Phones

Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung's 6.3-inch Android phone, with three rear cameras, a 120Hz display and seven years of security updates.

At a glance

Best forPeople who want a compact Android phone with an optical telephoto and a published update commitment, rather than a 6.9-inch flagship
PricingFrom $999.99
PlatformAndroid 16 with One UI 8.5; Samsung states seven years of security updates
Key differentiatorA 167 g, 149.6 mm body with a 3x optical telephoto and seven years of security updates stated by Samsung

Quick take

The smallest and least expensive phone in Samsung’s S26 line: a 6.3-inch 120Hz screen, three rear cameras with a 3x telephoto, and 167 g in the hand. The trade is reach and capacity — one telephoto, a 4,300 mAh battery and a 256GB floor.

Good fit if

You want a phone you can hold in one hand — 149.6 mm tall and 167 g
You want an optical telephoto without stepping up to a 6.9-inch phone
A published update window matters: Samsung states seven years of security updates
You are on Android and want Galaxy AI features without the Ultra’s size

Consider another option if

You want optical zoom beyond 3x; the Galaxy S26 Ultra reaches 5x
You want an S Pen — the Galaxy S26 does not have one
You want more than 512GB of storage
You are on iOS and your watch, tablet and messages are already there

Key facts

PriceFrom $999.99
Display6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), Vision Booster; 2600 nits peak brightness
Battery lifeVideo playback up to 30 hours; 4,300 mAh typical capacity (rated minimum 4,175 mAh)
ChipSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy or Exynos 2600; Samsung states the type varies by device and market
Camera system50MP Wide (F1.8, 2x optical-quality zoom), 12MP Ultra Wide (F2.2), 10MP Telephoto (F2.4, 3x optical zoom); 12MP front camera (F2.2)
Operating systemAndroid 16 with One UI 8.5
ChargingUp to 55% in around 30 minutes with a 25W adapter and a 3A USB-C cable; Fast Wireless Charging 2.0; Wireless PowerShare
Size and weight149.6 mm tall x 71.7 wide x 7.2 deep; 167 g
Storage256GB and 512GB, both with 12GB of memory
Software supportSeven years of security updates
Water resistanceIP68 dust and water resistance

Gallery

Close-up of the Samsung Galaxy S26 camera island and aluminium frame — Samsung

Alternatives

Apple iPhone Duo

Apple's first folding iPhone: a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch screen inside, with a 48MP Dual Fusion camera and the A20 Pro chip.

View product

Google Pixel 10

Google's 6.3-inch Android phone, with three rear cameras including a 5x telephoto, the Tensor G5 chip and seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates.

View product

Google Pixel 10 Pro

Google's 6.3-inch Pro Pixel, with a three-camera system, the Tensor G5 chip and seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates.

View product