Samsung launched the Galaxy S26 globally this week and we have reviews for all three models: Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26. During pre-orders, the phones came with a free upgrade from 256GB to 512GB storage. Now that pre-orders are over the deal is slightly different but still very good.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is dominating – according to Samsung, it made up 70% of pre-ordered S26-series units. In Europe, it is the only model with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. And globally, it’s the only phone with a Privacy Display. You can get a 512GB model for the price of a 256GB one and you should. However, the jump up to 1TB storage is pretty pricey as there is no discount at all. You may not need 1TB storage, but this is the only S26 model with 16GB of RAM – all other storage options and models have 12GB instead.
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is in a weird spot – but good weird. The 512GB model currently costs €1,130 instead of its usual €1,450. What’s weird about this is that the 256GB model is €1,250, so this is even better than a free storage upgrade.
The vanilla Samsung Galaxy S26 is available with a free storage upgrade, no weirdness here. And since this year the base storage is 256GB, that means you are getting a 512GB phone. Note that the S26 and S26+ have Exynos 2600 chipsets this year instead of a Snapdragon.
Okay, now let’s look at the competition starting with the phones that just got retired. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is still around and you can pick up a 512GB unit for €350 less than an S26 Ultra. You get the older chipset, Elite vs. Elite Gen 5, and lose the Privacy Display. We will have a detailed versus article in the future, but for now we can say that battery life on the new model is better and charging is tangibly faster. The new wider apertures on the cameras didn’t do all that much, though.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is not as capable as the S26+, but it is a lot cheaper too. Its chipset is two generations behind (Exynos 2400 vs. 2600) and its display is a lower resolution 1080p+ non-LTPO panel. The rest isn’t all that different, though.
If you want a small phone, why not a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7? It’s €100 more than the S26 if you want the 512GB model, but it folds to a more compact shape. The chipset is a generation older (Exynos 2500) and you lose the telephoto camera (the 10MP 3x module is not great, but it’s better than nothing). The battery is the same, though, with 4,300mAh capacity, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL will lose to the Galaxy S26 Ultra in a benchmark fight. What about in a camera fight? Well, we haven’t tested them against each other yet, but you can read the Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. S25 Ultra article from last year as a preview of what to expect. The Galaxy has better battery life, faster charging and that all-new Privacy Display. However, you can get a 512GB Pixel for €500 less than the Galaxy and this one has 16GB of RAM, no need to pay up to the 1TB model.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 has to fight not one but two Pixels – the Google Pixel 10 and the Pixel 10 Pro. The vanilla model is around €200 cheaper than the Pro, which is the same price as the S26 (looking at 512GB phones). The Pro has the better telephoto camera (48MP 5x/113mm vs. 10MP 3x/67mm), ultra-wide camera (48MP vs. 12MP) and selfie camera (42MP vs. 12MP). Its 50MP main has a bigger sensor too (1/1.31” vs. 1/1.56”). The vanilla model has less capable cameras than either, but it is the cheaper option, so that was to be expected.
The vivo X300 Pro is priced on the same level as the S26+, but it is really an S26 Ultra competitor. It has a Dimensity 9500 chipset, a 50MP 1/1.28” main camera, a 200MP 3.7x/85mm periscope and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Plus a large-ish 5,440mAh battery with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging. The Euro model got shortchanged on the milliamp hours, so its endurance is not as good as the Galaxy’s (which has a smaller battery!).
The small vivo X300 is going up against the vanilla S26. It has a 5,360mAh battery, almost the same size as the X300 Pro, and it outlasts both the X300 Pro and the S26. This one has a 200MP main, a 50MP 3x/70mm telephoto and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. It’s powered by the Dimensity 9500 chipset.
The Poco F8 Ultra is more of a flagship killer, so some of its features are not quite up to S26 Ultra standards. That said, it’s under €700 for a 512GB phone (with 16GB of RAM, no less) that is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (no Exynos here) and a large 6,500mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The 50MP 1/1.31” main, 50MP 5x/115mm telephoto and 50MP ultra-wide are not at the same level as the Ultra cameras, as we said, but they will make the S26+ sweat under its collar.
By the way, the Apple iPhone 17e also launched this week. It’s not really part of the S26-series discussion, but it is the cheapest new iPhone, so some people are bound to be interested in it.
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