What's the price difference between S26 Plus and S25 Plus?

The S25 Plus started at $999 for 256GB. The S26 Plus starts at $1,099 for 256GB — a $100 premium for a faster processor, faster wireless charging, and Gorilla Armor glass.

Is Exynos 2600 good enough competitively?

Yes — Exynos 2600 delivers performance close to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with improved power efficiency compared to previous Exynos generations. The performance gap between Snapdragon and Exynos has narrowed considerably in 2026.

Who benefits most from the S26 Plus upgrade?

The S26 Plus is the better choice for performance-focused users, while the S25 Plus remains a strong alternative for those prioritizing value over incremental improvements.

Did the selfie camera improve?

Selfies are almost identical, but it's worth noting that even though the focal length and field of view are the same, the selfie from the Galaxy S26 Plus feels a bit wider.

Is the lack of built-in Qi2 a dealbreaker?

You can get Qi2 functionality by using a magnetic case, but you shouldn't have to do so on a 2026 flagship that costs over a thousand dollars. For most users it's an inconvenience rather than a dealbreaker, but it's a notable omission at this price tier.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus vs S25 Plus — Is the Upgrade Worth It? Processor, Battery, Camera and Price Compared

Galaxy S26 Plus vs S25 Plus — Full Comparative Review

The Galaxy S26 Plus comes with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy for users in the US, China and Japan, while the rest of the world gets the new Exynos 2600 — compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite for all S25 Plus users last year.

Design — Minimal Changes

The S26 Plus looks and feels nearly identical to the previous generation. It has the same screen, the same battery, the same camera system, and the same size and weight. The only notable difference is the new oval-shaped camera bump as opposed to the separate cutouts on the S25 Plus.

Materials see a slight upgrade — Gorilla Armor instead of Victus 2 on the S25 Plus, meaning better durability and scratch resistance.

Display — Practically Identical

The two devices are seemingly equipped with identical screens featuring the same resolution, measuring 6.7 inches in diagonal and supporting up to 120Hz. Both LTPO, of course. Display brightness tests confirm the same 1,400+ nits result.

Performance — The Only Meaningful Hardware Change

The performance section is likely the most interesting one, as this is the only meaningful hardware change.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 delivers improvements in power efficiency and sustained performance compared to its predecessor.

Battery — Improvement Despite Identical Capacity

Contrary to expectations, the two phones don't show the same battery endurance despite sharing an identical display and battery capacity. Somehow, Samsung managed to squeeze out a bit more from the 4,900mAh battery this year — it could be the Exynos, but it could also be the newer One UI software.

Charging — Limited Wireless Upgrade

The S26 Plus bumps wireless charging from 15W on the S25 Plus to 20W — a slight but welcome improvement. Wired charging stays at 45W for both phones.

What's truly baffling is that the S26 Plus still lacks integrated built-in magnets for native Qi2 magnetic charging. Google Pixel 10 Pro has full built-in magnetic charging support already. And then there are phones like the OnePlus 15, which are in a league of their own in terms of charging speeds.

Camera — Marginal Rather Than Meaningful Improvements

Main camera results are marginally better out of the S26 Plus than the S25 Plus — most of the time. Neither is great, it's just that the new model just might expose brighter and be a little bit cleaner — not always, but the stats are in its favor.

Galaxies have been straying off the right path with their full-auto low-light performance for a few years, and the 2026 models are probably even less convincing once it goes dark than the 2025 bunch.

Audio — The Clear Winner

While the Galaxy S25 Plus has a louder set of speakers, the S26 Plus offers better tuning — a warmer, deeper sound without overpowering the vocals and mids. If we had to choose, we'd definitely go for the newer Plus. The loudness difference is somewhat negligible.

The Verdict

If you already own the Galaxy S25 Plus (or the S24 Plus for that matter), there's little to no reason to upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Plus. If you're coming from an older generation or looking to dip your toes into Samsung's ecosystem, the S26 Plus could be a decent choice.