87
NotebookcheckT3Apr 13, 2026
“It is therefore not surprising that upgrades to the Galaxy S25+ are very limited.”
Tested the Exynos 2600 version.
By Marcus Herbrich · Rated 89%Full review
Phone
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Samsung · From $1,099
Release date Mar 11, 2026
77
Recommended
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
7 with a published score, 1 scored from text · How it works
Latest review Apr 14, 2026
Early score: only 8 reviews so far
1 Rave5 Positive1 Favorable1 Negative
Critics' Take
Critics call the Galaxy S26+ a polished, fast flagship with a bright 6.7-inch display and strong AI features. Most reviews also say it is a small step over the S25+, with unchanged camera hardware and a $100 price increase. Several, including Android Central, Tom's Guide and Expert Reviews, suggest the S26 Ultra or the smaller S26 make more sense.
What critics loved
- Bright, smooth 6.7-inch display
- Fast performance and good thermals
- Useful One UI 8.5 and Galaxy AI features
- Seven years of software updates
Common gripes
- Only a minor upgrade over the S25+
- $100 price increase to $1,099
- Camera hardware unchanged
- Battery and charging trail rivals
- Overshadowed by the S26 Ultra and the base S26
Critic Scorecard
8 reviewsSort:
Weighted by outlet tier:T1100%T275%T340%T420%
82
Trusted ReviewsT2Apr 10, 2026
“It may not be hugely ambitious on the tech front, but the day-to-day experience tempers the lack of progress here.”
By Andrew Williams · Rated 4/5Full review
81
TechRadarT2Apr 5, 2026
“That doesn't stop it from being a great smartphone, but we should have had more.”
By Rami Tabari · Rated 4/5Full review
81
Tech AdvisorT3Mar 6, 2026
“The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has everything you'd want from a flagship; big screen, plenty of power, capable cameras, and some of the best AI on a phone.”
By John McCann · Rated 4/5Full review
77
Android CentralT2Mar 28, 2026
“The Galaxy S26 Plus is by no means a bad phone, and One UI 8.5 makes it a joy to use thanks to a silky UI and tons of new and upgraded AI features.”
By Derrek Lee · Rated 4/5Full review
77
Digital TrendsT2Apr 14, 2026
“In isolation, the Galaxy S26 Plus is a perfectly fine smartphone.”
By Moinak Pal · Rated 8/10Full review
Show 2 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
73
GSMArenaT3Mar 10, 2026
“The Galaxy S26+ is a very easy phone to like and a surprisingly difficult one to recommend.”
Published by the GSMArena Team; no numeric score, so the score is an estimate of the verdict.
Staff review · Unrated, scored from textFull review
52
Expert ReviewsT3Apr 14, 2026
“You'll be overpaying but end up with a solid phone that ticks the basic boxes well enough.”
By Ben Johnston · Rated 3/5Full review
77
Digital TrendsT2Apr 14, 2026
“In isolation, the Galaxy S26 Plus is a perfectly fine smartphone.”
By Moinak Pal · Rated 8/10Full review
52
Expert ReviewsT3Apr 14, 2026
“You'll be overpaying but end up with a solid phone that ticks the basic boxes well enough.”
By Ben Johnston · Rated 3/5Full review
87
NotebookcheckT3Apr 13, 2026
“It is therefore not surprising that upgrades to the Galaxy S25+ are very limited.”
Tested the Exynos 2600 version.
By Marcus Herbrich · Rated 89%Full review
82
Trusted ReviewsT2Apr 10, 2026
“It may not be hugely ambitious on the tech front, but the day-to-day experience tempers the lack of progress here.”
By Andrew Williams · Rated 4/5Full review
81
TechRadarT2Apr 5, 2026
“That doesn't stop it from being a great smartphone, but we should have had more.”
By Rami Tabari · Rated 4/5Full review
77
Android CentralT2Mar 28, 2026
“The Galaxy S26 Plus is by no means a bad phone, and One UI 8.5 makes it a joy to use thanks to a silky UI and tons of new and upgraded AI features.”
By Derrek Lee · Rated 4/5Full review
Show 2 more reviews ▾Show fewer ▴
73
GSMArenaT3Mar 10, 2026
“The Galaxy S26+ is a very easy phone to like and a surprisingly difficult one to recommend.”
Published by the GSMArena Team; no numeric score, so the score is an estimate of the verdict.
Staff review · Unrated, scored from textFull review
81
Tech AdvisorT3Mar 6, 2026
“The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has everything you'd want from a flagship; big screen, plenty of power, capable cameras, and some of the best AI on a phone.”
By John McCann · Rated 4/5Full review
Quick Facts
- Display
- 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, up to 2,600 nits
- Chip
- Exynos 2600 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy in some units)
- Memory
- 12GB RAM
- Storage
- 256GB or 512GB
- Rear cameras
- 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto
- Battery
- 4,900 mAh, 45W wired charging
- Weight
- 190 g
- Durability
- IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- Price
- From $1,099 (256GB)