Though it might solely really feel like yesterday, the Galaxy S24 Extremely is now two years previous and has been succeeded by each the S25 Extremely and, extra lately, the Galaxy S26 Extremely.
So what’s actually new with the Galaxy S26 Extremely compared to its older sibling? Are there sufficient modifications to warrant an improve?
That will help you resolve, we’ve in contrast the specs of the Galaxy S26 Extremely to the Galaxy S24 Extremely and famous the important thing modifications that Samsung has made with its top-end flagship.
You must also go to our Galaxy S26 Extremely vs Galaxy S25 Extremely, to see how the smartphone has advanced since final yr’s launch, whereas Galaxy S26 Extremely vs Honor Magic 8 Professional and Galaxy S26 Extremely vs iPhone 17 Professional Max compares Samsung’s flagship with Honor and Apple’s personal alternate options.
In any other case, for extra of an summary try our greatest smartphones information.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 ExtremelySamsung Galaxy S24 ExtremelyBattery5000mAh5000mAhChipsetSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for GalaxySnapdragon 8 Gen 3 for GalaxyEntrance Digital camera12MP12MPRear Digital camera200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP200MP + 12MP + 50MP + 10MPDisplay Dimension6.9-inches6.82-inchesStorage Capability256GB, 512GB, 1TB256GB, 512GB, 1TBUK RRP£1279£1249Wired Charging60W45WWeight214g232g
Value and Availability
Beginning at £1279/$1279, you may nab the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely in a selection of 4 colors: Black, White, Sky Blue or Cobalt Violet. There are additionally a few Samsung-exclusive colors too, together with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.
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Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S24 Extremely is now not available for purchase straight from Samsung’s official retailer. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless nab the handset from third social gathering retailers in each new and refurbished situation. The worth will differ relying on the retailer and situation you go for, as we’ve seen costs vary from as little as £550 as much as round £800.
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Design
- Galaxy S26 Extremely sports activities rounded corners whereas the S24 Extremely’s are sharper
- The Galaxy S26 Extremely is Samsung’s thinnest Extremely mannequin, at simply 7.9mm thick
- Though the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s titanium body was as soon as seen as extra premium, the S26 Extremely reverts again to aluminum
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Though the Galaxy S26 Extremely seems to be fairly much like the Galaxy S25 Extremely, there’s a transparent distinction when in comparison with the S24 Extremely. Firstly, though each have flat screens, the S26 Extremely sports activities rounded corners whereas the S24 Extremely’s are sharper.
The S26 Extremely can also be lighter and thinner than the S24 Extremely, at 214g and seven.9mm thick in comparison with 232g and eight.6mm. Even so, we should always notice that each Extremely handsets really feel comfy in-hand.
One other key distinction between the 2 is with their respective supplies. Whereas the S24 Extremely sports activities a titanium end, the S26 Extremely really reverts again to aluminium, which housed the Galaxy S23 Extremely. This will seem to be a downgrade, nonetheless it’s often because titanium tends to get too scorching and trigger throttling.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
Display
- The S26 Extremely has a bigger show at 6.9-inches
- Privateness Show is an unique to the S26 Extremely and hides the display screen from prying eyes
- In any other case, each sport an AMOLED panel, QHD+ decision and a 1-120Hz refresh fee
- S Pen is current with each
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Each the S26 Extremely and S24 Extremely are outfitted with loads of premium display screen applied sciences, together with an AMOLED panel, LTPO-enabled 120Hz refresh fee and a QHD+ decision. Collectively, these applied sciences make each telephones a pleasure to make use of for the likes of on a regular basis duties, gaming and streaming too.
Nonetheless, the S26 Extremely’s show is barely bigger at 6.9-inches, whereas the S24 Extremely’s is 6.82-inches. The distinction is arguably negligible, as each are undoubtedly thought of to be bigger handsets, however you can argue the S24 Extremely is barely simpler to make use of one-handed than the S26 Extremely.
Galaxy S24 Extremely in hand. Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
The most important distinction, nonetheless, with the 2 handsets is that the S26 Extremely boasts the brand new Privateness Show. The built-in know-how makes the display screen invisible from totally different viewing angles, whereas making certain you may nonetheless see it clearly when dealing with it straight on. It’s customisable too, and will be set on a per-app foundation or whenever you obtain notifications.
Lastly, though each are fitted with Gorilla Glass safety, the S26 Extremely advantages from Gorilla Armour 2 which is each scratch-resistant and anti-reflective too. Alternatively, the S24 Extremely makes do with Gorilla Armour as a substitute.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
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S26 Extremely Privateness Show Off
S26 Extremely Privateness Show On
Digital camera
- Each are fitted with 4 rear lenses, together with a 200MP fundamental digicam
- S26 Extremely sees some welcome enhancements over the S24 Extremely, together with a higher-res ultrawide
- Each help Samsung’s Galaxy AI photograph modifying instruments
Though there are a couple of notable variations between the S26 Extremely and S24 Extremely’s digicam {hardware}, we should always disclaim that Samsung hasn’t fairly overhauled the newer handset.
Firstly, the S26 Extremely is fitted with a 200MP fundamental sensor that’s supported by 50MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope and 10MP 3x telephoto lenses. Compared, the S24 Extremely sports activities a 200MP fundamental, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope 5x and 10MP 5x telephoto set-up.
Samsung guarantees that the S26 Extremely’s fundamental and periscope sensors have wider apertures to spice up gentle consumption (f/1.4 and f/2.9 respectively). Even so, we should always state that we have been impressed with each handsets’ fundamental and periscope sensors, with the S24 Extremely’s particularly praised for capturing brilliant and vibrant pictures, even when zoomed in.
Though the 50MP vs 12MP ultrawide distinction may sound fairly jarring, once more we should always notice that the S24 Extremely nonetheless did a stable job in good lighting situations – though it did battle extra at evening.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
One space the place we’re significantly impressed with the S26 Extremely’s digicam is with its picture processing. Whereas Samsung is understood for its tendency to over-saturate pictures, the S26 Extremely tones issues carried out a bit. Don’t get us mistaken, images nonetheless boast that social media-esque end, however they give the impression of being extra pure than earlier than.
Lastly, each the Galaxy Extremely telephones sport Samsung’s Galaxy AI-powered photograph modifying instruments. In truth, Galaxy AI was really launched with the Galaxy S24 sequence, although we’ll dive into that in additional element later. This implies you may take away undesirable objects, flip 30fps movies into slow-mo and repair crooked pictures with just some faucets.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely – simply
Efficiency
- The Galaxy S26 Extremely runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a customized model of Qualcomm’s top-end chip
- The Galaxy S24 Extremely runs on a customized model of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- Each help Galaxy AI
Each the Galaxy S26 Extremely and S24 Extremely run on customized variations of Qualcomm processors, though they naturally differ with their precise choices. Whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely runs on Qualcomm’s present top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, the Galaxy S24 Extremely runs on Qualcomm’s 2024 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy.
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Though there’s a few years between them, the 2 Qualcomm chips are nonetheless impressively quick and responsive. Nonetheless, maybe most notably, each chips allow the working of Samsung’s Galaxy AI – in truth, the Galaxy S24 sequence was the primary to introduce the toolkit again in 2024. With this in thoughts, you may anticipate to see the likes of Circle to Search, object elimination in images and the AI-powered Notes app throughout each the S24 Extremely and S26 Extremely. Nonetheless, the S26 Extremely does profit from a couple of unique options comparable to Now Nudge which presents real-time recommendations, primarily based on what you’re doing in your cellphone.
Photograph Help on Galaxy S26 Extremely. Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
In any other case, whereas the default Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip doesn’t energy the perfect Android telephones anymore, it does energy the Honor 400 Professional which is without doubt one of the greatest mid vary telephones. Positive, it won’t see the identical benchmarking scores as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but it surely’s nonetheless a wonderfully speedy chip that may even deal with cell gaming with relative ease.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Software program
- Galaxy S26 Extremely comes with Android 16 and One UI 8.5 out of the field
- The Galaxy S24 Extremely ought to get the One UI 8.5 improve sooner or later
- Each promise as much as seven years of upgrades, which is able to take the S24 Extremely as much as Android 21 whereas the S26 Extremely will see Android 23
Relating to Android upgrades, Samsung is without doubt one of the extra beneficiant smartphone producers. With this in thoughts, each the S26 Extremely and S24 Extremely include as much as seven years of upgrades promised. It will take the S24 Extremely as much as Android 21 whereas the S26 Extremely shall be supported as much as Android 23.
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Naturally, each the Galaxy Extremely fashions come working with Samsung’s One UI pores and skin. Nonetheless, on the time of writing, the S26 Extremely boasts One UI 8.5 whereas the S24 Extremely continues to be but to obtain this improve. Even so, general One UI is simple to make use of and boasts a refreshed look in comparison with older variations of the pores and skin.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Battery
- Each have common 5000mAh batteries
- Galaxy S26 Extremely helps quicker 60W wired and 25W wi-fi charging speeds
- We discovered the S24 Extremely provided a barely longer battery life in comparison with the S26 Extremely
Sadly, Samsung hasn’t made many enhancements with the S26 Extremely’s battery life, because it’s fitted with the identical 5000mAh battery because the S24 Extremely. It’s a reasonably common capability, particularly contemplating lots of the greatest Android telephones boast cells upwards of 6000mAh. In truth, the Discover X9 Professional and OnePlus 15 are respectively outfitted with 7500mAh and 7300mAh cells.
Surprisingly, in our expertise we really discovered the S24 Extremely provided barely extra battery life than the S26 Extremely, with round seven hours of display screen time in comparison with simply 4. Nonetheless, remember that the precise quantity of battery will rely by yourself utilization, plus the settings that you simply’ve enabled.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely. Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
One space the place the S26 Extremely does see some enchancment is with charging speeds. The S26 Extremely helps 60W wired that delivers a full cost in 53 minutes, whereas the S24 Extremely helps 45W and sees a full cost in simply over 70 minutes. As well as, the S26 Extremely additionally helps 25W wi-fi charging whereas the S24 Extremely presents as much as 15W speeds.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Verdict
Total, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely sees extra of a welcome tweak moderately than an entire overhaul to the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Nonetheless, such a tweak permits the Galaxy S26 Extremely to be a stable all-rounder and a worthy improve from the S24 Extremely.
Nonetheless, this isn’t to say that the Galaxy S24 Extremely isn’t a stable handset as its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip stays speedy and it nonetheless boasts many Galaxy AI options. If you happen to don’t wish to splurge on the brand new mannequin, then the S24 Extremely stays an honest Android for a lot of and nonetheless boasts 5 years of updates.
