Samsung Galaxy S26

2nd best phone of 2026 - check rank

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Camera

Cameras Not Groundbreaking: Although capable of high-quality photos, the rear cameras are often described as competent rather than extraordinary.

Missing 4K 120fps Video: The phone does not support 4K video recording at 120 frames per second.

Unintuitive Night Mode: The dedicated Night mode implementation can feel unintuitive and may not behave as users expect.

Performance

Cooling Not as Strong as S26 Ultra: The cooling system does not reach the thermal performance level achieved by the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Design

Lower IP Rating Than Some Rivals: The device has an IP68 rating while some competing Android devices offer IP69 protection.

Display

No 10-bit Color: The display does not support true 10-bit color depth.

No Dolby Vision: The screen lacks support for Dolby Vision.

No High-Frequency PWM Dimming: The display does not include high-frequency PWM dimming technology.

No Privacy Display: The phone does not include a Privacy Display feature for protecting screen visibility in public.

Battery

Battery Not Class-Leading: While battery life is good, some impressions note it is not among the strongest available compared with other flagship devices.

25W Wired Charging: Wired charging is limited to 25W.

Price

$100 Price Increase: The phone introduces a $100 price increase tied to additional storage.

Software

No APV Video Codec: The device lacks support for the APV video codec available on the S26 Ultra.

Limited Perplexity Integration: Integration with the Perplexity assistant exists but remains limited in scope.

Connectivity

Minor Upgrade Over Galaxy S25: The device is very similar to the Galaxy S25 with only modest changes and incremental improvements.

Samsung Galaxy S26

2nd best phone of 2026 - check cons

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Camera

High-Quality Rear Cameras: The camera system is capable of producing consistently high-quality photos.

Excellent Front Camera: The front-facing camera includes autofocus and is considered excellent for selfies and front-facing capture.

Advanced Video Tools: The phone supports video features such as LUTs and Horizon Lock for flexible video creation and stabilization.

Performance

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy: The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, enabling exceptionally fast and responsive performance.

Good Thermal Management: The device maintains solid heat control under load with generally good thermal management relative to its performance.

Design

Premium Build: The phone features a premium construction with a clean, modern aesthetic that feels polished and high-end.

Compact Flagship Design: Despite being a flagship device, it maintains a compact form factor while remaining thin and lightweight.

IP68 Water and Dust Resistance: The phone carries an IP68 rating, providing flagship-grade protection against dust and water.

Display

Bright LTPO OLED Display: The device uses a bright LTPO OLED panel that delivers vibrant colors and strong brightness in everyday use.

Battery

Larger Battery Than Previous Generation: The phone includes a larger battery compared with the previous generation model.

Strong Battery Endurance: Battery life is described as excellent in many scenarios and can last for days under certain conditions.

Improved Charging vs Galaxy S25: Charging speeds are faster than those of the Galaxy S25.

Software

Smooth System Responsiveness: The phone delivers extremely smooth and quick system behavior with consistently responsive interactions.

Intuitive Software Interface: The software interface is widely regarded as intuitive and modern.

Galaxy AI Features: The device includes upgraded Galaxy AI capabilities along with additional AI assistant options and AI-powered features.

Long Software Support: The phone is promised seven years of Android version updates and security patches.

Samsung Galaxy S26

2nd best phone of 2026 - go back to overview

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The Best Phone Of 2026: #2

The Largest Screen Size Of 2026: #5

The Smallest Screen Size Of 2026: #2

The Lightest Phone Of 2026: #1

The Thinnest Phone Of 2026: #2

The Fastest Charging Speed Of 2026: #5

The Highest Screen To Body Ratio Of 2026: #5

The Cheapest Phone Of 2026: #4

Samsung Galaxy S26

2nd best phone of 2026 - check pros

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Last update: 2026-03-13

Samsung Galaxy S26

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2nd best phone of 2026 - check reviews

6.3-inch

167g

7.2mm

25W

waterproof

Click to open full specs on GSMArena.com:

* Screen covers 90% of body.