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For a new phone at a similar price, choose the Galaxy S26: its US launch base model starts with 256GB, and it brings a newer processor, a slightly larger screen and newer software features. Choose the Galaxy S25 if it is meaningfully cheaper or you prefer a smaller, lighter phone. If you already own an S25, the S26’s changes are not a compelling reason to upgrade on their own.
Galaxy S25 vs S26 at a glance
| What matters | Galaxy S25 | Galaxy S26 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
| Dimensions and weight | 70.5 × 146.9 × 7.2mm; 162g | 71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2mm; 167g |
| Battery capacity | 4,000mAh | 4,300mAh |
| Base camera highlights | 50MP main camera; 3x optical zoom | 50MP main camera; 3x optical zoom |
| Software identified in Samsung’s comparison | Not stated | One UI 8.5 |
| US launch base configuration and price | 128GB at $799 | 256GB at $899 |
Specifications and US launch prices above are from Samsung’s official product information and Tom’s Guide’s March 20, 2026 comparison. The prices are historical launch figures, not verified current offers; availability and configurations can differ by market.
Which phone should you buy?
Choose the Galaxy S26 if you are buying new at similar prices
The S26 is the stronger default when the two cost about the same in your market and you are comparing the same storage tier and purchase terms. It is the newer generation, starts at 256GB in the reported US launch configuration, and adds a slightly larger display, newer processor options and features in One UI 8.5.
Choose the Galaxy S25 if the discount is substantial
The S25 remains a sensible buy if its current local price is meaningfully lower and you do not need the S26’s newer hardware or software features. Compare like with like: storage capacity, unlocked versus carrier-locked status, and whether the price is an ongoing offer or a temporary promotion. The launch-price gap alone cannot tell you which is the better deal today.
#1 Best Overall
- MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25+ handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
- START THE DAY SMARTER: Stay one step ahead with a phone that gives you the info you need before you even know you need it with Now Brief.²
- REDUCE THE NOISE. REVEAL THE MAGIC: AI Camera with Audio Eraser lets you capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions.³
- BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERY FACE: Capture every portrait with clarity and confidence on the Galaxy S25+ Series. The advanced portrait features adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, giving every shot a polished, professional look.
- MORE POWER TO YOU: Reimagine what’s possible with the Galaxy S25+, featuring our most powerful processor yet. Effortlessly translate your calls, slow down a video, or edit your photos without skipping a beat.
Keep your S25 unless you can name a specific unmet need
The S26 has upgrades, but its base camera hardware is closely matched and the display change is modest. If your S25 meets your needs, those differences do not by themselves make an upgrade worthwhile. Consider switching if a concrete need—such as more base storage in the relevant market, newer performance, or a particular software feature—justifies your actual upgrade cost.
How different are the screens and sizes?
Samsung lists a 6.3-inch display for the S26 and 6.2 inches for the S25. Both are FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with a 120Hz refresh rate. Tom’s Guide describes their resolution and adaptive 1–120Hz behavior as otherwise similar, so the S26’s main display distinction is that it is a little larger.
Rank #2
- 6.2" Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X QHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
- 128GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 830 GPU, 4000mAh Battery
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, wide + 10MP, f/2.4, telephoto + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, wide
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: UMTS 1(2100)/2(1900)/4(AWS)/5(850)/8(900), 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: N1/2/5/7/25/28/41/66/71/77/78/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
- US Model - Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
The larger panel comes with a slightly bigger, heavier phone: Samsung lists the S26 at 167g and 71.7 × 149.6 × 7.2mm, compared with 162g and 70.5 × 146.9 × 7.2mm for the S25. If a compact feel matters more than extra screen area, the S25 has the edge.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWill an S25 case fit an S26?
No. The phones have different dimensions, and Tom’s Guide notes that S25 cases do not fit the S26. Buy a case made for the exact model rather than relying on the similar design or screen size.
Rank #3
- 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 5G bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
- Dimensions 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm (5.78 x 2.78 x 0.28 in) Weight 162 g (5.71 oz) Build Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame SIM Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
- Display Type Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 480Hz PWM, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak) Size 6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) Protection Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- OS Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 Chipset Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) CPU Octa-core (2x4.47 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) GPU Adreno 830
- Main Camera Triple 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video Features Best Face, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama Video 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Does the S26 perform faster?
In Tom’s Guide’s tests of its Snapdragon configurations, the S26 scored higher than the S25 in both processor and graphics benchmarks. Geekbench results were 3,531 versus 2,916 in single-core and 10,778 versus 9,886 in multi-core; 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited results were 7,059 at 42.27 frames per second versus 5,841 at 33.9 fps. These are results from specific review samples and workloads, not a guarantee that every user will experience the same proportional difference in everyday use.
Processor choice varies by region. Tom’s Guide tested a North American Snapdragon S26 and said it had not tested an international S26. Samsung UK identifies the Exynos 2600 in its S26 and S26+ comparison. Check the processor in the specific regional model you are considering before applying the Snapdragon review results to it.
Rank #4
- 6.2" Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X QHD+, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, HDR10+, 1080x2340px, Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
- 128GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 830 GPU, 4000mAh Battery
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8, wide + 10MP, f/2.4, telephoto + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, wide
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: UMTS 1(2100)/2(1900)/4(AWS)/5(850)/8(900), 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: N1/2/5/7/25/28/41/66/71/77/78/257/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
- US Model - No Warranty. Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.
Is the S26 camera better?
There is no established across-the-board camera winner for these base models. Samsung’s UK comparison identifies a 50MP main-camera class and 3x optical zoom on both generations. Tom’s Guide found broadly similar daylight photos in its samples, with differences in image processing, digital zoom rendering and low-light examples. Those observations are specific to that review; they do not establish that one phone consistently takes better pictures in every situation.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Does the larger S26 battery last longer?
Not necessarily. Samsung rates the S26 battery at 4,300mAh and the S25 at 4,000mAh, but capacity is not the same as measured runtime. In Tom’s Guide’s custom test—continuous webpage refresh over 5G with both screens set to 150 nits—the S25 lasted 11 hours 54 minutes and the S26 lasted 11 hours 28 minutes. That is one review’s result under those conditions, not a prediction for every user or a general finding that the S25 always lasts longer.
Best Value
- MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25 handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
- START THE DAY SMARTER: Stay one step ahead with a phone that gives you the info you need before you even know you need it with Now Brief.²
- REDUCE THE NOISE. REVEAL THE MAGIC: AI Camera with Audio Eraser lets you capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions.³
- BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERY FACE: Capture every portrait with clarity and confidence on the Galaxy S25. The advanced portrait features adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, giving every shot a polished, professional look.
- MORE POWER TO YOU: Reimagine what’s possible with the Galaxy S25. featuring our most powerful processor yet. Effortlessly translate your calls, slow down a video, or edit your photos without skipping a beat.
In the same review’s charging test, both phones reached 57% after 30 minutes. That result also applies to the review’s test conditions rather than every charger or charging setup.
What software does the S26 add?
Samsung identifies One UI 8.5 on the S26 and describes newer AI features, including Now Nudge. Tom’s Guide reported proactive-assistant features in its review, but said it was uncertain which features would remain exclusive as updates reach the S25. Treat feature availability as something that can change with software updates, region and device; the available information does not establish permanent exclusivity or a rollout date for the S25.
Check the real price before deciding
Tom’s Guide reported US launch prices of $799 for the S25 with 128GB and $899 for the S26 with 256GB; it also reported that the S26 launched $40 above the S25’s 256GB configuration. These are launch-price comparisons, not current street prices. No current sale price or stock level is established here, and launch configurations may not match what is available where you live.
Compare the same storage capacity and seller terms in your market. A discounted S25 may be better value, while the S26’s larger base storage may matter if you would otherwise pay extra for an S25 storage tier. The S26’s higher launch entry price should not be treated as its current price.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
