Samsung Galaxy S26 vs. Galaxy S25 comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series has finally been launched in Australia, with three new phones – Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra -  and a range of new features worth upgrading for.

Whether you’re curious about upgrading to the latest generation or just want to be across the latest breakthroughs from Samsung, it’s worth comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 to last year’s S25 Series. Here’s everything you need to know about the new phones.

Not familiar with the S26 range yet? Our Introduction to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series overview walks through the major highlights. 

Breakdown: What’s new in the Galaxy S26 Series?

• New Galaxy AI features (1)
• Processor upgrade
• Privacy Display feature
• New colours

Samsung’s latest generation of smartphones mark the third year of Galaxy AI  feature drops. This year, Samsung is focused on refinement, improving its technology with peace of mind tools. 

Picture editing has long been a focus of Galaxy AI, and now it’s easier than ever to make quick adjustments to photos. A history of AI edits you’ve made to an image is now provided in the Photos app, allowing you to quickly return to previous versions. 

Moving objects in a picture around, adding different image styles (such as a cartoon or sci-fi filter), or adding an extra item to a photo can now be done with a few taps, and if you want to make several different edits, you can now do so without needing to save your changes every time. 

Beyond Galaxy AI, there are other big changes to take note of. The first is a gentle evolution to the exterior design, adding a protruding camera bump to the three lenses on the back. The Ultra model now looks similar to the standard S26 and the S26 Plus, with a more unified design across all devices.

A new feature called Privacy Display also comes on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. With this enabled, the screen will be dimmed to anybody not looking directly at it, making it more difficult for onlookers to see what is on your display.  

Below you’ll find some of the most important specification differences between the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and the new Galaxy S26 range.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 comes with a higher capacity-rated battery than the Galaxy S25, along with a slightly bigger screen and the new Exynos 2600 processor. It’s a slightly bigger handset while remaining comfortable in-hand and pocket-friendly. 

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus packs a newer and more capable processor than the Galaxy S25 from last year, ensuring powerful all-day reliability. It remains the larger counterpart to the standard Galaxy S26 device, perfect for anybody who wants a bigger screen.

The Ultimate device of the Samsung Galaxy S26 range, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly larger than its S25 Ultra predecessor comes fitted with the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. It’s lighter than the S26 Ultra, and its body has received a redesign to fit in alongside other phones the S26 family. Expect impressive durability³ with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, along with exceptional gaming, streaming and photography capabilities.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is slightly slimmer than the S25 Ultra from last year, with a range of new and exciting colours available for the top-end device.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 range innovates on what made the Galaxy S25 family of devices already so good. A bold design with a protruding camera bump, more powerful processors and new Galaxy AI features make these phones unmistakable pocket powerhouses, and a new range of colour options means there’s an option for everyone.

Device disclaimers

1. Certain AI features require Samsung and Google Account. Internet connection may be required to use some features.
2. Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard.
3. Galaxy S26 devices have an IP68 rating based on lab test conditions. These devices are dust resistant and water resistant for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Ensure the charging port is dry before charging. Please refer to your device's user manual for further care instructions and limitations.