Differences Between the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S25 Series

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy S26 series at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 in San Francisco, and after going through everything we know about both lineups, here is our honest take on what actually changed and what stayed the same.

---

The Short Version

If you already own a Galaxy S25, you can probably breathe easy. The S26 series is, in many ways, a measured evolution rather than a dramatic leap forward. Samsung has improved the right things, such as charging speeds, chipset, and a few quality-of-life features, but the overall formula remains largely unchanged. That said, if you are coming from an S23 or older, the cumulative upgrades make the S26 a genuinely compelling device.

---

Chipset: A Real Upgrade Under the Hood

This is arguably the most meaningful generational improvement. The Galaxy S25 series ran on the Snapdragon 8 Elite (first generation), which was already an excellent chip. The Galaxy S26 steps things up with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for the Ultra (and US models), while European and regional markets - which historically include Malaysia - may receive the new Exynos 2600, Samsung's first 2nm in-house processor.

The Exynos 2600 represents a significant architectural leap from previous Exynos chips, and early benchmarks suggest Samsung has genuinely closed the performance and efficiency gap. Whether Malaysia gets Exynos or Snapdragon units remains to be confirmed by Samsung Malaysia, but either way, both chips represent a step forward in raw performance and AI processing capability.

For the S25, which ran a single Snapdragon variant globally, this regional split is worth keeping a close eye on if you are particular about peak performance.

---

RAM and Storage

One welcome change: Samsung has dropped the 128GB base storage tier entirely. Every Galaxy S26 model now starts at 256GB, which is a sensible move given how much storage modern apps, games, and Samsung's own AI features consume.

RAM has also been standardised at 12GB across all models, including the base S26 and S26+. The S26 Ultra tops out at 16GB on its 1TB configuration. By comparison, the Galaxy S25 also offered 12GB of RAM, so the base spec is consistent, but the removal of the lower-storage option is a genuine quality-of-life win for buyers.

---

Display: Familiar Sizes, Small Refinements

Do not expect any surprises on the screen front. The Galaxy S26 series carries over the same display sizes as its predecessor:

• Galaxy S26: 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1080 x 2340, 120Hz adaptive
• Galaxy S26+: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz adaptive
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1440 x 3120, 120Hz adaptive

What is new is that Gorilla Armor 2 protection - previously exclusive to the Ultra - now extends to all three models, bringing anti-reflective coating across the entire lineup. For anyone who has used their phone outdoors in Malaysia's relentless sun, this is a more useful upgrade than it might seem on paper.

The S26 Ultra also introduces Samsung's new Privacy Display feature, a software-driven mode that narrows the screen's viewing angles when sensitive apps like banking or health apps are open. Think of it as a built-in privacy screen protector that activates automatically, a niche but genuinely clever feature for those who handle sensitive information in public.

---

Cameras

Here is where opinions are likely to be divided.

For the Galaxy S26 and S26+, the camera array is essentially unchanged: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto (3x optical zoom). Samsung has made minor aperture adjustments, but you would be hard-pressed to notice the difference in real-world shooting compared to the S25 and S25+. If you were hoping for a bump to a 50MP ultrawide or an upgraded telephoto, this is not your year.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, however, sees more meaningful camera work. The 200MP main sensor now sports a wider maximum aperture of f/1.4, which should translate to noticeably better low-light performance. The Ultra retains its four-camera system: 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope telephoto (5x), and 10MP telephoto (3x). The improved apertures across the board make this the most compelling camera upgrade reason to consider the Ultra over its predecessor.

---

Battery and Charging: Finally, Some Progress

Battery capacity has not changed dramatically — the S26+ and S26 Ultra remain at 4,900mAh and 5,000mAh respectively, identical to their predecessors. The base Galaxy S26 does receive a small bump, going from 4,000mAh to 4,300mAh.

Where Samsung has made a more notable move is in charging speeds. The Galaxy S26 series now supports 25W, 45W, and 60W wired fast charging for the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, respectively. This is a meaningful step up. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, for context, was capped at 45W, which drew frequent criticism given that many competitors at the same price point offer 65W or faster.

Wireless charging also sees improvements: the S26 and S26+ move to 15W wireless charging, while the Ultra supports 25W wireless charging. One area where Samsung continues to trail some rivals is the absence of a charger in the box, so factor that cost in when comparing value.

---

Design

From the outside, the Galaxy S26 series looks very familiar. Samsung has made subtle changes to the rear camera island, drawing design inspiration from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a slightly cleaner, more unified look. The Ultra is marginally thinner at 7.9mm compared to the S25 Ultra's 8.2mm, and fractionally lighter at 214g versus 218g.

Colour options across the lineup are Black, White, Sky Blue, and Cobalt Violet - a standard and safe palette. 

---

Software: One UI 8.5 and Galaxy AI

All three Galaxy S26 models ship with One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, the first Samsung flagship series to do so under Samsung's revised One UI release schedule. Galaxy AI features remain a central focus, and the upgraded chipsets should handle on-device AI tasks more efficiently.

The S25 series launched with One UI 8 and has since been updated, so the software gap between the two generations is relatively narrow. Galaxy AI features such as Live Translate, Note Assist, and Circle to Search remain present in both lineups.

---

Quick Comparison at a Glance