Which Galaxy S26 phones are worth buying?
Although the competition has never been hotter in the Android space, with phenomenal phones from Xiaomi, Honor and Google, just to name a few, it’s Samsung that has arguably built up the biggest presence on the market as the de facto rival to Apple and its range of iPhones. Samsung phones offer plenty to all types of consumers, so if you’re looking to upgrade or pick out your first phone from the brand, here are the ones to buy.
Of course, with so much competition nowadays, you might be wondering exactly what it is that separates Samsung from all the other brands competing to have the best Android phone. Well, there are quite a few reasons, but the key one is that Samsung offers a level of variety that very few brands can match. You’ve got the budget-friendly Galaxy A-range which is perfect for students, and right at the high end you have the Galaxy Ultra series and the Z Fold phones which are designed for productivity users.
No matter your budget or use case, there’s a good chance that Samsung has a phone for you, and much like Apple, that offering expands to devices beyond your phone as well. You’ve got Galaxy Buds, which tend to be permanent fixtures in our guide to the best wireless earbuds, alongside the best Samsung Galaxy Watches which are great Wear OS-toting devices for fitness and staying on top of your day.
On top of the sheer amount of Samsung devices that you can pick up however, what pushes the brand even further in its sector is that it currently sets the standard, alongside Google, when it comes to how many years of software support you can expect in the Android space. Those aforementioned Galaxy A-phones come with six years of software updates, but that jumps to seven years with the more expensive phones.
In terms of value over time, Samsung just can’t be beat, and the experience only gets better thanks to the continual fine-tuning of the One UI Android overlay which is one of the nicest of its kind to use. If you’re ready to see which Samsung phone is best for you then keep on reading to see our top picks, but if you decide that you have other plans in mind, we have similar guides to the best camera phone, the best mid-range phones and the best cheap phones.
Best Samsung phone at a glance
- The best high-end Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- The best Samsung phone under $1000/£1000: Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
- The best compact Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy S26
- The best affordable Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy A57 5G
- The best book-style Samsung foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
- The best clamshell Samsung foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
- The best affordable Samsung S-series: Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
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How we test
How do we test Samsung phones? All the phones included in our Best Samsung phone list have been thoroughly tested and used by one of our product experts. We never review a phone based purely on specs and benchmark scores. We use them as our everyday device for the review period, which is usually at least five days but often a lot more.
Whenever you read a phone review published on Trusted Reviews, you should be confident that the reviewer has put their personal SIM card into the phone, synced across their most-used apps and logged into all their typical accounts. We do this so you’ll feel confident in our review and trust our verdict.
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Privacy screen tech is genuinely impressive
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Lighter and thinner than before
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Great performance
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New Galaxy AI smarts
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Very familiar camera hardware
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Battery life isn’t the best around
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No magnetic Qi2 charging
When it comes to true flagship phones in the Android space, nothing can really come close to the overall package that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra puts out there. Sure, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Oppo X9 Ultra might have it beat where the cameras are concerned, but those phones don’t have the productivity-first chops that this phone does, and it all starts with the gorgeous 6.9-inch display.
With a near 7-inch panel, the S26 Ultra can feel like a tablet on occasion, but having all that real estate just makes the phone perfect for so many apps. You can enjoy proper side-by-side multitasking which is great for compiling a document at the bottom whilst having your research at the top, or just kicking back and enjoying some Netflix on the train home. It all works wonderfully here thanks to the anti-reflective coating, and this year it’s made even better with one industry-first addition.
The all-new Privacy Display feature is an ingenious bit of tech that is able to block out certain parts of the screen so that they become completely unreadable to anyone standing just to the side of you. This is perfect for when you’re engaging with your banking apps in public, or reading an email with sensitive information that you don’t want anyone else to see. It’s such a great feature that we anticipate most brands trying to copy it at some point down the line.
Aside from the large display, it’s the inclusion of the S Pen stylus in the device itself that cements the S26 Ultra as a productivity beast. Being able to map out an idea for your team, or even just get away from typing and write down your to-do list for the day is such a great feature.
The charging speed has finally been given a bump here, jumping from 45W to 60W which is much appreciated for when you’re in a rush and only have a limited amount of time to top the phone up. While the cameras are comparatively identical to last year’s offering, they still provide great versatility, particularly through the two available telephoto lenses as they can help you to capture points of interest that are way off in the distance.
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Slick and responsive
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Slim and good-looking screen surrounds
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High quality, fun-to-use camera
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Excellent speakers
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Mediocre battery life
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Similar to last year’s version
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus is in a tricky position this year. From a technical standpoint, as well as how it feels to use, this is an outstanding phone that ticks off all the right boxes to provide a very enjoyable experience across the board. The problem is that it’s very similar to the Galaxy S25 Plus which is arguably a better buy to those looking for high-end value on the cheap, now that it can be found at a reduced price.
Still, if you are looking to invest in a proper upgrade that’ll last you for a long time, then the Galaxy S26 Plus is a great phone to pick up in 2026, and there are a few upgrades under the hood that make for appreciated quality of life improvements. For starters, the new Exynos 2600 chipset, despite not being a Snapdragon-branded processor, is a lot faster than what we’ve seen before, which is a welcome surprise as Exynos chips typically fall behind.
Every day performance is fantastic, and it just helps to sell the real allure of this phone which is the large 6.7-inch AMOLED display. Everything about this screen is appealing to the eyes, with stunning colours and contrast, so if you’re someone who uses their phone for catching up on streaming and gaming, then you’ll love what the S26 Plus has to offer.
In fact, if you are watching a bit of Netflix or Disney Plus at home and decide that you can’t be bothered reaching for a pair of headphones or earbuds, you’ll be glad to know that the speakers onboard this phone are nothing short of brilliant. There’s a full-bodied soundscape at play, projecting a ton of detail and weight which is surprising for a pocketable device.
If you’re a content creator then you’ll also enjoy the Horizon Lock feature which makes it easier than ever to capture stable video footage without the need of a dedicated gimbal attachment. There’s just a lot to like about this phone, and this is all before mentioning the brilliance of One UI and Samsung’s long-term software support, which helps it to stand out amongst other big-screen Android phones.
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Bright and vibrant display
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Super fast and responsive performance
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Compact, thin and lightweight
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Camera performance is solid but not mind-blowing
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Battery life isn’t the strongest around
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Not much change from the Galaxy S25
Although proper small phones have largely gone away in 2026, there are still a few good compact options available that go against the grain in offering a build that can actually be held comfortably in one hand, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 is arguably the best of them. Despite its smaller stature, this phone is very much a flagship device that leaves you wanting for very little, even if it’s still very similar to the phone that immediately preceded it.
Despite initial appearances, there are a few differences over the Galaxy S25 that are worth knowing about, namely that there’s now a slightly larger display, moving from 6.1-inches to 6.3-inches. Having just a bit more real estate makes the screen even better for catching up on streaming or interacting with key apps like Google Maps, and the panel itself is nice and bright and full of colour.
There’s also a slightly larger battery than before, with a 4300mAh cell under the hood. Although a battery that’s anything less than 5000mAh might give you pause, especially when some handsets offer 7000+mAh cells, thanks to some great optimisation on Samsung’s part, the phone is capable of lasting a full day without much issue. Gamers may want to bring a power bank along for the ride, but everyone else will be just fine.
What helps that battery efficiency, and indeed the overall performance of the phone, is the new Exynos 2600 chipset. Although there’s always been a fair amount of compromise with Exynos Galaxy phones compared to their Snapdragon-powered equivalents, the 2600 chip represents a major leap forward that comes closer than ever in closing the gap. Everything from gaming to multitasking works brilliantly.
Unfortunately, as is the case with the entire Galaxy S26 range, there is a noticeable price bump to contend with in order to get this device, having leapt up from £799/$799 to £879/$899, but even at that price, the Galaxy S26 is still a great phone, and you’re getting excellent long-term value from the promised seven years of security updates.
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Lightweight and thin design for a phone of its size
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Brilliant, big display that’s great for media
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IP68 water and dust resistance
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Fingerprint sensor is slow and unreliable
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Battery life not as strong as expected
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Not the smoothest, fastest performance around
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A bump in storage costs a fortune
When it comes to mid-range phones, the competition has never been fiercer, and while you can get excellent picks like the Pixel 10a and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, for a solid all-rounder, very few phones can topple the Samsung Galaxy A57. As with a lot of Samsung phones nowadays, it’s not a complete revamp over its predecessor, but it’s still a very confident package overall.
Where the A57 excels is in convincing you that it’s anything but a mid-range phone. The combination build of metal and glass feels great in the hand, and if you didn’t know otherwise, it’d be easy enough to mistake the phone for one of Samsung’s flagships. That design also now comes with added durability thanks to an official IP68 rating for better water and dust resistance.
Although there is a slight price bump to contend with this year, with a higher starting rate of £529, the Galaxy A57 is still a great value buy in the long run thanks to the promised six years of software and security updates. Very few phones at this price range can match that, so if you want to put off your next upgrade for as long as possible, this is the phone to go for.
What also helps is the operating system, which is right up there stock Android. It’s not completely free of bloatware as Samsung loves to have its own apps for pretty much everything, but One UI itself is now very slick, with a simple control panel when swiping down from the right-hand side of the screen, alongside competent multitasking in a pinch.
What’s more, One UI is arguably at its best on a phone like the Galaxy A57 which has a large 6.7-inch display. The AMOLED panel boasts a stunning array of colours, making it perfect for a bit of streaming on the go, not to mention the 120Hz refresh rate which makes compatible games look great.
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Lightest book-style foldable around
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Ultra thin design makes it really nice to use
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Larger, wider, wholly more useful screens
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Same main camera as Galaxy S25 Ultra
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Relatively small 4400mAh battery
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Slow 25W wired charging
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Zoom camera could be better for the price
Much like the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung has made huge improvements with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 compared to its predecessor. In fact, we hailed the Z Fold 7 as being “Samsung’s foldable tech at its very best”.
The 6.5-inch cover screen now sports a shorter and wider 21:9 aspect ratio, which is much easier to use than its predecessor as it feels like you’re using a regular smartphone. Samsung has also introduced a new Armour FlexHinge system for opening the book-style foldable up, which the brand promises disperses stress and protects the display integrity.
Unsurprisingly, both the cover and inner screens are equipped with premium screen technologies including an LTPO-enabled 120Hz refresh, AMOLED panels and 2600nit peak brightness too.
While foldables aren’t usually known for being the best camera phones, the Z Fold 7 is equipped with a decent overall hardware. In fact, it’s equipped with the same 200MP main lens as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which consistently captures sharp, in-focus shots, even as light levels drop. This is paired with a 10MP 3x telephoto lens which does offer up to 30x zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide too.
Samsung has also changed the inner selfie camera from being an under-screen lens to a regular cutout. This is a huge improvement as it now results in a better overall quality, and is especially much better for video calls.
Unlike the Z Flip 7, the Z Fold 7 is equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, although this is unsurprising given how the handset is designed for more productive uses.
One area which hasn’t changed is its battery, as it sports the same 4400mAh cell as the Z Fold 6. We found the cell just about offers an all-day battery life, although heavier users will need to make sure they bring a portable charger out with you.
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Larger cover screen is a much-needed improvement
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More convenient 21:9 ratio screen is much easier to use
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Improved camera performance
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Fast, flagship performance with strong battery life
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Cover screen software could be better
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Samsung software is full of duplicate/redundant apps
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No dedicated zoom camera
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a brilliant upgrade over its predecessors, and is a brilliant option for those who want the novelty and nostalgia of a flip phone but still want the reliability and premium features from a modern day handset.
One of the biggest upgrades with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is with its two displays. Firstly, the 4.1-inch outer screen is now more immersive than ever, thanks to its super-slim 1.25mm-thick surrounding bezel. It’s more usable now too, with a few pre-selected apps including Google Maps, WhatsApp, Netflix and more able to launch on the outer screen. You can enable others but you’ll need to install the Multistar app to do so.
While typing on the outer screen is a bit more hassle than it’s worth, for sending a quick text or checking your route on Maps, it’s perfectly usable.
Open the handset up and you’ll be greeted by the new 6.9-inch inner display that now sports a useful 21:9 ratio, which makes the handset feel just like a regular smartphone. The hinge also feels easier to open and shut than the last one, and still manages to hold itself steady at almost any angle.
Powering the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is Samsung’s own Exynos 2500 processor. Although it may not churn out the same high benchmark scores as Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, and certainly won’t hold a candle to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, in reality you’re really unlikely to notice any difference. We found apps opened quickly and you could even play a spot of light gaming with no issue too.
While its camera capabilities aren’t quite at the level of the S25 Ultra, its 50MP main sensor can take brilliant shots and you can zoom in to 2x without losing detail too. Most casual snappers will find the Z Flip 7 serves them well, but if photography is important to you then you should look at our best camera phones list instead.
Although its battery is much smaller than many of the best Android phones, we still found a day with three hours of screen time, which included watching videos, gaming and social media scrolling, saw us end the day with 40% battery in the tank.
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Large, bright display is perfect for entertainment
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Solid everyday performance
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Bigger battery and improved charging speeds
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Seven years of software updates
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Struggles a bit with demanding 3D games
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Secondary cameras aren’t the best at night-time photography
The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE bridges the gap between affordability and flagship features, making it a brilliant choice for those on a budget. Not only does it look almost identical to its more expensive counterpart, the Galaxy S25, but it also sports a Dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate too.
Flip the handset over and you’ll find 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 8MP telephoto lenses, which is more or less the same set-up as the Galaxy S25. In true Samsung fashion, the S25 FE can snap vibrant and detailed shots in most lighting conditions – albeit with a slightly oversaturated finish.
Although the S25 FE’s telephoto is slightly smaller than the Galaxy S25’s own, the inclusion in an affordable phone is definitely not to be sniffed at. Remember, the iPhone 17 doesn’t even come equipped with a dedicated zoom lens, so you’d need to splurge on the iPhone 17 Pro instead. Otherwise, the telephoto lens is decent and can comfortably get up to 3x closer without losing too much detail.
Powering the S25 FE is Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 processor. Sure, it’s not as mighty as Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, but it holds its own and ensures everything from multitasking between apps and powering the Galaxy AI toolkit feels speedy.
Speaking of Galaxy AI, tools such as Now Brief, Live Translation, Gemini and more are all present and accounted for too.
Overall, if you want a phone with enough premium features to keep you engaged, but don’t have the budget to splurge on the absolute latest model, then the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a brilliant compromise.
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Test Data
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Samsung Galaxy A57 5G | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 | Samsung Galaxy S25 FE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 single core | 3519 | 3028 | 3139 | 1375 | 2318 | 2251 | 2151 |
| Geekbench 6 multi core | 10713 | 10086 | 10729 | 4503 | 8828 | 7584 | 6857 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU | 24611 | – | 25103 | 6642 | – | – | – |
| 3DMark Solar Bay | 46.9 | – | 50.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Max brightness | – | 1344 nits | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR) | – | 4 % | – | – | 8 % | 7 % | 3 % |
| 30 minute gaming (intensive) | – | 6 % | – | – | – | – | – |
| 30 minute gaming (light) | – | – | – | – | 7 % | 6 % | – |
| Time from 0-100% charge | 53 min | 51 min | – | 75 min | 87 min | 89 min | 69 min |
| Time from 0-50% charge | 19 Min | 20 Min | – | 25 Min | 31 Min | 28 Min | 21 Min |
| 30-min recharge (no charger included) | 75 % | 73 % | – | 59 % | 49 % | 54 % | 67 % |
| 15-min recharge (no charger included) | 39 % | 39 % | – | 32 % | 24 % | 29 % | 37 % |
| 3D Mark – Wild Life | 7281 | 7407 | 6018 | 1697 | 5574 | 4896 | 4135 |
| 3D Mark – Wild Life Stress Test | 67.6 % | 52.8 % | 64.4 % | 99.6 % | – | – | – |
| GFXBench – Aztec Ruins | – | – | – | – | 70 fps | 109 fps | 90 fps |
| GFXBench – Car Chase | – | – | – | – | 71 fps | 107 fps | 97 fps |
Full Specs
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review | Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus Review | Samsung Galaxy S26 Review | Samsung Galaxy A57 5G Review | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 Review | Samsung Galaxy S25 FE Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK RRP | £1279 | £1099 | – | £529 | £1799 | £1049 | £649 |
| USA RRP | – | $1099 | – | $549 | $1999 | $1099 | $649 |
| Manufacturer | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung | Samsung |
| Screen Size | 6.9 inches | 6.7 inches | 6.3 inches | 6.7 inches | 8 inches | 6.9 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Storage Capacity | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear Camera | 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP | 50/10/12MP | 50MP + 10MP + 12MP | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP | 200MP + 12MP + 10MP | 50MP + 12MP | 50MP + 13MP + 8MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 10MP + 10MP | 10MP | 12MP |
| Video Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed | IP68 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4900 mAh | 4300 mAh | 5000 mAh | 4400 mAh | 4300 mAh | 4900 mAh |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | Yes | – | Yes | – | Yes |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Size (Dimensions) | 78.1 x 7.9 x 163.6 MM | 75.8 x 7.3 x 146.4 MM | 71.7 x 7.2 x 149.6 MM | 76.8 x 6.9 x 161.5 MM | 143.2 x 4.2 x 158.4 MM | 75.2 x 6.5 x 166.7 MM | 76.6 x 7.4 x 161.3 MM |
| Weight | 214 G | 186 G | 167 G | 179 G | 215 G | 188 G | 190 G |
| Operating System | OneUI 8.5 (Android 16) | One UI 8.5 (Android 16) | One UI 8.5 (Android 16) | One UI 8.5 (Android 16) | OneUI 8 (Android 16) | OneUI 8 (Android 16) | One UI 8 (Android 16) |
| Release Date | 2026 | 2026 | 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 |
| First Reviewed Date | 25/02/2026 | 10/04/2026 | 12/03/2026 | 21/04/2026 | 17/07/2025 | 09/07/2025 | 21/10/2025 |
| Resolution | 3120 x 1440 | 3120 x 1440 | 1080 x 2340 | 1080 x 2340 | 2184 x 1968 | 2640 x 1080 | 1080 x 2340 |
| HDR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Exynos 2600 | Samsung Exynos 2600 | Samsung Exynos 1680 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy | Samsung Exynos 2500 | Samsung Exynos 2400 |
| RAM | 12GB, 16GB | 12GB | 12GB | 12GB, 8GB | 12GB, 16GB | 12GB | 8GB |
| Colours | Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold | – | Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold | Lilac, Navy, Icyblue and Grey | Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jet-black, Mint | Blue Shadow, Jet Black, Coral Red, Mint | Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, White |
| Stated Power | 60 W | – | 25 W | 45 W | 25 W | – | 45 W |
None of the phones here come with a charger in the box, however, they all support USB-C charging and do come with a cable so you just have to provide a plug.
All of the phones listed have some form of 5G support.
