The S26 Plus (left) and S26 (right) are mostly software updates.
A notable new hardware feature was introduced at Samsung’s annual Unpacked event, but it is not present on the Galaxy S26 or S26 Plus. While the Ultra model features a new Privacy Display and maintains its price, the standard S26 and S26 Plus models primarily offer software enhancements and come with increased prices compared to their predecessors.
Some of the software updates are quite interesting. Users can utilize Audio Eraser with third-party applications to enhance voice clarity and reduce background noise. Google’s Gemini AI is set to perform agentic tasks, such as booking an Uber, moving closer to the vision of a truly assistive AI. Additionally, certain Pixel features, like scam detection for phone calls and contextual keyboard information, are being integrated into the S26 series. However, many of these software functionalities are expected to become available on older Galaxy models as well.
Users can adjust the strength of Audio Eraser’s voice isolating effect.
A chip upgrade is included. In the US, both the S26 and S26 Plus will feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, mirroring the S26 Ultra. However, in other markets, only the Ultra model will include the Qualcomm chipset. The S26 Plus offers slightly faster wireless charging, increasing to 20W from 15W, and the S26 sees a minor battery capacity increase from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh. While these are improvements, they are not significant advancements.
The S26 and S26 Plus maintain a similar appearance and feel to previous models. The standard S26, despite its 6.3-inch display, feels compact. Both devices are equipped with 12GB of RAM, and storage configurations have seen minor adjustments.
Not much new to see here.
The S26 now begins with 256GB of storage. Even with this increase, this year’s model is priced at $899, which is $40 more than the S25’s 256GB variant. The S26 Plus retains its 256GB base storage option and is now priced at $1,099, an increase from the S25 Plus’s $999. This suggests that the current RAM market conditions may be influencing smartphone pricing.
