Samsung launches the Galaxy S26 AI Phone at the Unpacked event. The company did not try to reinvent the Galaxy S26, but tried to perfect it.

This year, Samsung’s strategy with the Galaxy S26 is different. Make it the phone most Android users can buy without second-guessing the decision by tightening the fundamentals, pushing AI, and keeping the price at $899 (512GB costs $1,099).

Display and Design

Samsung Galaxy S26 launches with a 6.3-inch screen, a little larger than the Galaxy S25. It is a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2600 nits peak brightness. Scrolling feels smooth, and brightness is strong enough for harsh sunlight.

Scratch resistance is improved, but the anti-reflective layer is what stands out. It sounds minor until you use it daily. Samsung first introduced this solution with the S24 Ultra, which was later expanded to the S25 Ultra last year.

Samsung slapped a camera island across all S26 models. It’s inspired by the Galaxy S25 Edge and Z Fold 7. The sensor placement remains the same as the S25 series, but the vertical stack is now surrounded by a prominent bump.

Chipset

For US buyers especially, this one is about power and polish.

In the US, the Galaxy S26 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, and that alone will sell a lot of units. Qualcomm’s latest silicon is clearly built with AI workloads in mind. Benefits of the modern chip include:

• Apps open instantly
• Games hold frame rates longer
• Heat management feels more controlled

Outside the US, Samsung is using the Exynos 2600 processor, built on a 2nm process. On paper, that sounds impressive, but it’s a cautious wait-and-see. If the efficiency gains are real and thermals stay controlled, this could be a turning point.

Camera

The camera hardware looks familiar: 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 12MP selfie snapper. It’s the same camera hardware as the Galaxy S25 series, and Samsung faced huge criticism over it.

The improvements are happening in processing. The Snapdragon chip and Samsung’s AI tuning produce better HDR balance and cleaner night shots. Low-light photos show less noise, skin tones look more natural and zoom shots hold better detail.

RAM and operating system

Samsung finally made 12GB RAM standard across all models. The Galaxy S26 feels stable under pressure, and that matters more than flashy benchmarks.

One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, leans heavily on on-device AI, and that RAM is doing real work behind the scenes. For power users, this is huge when it comes to multitasking and gaming.

Battery and charging

Samsung Galaxy S26 gains a bigger battery than the S25. The flagship phone now boasts a 4,300mAh battery, an additional 300mAh capacity. However, there’s no improvement in the charging speed, which is capped at 25W.

At $799, the Galaxy S26 sits in a sweet spot. It is not ultra-premium pricing, but it is not mid-range either.

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