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Our Samsung Galaxy S26+ Review

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ continues Samsung’s strategy of offering a large-screen flagship that balances performance, battery life and premium features without the higher price of the Ultra model.

Compared with the Galaxy S25+, the S26+ introduces a new generation chipset, AI-focused software features and improvements to battery and charging performance. While the design and camera hardware remain largely unchanged, the overall experience is refined with better efficiency and faster speeds.

For users who want a bigger display than the standard S26 but don’t need the camera hardware of the Ultra model, the S26+ continues to be Samsung’s “sweet spot” flagship.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Design

The Galaxy S26+ keeps Samsung’s familiar flagship design language with a glass back, aluminium frame and flat display, closely resembling the Galaxy S25+. The overall dimensions remain similar at around 158.4×75.8×7.3mm and roughly 190g, making it noticeably larger than the base S26 but still comfortable for everyday use.

Durability is still strong thanks to IP68 water and dust resistance, meaning the device can handle splashes, rain or accidental drops in water without issue.

Overall, the S26+ doesn’t reinvent the design introduced with the S25+, but instead focuses on refinement and consistency across the Galaxy S26 lineup.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Display

The Galaxy S26+ features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with QHD+ resolution and adaptive 1-120 Hz refresh rate, delivering crisp visuals and smooth scrolling whether you're gaming, browsing or watching video.

Peak brightness can reach around 2,600 nits, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility, while HDR10+ support keeps colours vibrant and contrast strong when streaming content.

Like the rest of the Galaxy S26 range, the Plus model also benefits from Samsung’s Privacy Display concept, designed to limit how visible the screen is from side angles. This helps prevent people nearby from seeing sensitive information like messages or banking details when you're using the phone in public.

In practice, the feature can be useful for commuters or anyone frequently using their phone in crowded places. However, similar privacy technologies can slightly affect viewing angles or brightness levels, meaning some users may prefer the traditional open viewing experience depending on their usage.

Compared with the base Galaxy S26, the Plus model’s larger and sharper QHD+ panel makes it a better choice for media consumption, gaming and multitasking.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Camera

Samsung sticks with a proven triple-camera setup that remains unchanged from the S25+:

• 50 MP main camera
• 12 MP ultrawide camera
• 10 MP telephoto with 3× optical zoom
• 12 MP front camera

While the hardware remains the same, Samsung continues to improve image processing with Galaxy AI enhancements, delivering better HDR handling, improved night photography and smarter photo editing tools.

In real-world use, the camera system remains versatile and reliable, though the most advanced photography features are still reserved for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Performance

Under the hood, the S26+ is powered by the Exynos 2600 chipset, which delivers a noticeable performance upgrade compared with the processor used in the Galaxy S25+ generation.

Samsung claims improvements in AI processing and graphics performance, helping the phone handle gaming, multitasking and advanced AI features more efficiently. Benchmarks show the new chip offers around 23% better GPU performance and improved AI processing compared with the previous generation.

The phone also comes with 12 GB RAM and Android 16 with One UI 8.5, ensuring smooth performance and long-term software support.

Samsung continues to promise up to seven years of updates, helping the device remain secure and feature-rich for years to come.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Battery & Charging

The Galaxy S26+ packs a 4,900mAh battery, giving it noticeably more endurance than the standard S26’s 4,300mAh cell.

Charging speeds are also improved compared with the base model, with support for 45W wired charging and up to 25W wireless charging, allowing the phone to recharge significantly faster than the S26.

Combined with the efficient new chipset, the S26+ should comfortably last a full day of heavy use.

How much is the Samsung Galaxy S26+?

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ sits in the middle of the S26 line-up and launches at £1099, placing it above the standard S26 but below the S26 Ultra.

Samsung has also dropped the old 128 GB entry option, meaning every S26 model now starts with more base storage.

• 256 GB - £1099
• 512 GB - £1269

Colour options include Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black and White, along with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow as Samsung-store exclusive finishes. 

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Our Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a refined upgrade over the Galaxy S25+, offering a bigger battery, faster charging and stronger performance while keeping the familiar design and camera system.

The new Privacy Display technology adds an interesting security-focused feature, especially useful for people who often use their phone in public spaces. However, some users may still prefer the unrestricted viewing angles of previous displays if brightness and screen clarity are their top priorities.

Overall, the S26+ remains the balanced choice in the Galaxy S26 lineup, offering flagship performance, a large display and excellent battery life without the higher cost of the Ultra.