The Galaxy S26+ is the most challenging phone of 2026.
Last year’s S25+ was a slam dunk for buyers who didn’t need the upgraded ultrawide lens and S Pen of the more expensive S25 Ultra. It finally felt like we had a legitimate $1,000 off-ramp that didn’t feel watered down like the Galaxy S22+.
Unfortunately, that same feeling hasn’t carried forward to 2026. A price increase and lackluster upgrades make for a poor recipe for success, and that’s precisely what Samsung gives us with the S26+.
As frustrating as it may be, it’s still a solid device, and under the right circumstances, you might be able to get away with spending less and picking up a Galaxy S26+.
Why your next Android upgrade is about to cost $100 more for the same specs
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Android upgrades are becoming a bad deal
There are plenty of reasons to buy the Galaxy S26+
An upgraded chipset and fantastic software
If you didn’t tell me the price and handed me the Galaxy S26+, I’d enjoy it. I still believe that in a perfect world, it would be the ideal alternative to the painfully expensive S26 Ultra.
While Samsung hasn’t made many material changes, the Galaxy S26+ has plenty going for it.
Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset is powerful and power-efficient. It’s not prone to overheating, and I get all the performance I could ask for — easily handling top games and intensive apps.
If, for some reason, you want to edit video on the phone’s 6.7-inch display, you can, and there’s enough horsepower for an excellent Samsung DeX experience.
It still features 12GB of RAM, which is more than enough for smooth multitasking and running Galaxy AI features.
It’s a thin and light flagship — usually not Samsung’s style. At 7.3mm thick and only 190g, it’s a refreshing change from smartphones that tip the scales well over 215g.
Would it have broken Samsung financially to give the Galaxy S26+ even the modest upgrades of the S26 Ultra?
I mentioned the display earlier, and it’s a typically gorgeous Samsung panel. Like with the Galaxy S26, I prefer it to the panel on the S26 Ultra. It has better viewing angles, and I don’t mourn the loss of the Privacy Display.
And then there’s One UI 8.5. It’s not a massive departure from One UI 8, but it didn’t need to be. It adds a couple of features I enjoy, such as Quick Panel customization, and it runs as smoothly as ever.
Even if you discount Galaxy AI completely, which I tend to do, I love the direction Samsung is going in with its software.
There are numerous reasons to love the Galaxy S26+, but there are some glaring drawbacks that are impossible to ignore.
I don’t understand what’s going on with the cameras
Some bizarre oversights for the price
Just because it’s not the most expensive phone in the Galaxy S26 lineup doesn’t mean it’s still not a $1,100 smartphone.
I don’t know the rationale for not upgrading the camera hardware for several generations. Sure, there will always be software improvements and better image processing with new chipsets, but can we at least get something?
Would it have broken Samsung financially to give the Galaxy S26+ even the modest upgrades of the S26 Ultra? A wider aperture wouldn’t ease all the pain, but it would’ve helped.
How long has Samsung been using that 200MP primary sensor on its more expensive devices? I would figure those are cheap enough now for Samsung to let that trickle down to the S26+, but it wasn’t to be.
Even with a 50MP sensor, the phone takes solid photos, but I’ve seen better from similarly priced competition, and Samsung needs to upgrade these lenses.
The battery also remains unchanged. It’s the same 4,900mAh cell as last year and the year before that.
Samsung has made it clear that silicon-carbon battery technology isn’t a priority in its devices just yet, but we’re not paying budget prices.
Which leads me to the increase. Rising prices are a fact of life in 2026, but companies typically keep spec sheets relatively unchanged to freeze prices.
There’s little justification to charge $1,100 for the Galaxy S26+, which is the dilemma.
There’s only one way to buy this phone
Wait for a deep carrier discount
Being locked into a carrier has its own drawbacks, but at least there is access to carrier deals and financing. It’s the only responsible way to buy a Galaxy S26+.
If you’re not getting a significant discount or buying it later in the year on sale, I can’t recommend it. I’d take my $1,100 elsewhere, or as much as it pains me to say, pay up for a Galaxy S26 Ultra because you do get more.
The Galaxy S26+ is trapped in an awkward limbo, and it wouldn’t be so bad if the phone didn’t feel forgotten.
Thankfully, carrier deals are fast and furious. Yes, you’ll have to live with a three-year commitment, but if you don’t switch carriers often, it’s the way to go on this phone.
Samsung did the next worst thing
I always worried that Samsung would push buyers towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra by nerfing the S26+.
The company’s done it before, and I cringe at the thought of the days we had to pay $1,000 for a 1080p display and 8GB of RAM on the Galaxy S22+.
Unfortunately, Samsung did the next worst thing by increasing the price. It’s forcing buyers to either pay more for the Ultra or avoid the phone completely, maybe opting for last year’s model.
The Galaxy S26+ remains a solid phone, but please do me a favor and never pay retail.
