Better phones, but higher prices: Samsung launches the Galaxy S26 range

Samsung has unveiled its 2026 flagship phone series, the long-awaited Galaxy S26 range. This year’s update to the iconic S lineup is software and AI-focused, keeping the best hardware and features of the S25 but upgrading the overall experience and performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are also slightly more expensive than previous editions — a change that’s unfortunately not unexpected. So are the upgrades to the newest Galaxy range actually worth the rise in price (and can you find a good deal regardless)? 

When is the Samsung Galaxy S26 release date?

Australians can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S26, Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra on February 26, with phones shipping out and hitting stores from March 11.

How much does the Samsung Galaxy S26 series cost?

Samsung has confirmed the devices come with a noticeable price increase when compared to 2025’s Galaxy S25 series. The base Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ models will cost $150 more at launch than the S25 and S25+, while the S26 Ultra comes with a $50 price bump over the S25 Ultra. 

The company attributes this change to increased manufacturing costs, notably the rising price of RAM due to heavy demand. It’s something that we’re likely to see from most smartphones this year (although the recently-announced Google Pixel 10a managed to maintain 2025 pricing).

Outright Australian prices for each of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series are below.

Samsung Galaxy S26

• Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB: $1,549
• Samsung Galaxy S26 512GB: $1,849

Samsung Galaxy S26+

• Samsung Galaxy S26+ 256GB: $1,849
• Samsung Galaxy S26+ 512GB: $2,149

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB: $2,199
• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB: $2,499
• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB: $2,949

Where can I buy the Samsung Galaxy S26?

If you’re keen to buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 range on a phone plan rather than outright, all models will be available on plans from Optus, Telstra and Vodafone. 

Customers who’d rather pay for their Galaxy S26 upfront and pair it with a SIM only plan can buy from Samsung online and selected retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, Amazon and Harvey Norman.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series deals

If you’re eager to pre-order, you can score some of the following discounts and offers:

Telstra

• $700 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra when you buy on a 12, 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26+ when you buy on a 12, 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $400 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 when you buy on a 12, 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $300 bonus trade-in credit on eligible devices 

Optus

• $700 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26+ when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $748 off the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 40mm when you buy any Galaxy S26 phone on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan

Vodafone

• $700 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26+ when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $400 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 when you buy on a 24 or 36-month device payment plan
• $300 bonus trade-in credit on eligible devices 

Samsung store

• Receive $300 towards a storage upgrade
• 10% off the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 if bought in the same order

Samsung Galaxy S26: key specs

• 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen
• 12MP front camera
• Triple camera setup in rear (50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto)
• In-screen ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor and facial recognition
• Android 16 operating system with One UI 8.5
• 4,300mAh battery, Fast Wireless Charging 2.2, PowerShare
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Exynos 2600 processor
• 5G connectivity
• 256GB and 512GB storage sizes
• Available in Black, White, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, Pink Gold (Samsung.com exclusive), Silver Shadow (Samsung.com exclusive)

Samsung Galaxy S26+: key specs

• 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen
• 12MP front camera
• Triple camera setup in rear (50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto)
• In-screen ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor and facial recognition
• Android 16 operating system with One UI 8.5
• 4,900mAh battery, Fast Wireless Charging 2.2, PowerShare
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Exynos 2600 processor
• 5G connectivity
• 256GB and 512GB storage sizes
• Available in Black, White, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, Pink Gold (Samsung.com exclusive), Silver Shadow (Samsung.com exclusive)

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: key specs

• 6.9-inch Edge Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen
• 12MP front camera
• Quadruple camera setup in rear (200MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP telephoto, 10MP telephoto)
• In-screen ultra-sonic fingerprint sensor and facial recognition
• Android 16 operating system with One UI 8.5
• 5,000mAh battery, Fast Wireless Charging 2.2, PowerShare
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor
• 5G connectivity
• S Pen stylus built-in
• 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage
• Available in Black, White, Sky Blue, Cobalt Violet, Pink Gold (Samsung.com exclusive), Silver Shadow (Samsung.com exclusive)

What’s new in the Samsung Galaxy S26 series?

Design and display

Samsung has kept the S26 design similar to previous editions, but Ultra owners will notice that their phone is lighter and slimmer than ever. At only 7.9 millimetres in thickness, the S26 Ultra is the skinniest Ultra yet, and weighs in at 214 grams. 

The standard S26 gets a teeny display upgrade, coming in at 6.3 inches over last year’s 6.2, while the S26+ and S26 Ultra feature 6.7-inch and 6.9-inch displays respectively. All new models include an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.

One new feature to debut on the S26 is Samsung’s Privacy Display, which uses pixel technology to safeguard your screen from being viewed from the side, top or below. This is an industry-first feature on mobile: it’s built into the Galaxy’s hardware and can be switched on or off via the Quick Settings panel when you swipe down your screen. 

Performance

AI has quickly become the hero feature of every new premium phone release, and the S26 range is no exception. Samsung has worked to make its Galaxy AI system more intuitive and proactive, working alongside Google’s Gemini AI to offer help when users need it most. Some of the AI features available include:  

• Gemini Live: Conversational AI assistance that responds to questions and can search images and objects via the camera.
• Circle to Search: Search by circling or tapping items in photos and media, or flagging sounds in video.
• Now Nudge: Offers real-time prompts and suggestions based on what you’re currently doing.
• Now Brief: A pop-up brief that notifies you of important info in the morning, evenings and when needed, including reminders, weather and traffic, health data and a summary of your day.
• Now Bar: Fast access to key apps and essential notifications via the lock screen.
• Improved voice commands: A more conversational voice AI search that allows you to search your gallery, photos and even device settings.
• Call screening: An AI assistant automatically screens unknown numbers for you. 

The S26’s AI enhancements also include the below creative favourites:

• Photo Assist: Press and hold objects in images to erase, move, resize or adjust, and auto-fill backgrounds.
• Writing Assist: Summarise and store websites or notes, write messages and emails, translate text, correct grammar and spelling, and more. 
• Audio Eraser: Remove distracting or unwanted sounds in video, including in selected third-party apps like Netflix and YouTube. 
• Creative Studio: Create images from a prompt or sketch.

The Galaxy S26 series also sees the return of an OG: Bixby is back! Samsung’s on-device assistant has been pushed aside in recent years in favour of Galaxy AI and Gemini, but is making a comeback as Samsung’s go-to helper for smart home and ecosystem integration. S26 owners can use the newer, more advanced Bixby to control other Samsung devices and connected home features like lights, sound systems and cameras.

Powering it all on the Galaxy S26 and S26+ is a customised Exynos 2600 processor, while the luxury S26 Ultra features the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Samsung promises the Snapdragon chipset offers a 39% faster NPU, 24% faster GPU and a 19% boost to the CPU. Combined with a redesigned vapour chamber, the Ultra is specially designed for gamers, as well as serious multitaskers and buyers who plan to make the most of the phone’s hefty AI enhancements.

Cameras

Samsung has rolled over the camera lineups and sizes from 2025, looking instead to software and AI improvements to fine-tune the Galaxy’s photography capabilities. 

Both the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ include a 50-megapixel wide camera, 10-megapixel telephoto camera, and 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera in the back, offering up to 3x Optical Zoom. 

In comparison, the Ultra includes four rear cameras: 200-megapixel wide, 50-megapixel ultra-wide, 50-megapixel telephoto and 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, plus up to 10x Optical Quality Zoom. Samsung has also increased the aperture on the 200MP sensor, meaning an even stronger performance in low-light conditions. 

Some of the photo/video modes and features offered include:

• 8K video recording
• Portrait Mode
• Nightography (advanced on the S26 Ultra)
• Pro Mode 
• Expert RAW
• Panorama
• Single Take
• Macro
• Hyperlapse/Time Lapse
• Dual recording (front and back cameras)

All three new Galaxy smartphones also include a 12-megapixel front camera with a wide field of view, for better selfie and group pic options.

Battery and extras

You’ll get a 5,000mAh battery on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, 4,900mAh on the S26+, and 4,300mAh on the standard Galaxy S26: equal to over 30 hours of video playback on all devices. All three models are compatible with fast wired charging, which can boost the battery from zero charge to 69% in around 30 minutes. 

Each new Galaxy runs Android 16 with Samsung’s One UI 8.5 interface. Other features include 5G connectivity, dual SIM capability, eSIM and Samsung’s Knox security platform. 

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 series?

From Canstar's first hands-on impressions, the new Galaxies are as solid and stylish as we've come to expect from Samsung. If you're overdue for an upgrade and want a high-quality Android phone that will easily carry you through the next few years, the S26 series is worth considering. Power users and professionals who need a strong all-day performance may be suited to the Ultra's big display and S-Pen integration, but all three devices are packed with excellent specs.

But if you're looking for something a bit cheaper, don't sleep on last year's Galaxy models — you'll get nearly the same hardware and features, but can potentially get a great deal as telcos and retailers clear out stock of older devices.