The New Samsung Galaxy S26: A Hands-On Review After Two Weeks

When Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 on July 1, I was skeptical. The S25 was already great. Could they really improve it that much? Two weeks later, I have answers. The short version: it's a fantastic phone, but not perfect.

First Impressions: It's Thin

Out of the box, the S26 is ridiculously thin. 7.2mm. That's thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro and the Pixel 11. It feels fragile, but I dropped it twice on tile (oops) and it survived. The flat display is a welcome change from the curved edges of the S25. No more accidental touches. The titanium frame adds a nice heft without being heavy.

The Screen: 144Hz Is Overkill, But I Love It

The 144Hz refresh rate is smoother than anything I've used. Scrolling through Twitter feels like gliding. But honestly, 120Hz was already fine. The real upgrade is brightness. It hits 3,000 nits peak, which means you can read it in direct sunlight. That's a big deal if you work outside or take photos in bright conditions.

Camera: The Zoom Is Insane

The 200MP main sensor is great, but the 50MP periscope zoom lens is the star. I took photos of a bird from 100 feet away—clear, detailed, no noise. The 10x optical zoom is better than Apple's 5x. Samsung's AI processing is aggressive, though. Sometimes it oversharpens faces. But for landscapes, it's superb. The selfie camera is 40MP and finally has autofocus. My selfies don't look like blurry potatoes anymore.

Performance: Fast, But Gets Warm

The Exynos 2600 is fast. Really fast. Games like Genshin Impact run at max settings without stutter. But after 30 minutes of gaming, the phone gets warm. Not hot enough to be uncomfortable, but warmer than the iPhone. The 12GB of RAM is plenty for multitasking. I kept 20 apps open and didn't see any lag.

Battery: The One Letdown

For a phone with a 5,500mAh battery, I expected more. I got about 12 hours of screen-on time, which is good but not great. The iPhone 17 Pro lasts longer. Samsung's 45W charging is fast, but you need a separate charger (they don't include one). Wireless charging is 25W, which is slow compared to Xiaomi's 120W. If battery life is your priority, look elsewhere.

Software: One UI 7 Is Clean

One UI 7 ditches the bloatware. There's no Facebook or Netflix pre-installed. The interface is clean, with customizable widgets. Samsung's AI features—like the photo editor that removes objects—are good but not revolutionary. Google's Pixel has better AI. Still, it's a smooth experience.

Should You Buy It?

If you have an S25, skip it. The upgrades are marginal. But if you have an S23 or older, the S26 is a huge leap. The camera, screen, and design are top-tier. Just don't expect industry-leading battery life. I'm keeping mine, but I'm eyeing the battery life with envy.