Note: This article has been updated on 26 February 2026 with our hands-on experience and some sample images.
Samsung has just launched the new Galaxy S26 series flagship smartphones, and while the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the darling of the lineup with that new Privacy Screen and improved cameras, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ also get the new AI features that are set to improve the overall experience.
Here’s what you need to know about the Galaxy S26 and S26+, from hardware to software.
A step into the (2nm) future
We were excited by the entire Galaxy S25 series lineup getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor last year, but it seems like it’s a one-off decision. This year, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ are shifting back to using Samsung’s own Exynos chip, with the phones powered by the Exynos 2600, which marks the first 2nm chip to be used in a smartphone.
The world’s first 2nm smartphone processor
Image: Samsung
Samsung claims this new chip will bring major improvement in AI performance, with the NPU offering a 113% improvement in generative AI performance, 50% better ray-tracing performance. The chip also offers up to 16% better thermal performance, with 28% improved heat dissipation thanks to the newly designed vapour chamber with a tailored thermal interface material.
More than just AI, the Exynos 2600 is able to support AI-based processing, with new Visual Perception System (VPS) and Deep learning Video Noise Reduction (DVNR) features. The chip itself can also support cameras up to 320MP, which means we might one day get cameras on a Galaxy S series phone that’s larger than the current 200MP shooters.
This ties in with Samsung’s focus on AI and the company’s desire to “make your life easier” with these new phones.
The ProScaler AI image enhancement technology has been upgraded, with boosted image and video quality for a more detailed viewing experience on the Galaxy S26 and S26+’s 6.3-inch and 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED displays.
The display is clearly legible on a sunny morning in Singapore even though the peak brightness hasn’t increased from 2,600 nits, and we foresee no issues using it even under very harsh sunlight.
The base Galaxy S26 model also gets a slight upgrade to a larger 4,300mAh battery, although the Galaxy S26+ remains the same at 4,900mAh.
Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ in Cobalt Violet
Photo: HWZ
After getting our hands on the new phones, we found that the S26 and S26+ are very similar to the S25 series in terms of design and how they feel in the hand. The rear cameras seem to be identical as well, with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x optical zoom telephoto lens and a 12MP selfie camera.
