Global Launch of Galaxy S26 Series
This week marked the global launch of the Galaxy S26 series. Wednesday was the final day to snag a flagship model with a complimentary storage upgrade, leaving buyers now to pay full price for the 512GB option. Nonetheless, the smartphones still come with Amazon gift cards included.
Surge in Pre-Orders
Pre-orders for the S26 series have seen a 25% increase in the US, largely credited to the new features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Highlights include the innovative Privacy Display, horizon lock, and generative editing capabilities. For a detailed examination, check out our review, and if you find it to your liking, a $200 Amazon gift card is offered additionally.
Affordable Alternatives in the S26 Lineup
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ presents a more budget-friendly choice, though the starting price exceeds $1,000—essentially $900 when factoring in the $100 gift card. The Plus model lacks several features such as the privacy display, the 200MP main camera, the 5x ALoP periscope lens, and speeds of 60W for charging. For a deeper dive into its offerings, refer to our review.
Specific Upgrades for Galaxy S26
The Samsung Galaxy S26 received enhancements, including a larger 4,300mAh battery (up 300mAh) and a new base storage option of 256GB, matching its counterparts. Additionally, it features a slightly enlarged 6.3” display compared to its predecessor. Review insights will be available soon. Similar to the Plus model, the S26 also includes a $100 gift card, along with an extra $50 Amazon credit, which the Plus does not have.
Legacy Devices and Pricing Comparison
While the S25 Ultra is currently unavailable, the older Galaxy S25+ remains in circulation, featuring minor upgrades compared to the S26+. Improvements include the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and an increase of 5W in wireless charging (now 20W), but the wired charging capabilities remain at 45W. If we compare prices, the S25+ at 512GB costs $300 less (or $200 less if considering the gift card) than the S26+ without the 512GB free upgrade.
Competing Options in the Market
For around half the price, the Galaxy S25 FE is available, though it comes with inferior specifications, including a 6.7” display with lower resolution and an older Exynos 2400 chipset. In terms of camera performance, while they vary slightly, previous comparisons showed close results between the S25+ and S25 FE.
Upcoming Reviews and New Releases
Alongside the S26 series, Samsung has also introduced the Galaxy Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, with reviews coming soon to offer insights into these new audio products.
We may receive a commission from qualifying sales.
