Updated 12 Nov 2026
Is the Samsung Galaxy S26+ worth it?
Only if you want a big screen and don't need the Ultra's extras.
It has a sharp 6.7-inch screen, a 4,900 mAh battery that lasts well, 45W wired and 20W wireless charging, and at 190 g it's lighter than the Ultra. The cameras are the same as the smaller S26's, so there's no 5x zoom, and there's no S Pen or anti-glare screen. It has barely changed from the S25+, and reviewers find it squeezed between the cheaper S26 and the Ultra, which is often only a little dearer on offer. In the UK and Europe it uses the Exynos 2600 chip, which kept its speed well under long loads.
95%of 80 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Big, sharp 6.7-inch screen
- 45W charging and a long-lasting battery
- Lighter than the Ultra
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What owners say
Owners praise the camera, the battery and how easy it was to move over from their old phone. The few complaints: little change from older models and fussy software.
Good to know
- The cameras are the smaller S26's: no 5x zoom.
- Almost unchanged from the S25+.
- No charger in the box.
- No magnets for Qi2 chargers built in: that needs a magnetic case.
From 80 buyer ratings at Currys, every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Good cameraMentioned a lot
- Easy to set up and useMentioned a lot
- Battery lasts wellMentioned a lot
- Big, clear screenAlso mentioned
- Looks goodAlso mentioned
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 4 of 80 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You want a big screen and long battery life.
- You don't need a 5x zoom or the S Pen.
- You want a big phone that's lighter than the Ultra.
Skip it if…
- The Ultra is only a little dearer where you shop: it adds the 5x zoom, S Pen and anti-glare screen.
- You want a phone for one hand: the S26 is much smaller.
More on the Galaxy S26+
How we reached this verdict
Tom's Guide calls it a great phone that few people will want, caught between the S26 and the Ultra; its 45W charging filled 71% of the battery in half an hour in its test. GSMArena finds it easy to like and hard to recommend: very good battery life and fast, steady performance from the Exynos 2600, but a very minor upgrade on the S25+. Android Central says the price rise makes it hard to pick over the better-equipped Ultra. Only 4 of the 80 verified owners we read gave it 3 stars or less. Specs from Samsung UK.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Tom's Guide, GSMArena, Android Central, Samsung, TechRadar, Expert Reviews, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 12 Nov 2026How we decide