Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: what's really new?

Rear digicam

f/1.4 200-megapixel extensive, f/1.9 50-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.4 10 megapixel 3x telephoto, f/3.4 50-megapixel 5x telephoto

Cost pace

60w Tremendous Quick Charging 3.0

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Show

6.9-inch Dynamic Tremendous AMOLED 2X
Rear digicam

f/1.7 200-megapixel extensive, f/1.9 50-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.4 10 megapixel 3x telephoto, f/3.4 50-megapixel 5x telephoto

Cost pace

45w Tremendous Quick Charging 2.0

SoC

Snapdragon 8 Elite

Show

6.9-inch Dynamic Tremendous AMOLED 2X

At its latest Galaxy Unpacked occasion, Samsung lastly pulled again the curtain on the Galaxy S26 series, introducing the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the Galaxy S26 Extremely.

The S26 Extremely, in fact, is the star of Samsung’s lineup and essentially the most highly effective flagship cellphone it has ever launched. Nevertheless, in a scenario that echoes final yr’s S25 Ultra and the S24 Extremely, the Galaxy S26 Extremely is strikingly just like the S25 Extremely, each in {hardware} and design. However there are a number of notable variations between the 2 that make this yr’s S26 Extremely standout.

With out additional ado, let’s take a better have a look at the important thing variations between the Galaxy S26 Extremely and S25 Extremely, overlaying specs, pricing, design, cameras, and extra.

Worth, specs, and availability

	Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely	Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
SoC	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5	Snapdragon 8 Elite
Show	6.9-inch Dynamic Tremendous AMOLED 2X	6.9-inch Dynamic Tremendous AMOLED 2X
RAM	12 or 16 GB	12 or 16GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB, or 1TB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000mAh
Working System	Android	One UI 7
Colours	Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold	Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Silverblue
Weight	214g	7.7oz
Rear digicam	f/1.4 200-megapixel extensive, f/1.9 50-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.4 10 megapixel 3x telephoto, f/3.4 50-megapixel 5x telephoto	f/1.7 200-megapixel extensive, f/1.9 50-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.4 10 megapixel 3x telephoto, f/3.4 50-megapixel 5x telephoto
Cost pace	60w Tremendous Quick Charging 3.0	45w Tremendous Quick Charging 2.0

Wanting again on the Galaxy S25 Extremely, it launched in February 2025 with a beginning value of $1,300 for the 256GB mannequin. The cellphone incorporates a 6.9-inch show and is offered with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage, with the 1TB possibility that includes 16GB of RAM moderately than 12GB. Coloration choices for the S25 Extremely embody Titanium Black, Titanium Grey, Titanium Whitesilver, and Titanium Silverblue.

Fortuitously, the Galaxy S26 Extremely maintains the identical beginning value of $1,300, with the identical display screen specs and storage/RAM choices because the Galaxy S25 Extremely. What’s completely different is the colour palette, because the Galaxy S26 Extremely is offered in Colbalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 Extremely can be found now, and the cellphone launches on March 11.

Design and construct

The S26 Extremely is much more rounder

For starters, the Galaxy S26 Extremely has a way more rounded look than the Galaxy S25 Extremely. The S25 Extremely began this pattern final yr, with a extra rounded design than the S24 Extremely, and Samsung has continued it, making the S26 Extremely even much less boxy and extra rounded.

Samsung has additionally made the S26 Extremely thinner and lighter this yr, measuring 7.9mm thick and weighing 214g, in contrast with the S25 Extremely’s 8.2mm thickness and 218g weight. It isn’t an enormous distinction on paper, however once I held it at a preview occasion in Toronto forward of Unpacked, the change in form and weight was noticeable. The S26 Extremely additionally nonetheless consists of the S-Pen, which, just like the S25 Extremely, lacks Bluetooth capabilities.

Other than being rounder and lighter, the opposite noticeable design change is the brand new pill-shaped rear digicam island, just like what we have seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Evaluating the scale as an entire, the S26 Extremely measures 163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9mm, whereas the S25 Extremely measures 162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2 mm, so the additional roundness has made the cellphone ever so barely taller and wider.

Show

The S26 Extremely has a brand new Privateness Show characteristic

Turning to the show, the S25 Extremely and S26 Extremely have the very same 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X show, with a 3120 x 1440-pixel decision (QHD+) and an adaptive 120Hz refresh charge.

However what’s completely different between them is that the S26 Extremely’s show has a brand-new characteristic known as Privacy Display, which helps you to activate a privateness filter on the cellphone’s display screen everytime you need to make it tougher to see from the perimeters, defending your cellphone from prying eyes.

Basically, Privateness Show works like a built-in privateness display screen protector that you may toggle on and off. You may even set it to activate mechanically for particular apps, corresponding to banking or messaging. It is fingers down one of many coolest new options on the S26 Extremely, and actually, when you attempt it, you may want each cellphone had it.

Internals

The S26 Extremely has a extra highly effective chipset and quicker charging

One other main change the S26 Extremely has in comparison with the S25 Extremely is its chipset. The S26 Extremely (and the S26 and S26+) is provided with Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is able to give the S26 Extremely a noticeable efficiency enhance over the S25 Extremely. RAM stays the identical this yr, with the S26 Extremely rocking 12GB within the 256GB and 512GB fashions and 16GB within the 1TB mannequin.

By way of battery life, the Galaxy S26 Extremely has the identical 5,000 mAh battery because the S25 Extremely. Nevertheless, the charging pace has improved. The S26 Extremely options 60W wired quick charging and 25W wi-fi charging, up from the S25 Extremely’s 40W wired and 15W wi-fi charging speeds.

Notably absent from the S26 Extremely is Qi2 magnetic charging. In the event you had been hoping Samsung would observe Google’s lead after it added magnets to the Pixel 10 series final yr, sadly, that is not the case right here.

Cameras

Related specs, completely different design

Lastly, we have now the cameras, and persevering with the theme of the S25 Extremely and S26 Extremely being very related, each are geared up with almost equivalent cameras: the S26 Extremely options an f/1.4 200-megapixel important wide-angle digicam, an f/1.9 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, an f/2.4 10-megapixel 3x telephoto lens, and a f/1.9 50-megapixel 5x telephoto sensor. The one distinction from the S25 Extremely is the 200-megapixel extensive lens: the S26 Extremely has a wider f/1.4 aperture, whereas the S25 Extremely has an f/1.7 aperture, permitting extra mild to enter the digicam sensor on the S26 Extremely and creating brighter photos.

As I discussed earlier, the digicam design is completely different this yr as effectively. As a substitute of sitting on the again, as on the S25 Extremely, the lenses now stay on a pill-shaped digicam island. It has a glance harking back to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and helps the S26 Extremely stand out extra from the S25 Extremely.

Fortunately, the black digicam rings that surrounded the lenses on the S25 Extremely are gone, too, leading to a cleaner look. I used to be actually a bit mind-boggled when Samsung added these black rings final yr, so I am simply glad they have been dropped this time round.

Verdict: Is the S26 Extremely a worthwhile improve over the S25 Extremely?

The Galaxy S26 Extremely is Samsung’s strongest smartphone but. And whereas it is largely an incremental improve over the S25 Extremely, it nonetheless has a number of significant enhancements — together with the quicker Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, improved charging speeds, and the brand new Privateness Show.

That stated, should you’re already utilizing an S25 Extremely or S24 Extremely, there’s not an entire lot right here that really justifies upgrading. However should you’re coming from an S21, S22, or S23 Extremely, the S26 Extremely is completely price a glance, particularly since Samsung has stored the beginning value at $1,300 this yr. That is notable, contemplating the S26 and S26+ each noticed $100 value hikes.

…Samsung has additional refined its top-tier flagship. It is undeniably highly effective, however not all that shocking.

Personally, I might’ve appreciated to see Samsung take a number of extra dangers with the S26 Extremely — possibly shake up the design a bit extra, just like what Apple did with the iPhone 17 Pro final yr — simply to make issues extra thrilling. A much bigger digicam leap, a bigger battery, and even built-in magnets would’ve gone a great distance, too.

Total, although, Samsung has additional refined its top-tier flagship. It is undeniably highly effective, however not all that shocking.

The Galaxy S26 Extremely is offered for pre-order now and can launch on March 11.