Simply how a lot does one cellphone change in a yr, anyway?
That is what we’re right here to search out out. Samsung simply launched its Galaxy S26 Extremely flagship handset at a Galaxy Unpacked occasion in San Francisco, which suggests it is time to see the way it compares to the Galaxy S25 Extremely from a yr in the past. Each telephones are highly effective Android gadgets, however one would hope that an additional yr has given Samsung a while to refine and enhance the S26 Extremely.
We have solely gotten just a little hands-on time with the most recent flagship, and we’ll have a full evaluate coming quickly. Within the meantime, this is how the 2 telephones evaluate by way of worth, specs, and have set.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Value
The brand new Galaxy S26 Extremely.
Credit score: Chris Taylor / Mashable
This one’s straightforward. The S25 Extremely launched at $1,299.99 final yr, and so did the S26 Extremely this yr. Samsung did not enhance the worth year-over-year, which can make this comparability simpler. (The S26 and S26 plus did get a worth enhance, nonetheless.)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Specs and show
Listed below are the essential specs of the Galaxy S25 Extremely:
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6.9-inch AMOLED show with adaptive 120Hz refresh price and 3120×1440 decision
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Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor
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256GB/512GB/1TB storage choices
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12GB RAM
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5,000mAh battery
And listed below are the identical specs for Galaxy S26 Extremely for easy comparability’s sake:
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6.9-inch AMOLED show with adaptive 1-120Hz refresh price and 3120×1440 decision
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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
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256/512GB/1TB storage choices
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12/16GB RAM
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5,000mAh battery
As you may see, Samsung did not rock the boat with this annual improve. Each telephones seemingly have virtually the very same show specs, in addition to the identical battery sizes. That mentioned, Samsung did make some modifications for 2026. The processor is newer and theoretically extra highly effective, and the 1TB storage mannequin additionally comes with a rise to 16GB RAM. Which means efficiency must be higher on the brand new cellphone, although it stays to be seen simply by how a lot.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Design
The S25 Extremely’s again finish.
Credit score: Joe Maldonado/Mashable
Samsung did not reinvent the wheel when it got here to the bodily design of the S26 Extremely, nevertheless it’s not precisely the identical because the S25 Extremely, both.
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For starters, the brand new cellphone may be very barely thinner and lighter than final yr’s mannequin. Samsung additionally raised the rear digicam up just a little bit, that means they jut out extra prominently from the cellphone’s profile than they did earlier than. It isn’t solely clear from the place we stand why Samsung did that, nevertheless it did, so it is value stating. Lastly, based mostly on our brief time with the machine, it has a much less boxy design total.
Listed below are the accessible colours for the S25 Extremely:
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Titanium Gray
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Titanium Whitesilver
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Titanium Silverblue
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Titanium Black
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Titanium Pinkgold
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Titanium Jadegreen
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Titanium Jetblack
And listed below are the colours for the S26 Extremely:
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Cobalt Violet
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Sky Blue
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Black
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White
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Silver Shadow
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Pink Gold
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Prime new options
As for what’s new with the S26 Extremely, the most important reply would most likely be Privateness Show. This can be a new, built-in characteristic on the machine stage that can dim the display screen to anybody taking a look at it from an off angle, hopefully giving customers some peace of thoughts as they take a look at…no matter they’re taking a look at in public. We do not but understand how properly this works on account of a scarcity of direct testing, however the S25 Extremely did not have this, and the S26 Extremely does.
Past that, the S26 Extremely brings 60-watt quick charging to the combination. When you’ve got a suitable charger and are bored with ready round in your cellphone to replenish, that is nice information.
The brand new Privateness Show characteristic in motion.
Credit score: Amanda Yeo / Mashable
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Cameras
Samsung’s S Collection telephones are overdue for digicam upgrades, and the S26 has the products.
Each the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely and its predecessor characteristic 4 rear cameras: 200MP huge, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, 10MP with 3x optical zoom. Each gadgets even have a front-facing 12MP selfie digicam.
Nonetheless, in keeping with Samsung, the brand new Galaxy S26 Extremely options wider digicam apertures, permitting extra gentle to enter and leading to clearer and extra detailed pictures. The corporate additionally says the Galaxy S26 Extremely has upgraded Tremendous Regular capabilities for smoother 4K video and Enhanced Nightography Video to boost output in low-light settings.
General, you may count on a greater digicam system with the S26 Extremely, which isn’t any shock.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely vs. S25 Extremely: Extra AI options
Just like the S25 Extremely, the S26 Extremely will generate a every day briefing.
Credit score: Chris Taylor / Mashable
Credit score: Chris Taylor / Mashable
Samsung has made some upgrades to the general AI characteristic set with the S26 Extremely. Unsurprisingly, the S26 is being known as an “agentic” cellphone with a unified synthetic intelligence expertise throughout all of your gadgets, and Galaxy Unpacked centered closely on AI. As one instance, the S26 Extremely will supply AI name screening, answering calls and taking notes once you’re too busy to reply. Customers may also select between Samsung’s Bixby, Google Gemini, and Perplexity.
As well as, the S26 Extremely has a brand new suite of AI picture and video modifying instruments, dubbed Inventive Studio. A new AI picture editor can be constructed instantly into the digicam app. Customers can describe the edits they need, and the AI will care for the remaining.
