremely and can even put up a struggle in opposition to the S26 Extremely, particularly in relation to value. On the used market you’ll be able to choose the S24 Extremely for less than $536 — virtually $800 lower than the brand new S26 Extremely. The digital camera setup is far the identical and whereas there is a honest step up in processor efficiency, the S24 Extremely nonetheless has greater than sufficient energy for nearly something you’d possible wish to throw at it.
Its battery life is on par too (it scored higher than the S25 Extremely, placing it extra alongside the present mannequin) and its seven years of safety help means it will nonetheless be secure to make use of till 2031. The worth distinction on the used market between the 2 older fashions won’t be as dramatic as it’s in opposition to the brand new mannequin, however in case you’re after a excessive efficiency telephone and desirous to squeeze each greenback you’ll be able to out of your buy, my cash would go on the S24 Extremely.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely specs vs. S25 Extremely vs. S24 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S26 UltraSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy S24 Extremely Show measurement, tech, decision, refresh fee, brightness 6.9-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.8-inch AMOLED; 3,120×1,440 pixels; 1-120Hz adaptive refresh ratePixel density 500 ppi501 ppi501 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.44×3.07×0.316.41×3.06×0.32 6.40×3.11×0.34 Dimensions (millimeters) 163.6×78.1×7.9162.8×77.6×8.2163x79x8.6Weight (grams, ounces) 214 g (7.55 oz.)218g (7.69 oz.)233g (8.22 oz.) Cellular software program Android 16Android 15Android 14Camera 200-megapixel (vast), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)200-megapixel (vast), 50-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)200-megapixel (vast), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 10-megapixel (3x telephoto), 50-megapixel (5x telephoto)Entrance-facing digital camera 12-megapixel12-megapixel 12-megapixelVideo seize 8K8K8KProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for GalaxyQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3RAM/storage 12GB RAM + 256GB; 16GB RAM + 512GB, 1TB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TB12GB RAM + 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneBattery/charging speeds 5,000 mAh5,000 mAh5,000 mAhFingerprint sensor Below displayUnder displayUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneSpecial options Aluminum body; 7 years of OS and safety updates; IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different units; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different units; 60W wired charging (charger not included); 25W wi-fi charging; no magnets for equipment; Galaxy AI; Gorilla Glass Armor 2 cowl glass; privateness displayTitanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different units; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different units; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glass; ultrawidebandTitanium body, 2,600-nit peak brightness; 7 years of OS and safety updates; 5G (mmWave); IP68 water and mud resistance; wi-fi PowerShare to cost different units; built-in S Pen; UWB for locating different units; 45W wired charging (charger not included); Galaxy AI; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Armor cowl glassUS value off-contract $1,300 (256GB)$1,300 (256GB)$1,300 (256GB)UK value £1,279£1,249 (256GB)£1,249 (256GB)Australia value
AU$2,149 (256GB)AU$2,199 (256GB)
