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Samsung Galaxy S26+
Critic score how good?
76
Mixed · average of 9 professional reviews
Critic agreement how sure?
One dissenter
Scores 60–80 · 3 of 9 recommend it
Where the 9 reviews landed Range 60–80
Score 76 (exact average 75.6). Every score was printed by the outlet.
Expert Reviews is the dissenter: it scored it lower than the others. Its review has no printed score; we read it as 60/100. The other 8 average 78.
Image: Samsung
9 professional reviewers tested the Samsung Galaxy S26+, and 3 recommend it. Most praised: performance and battery life. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by TechRadar, Digital Trends, Trusted Reviews and 6 more
The catch: It barely improves on last year and costs more, with slow charging.
What 9 critics said Highest score first · all converted to 0–100 80 TechRadar Hands-on review · 2026
A well-rounded, fast flagship with a great display and all-day battery, undermined by a price increase and slow charging.
Read ↗ TechRadar review 80 Digital Trends Hands-on review · 2026
Fast, reliable and well-made, but a very predictable phone that offers no strong reason to pick it over its siblings.
Read ↗ Digital Trends review 80 Trusted Reviews Hands-on review · 2026
A fast, handsome and capable phone that is a sensible cheaper alternative to the Ultra.
Read ↗ Trusted Reviews review 80 Tech Advisor Hands-on review · 2026
A refined, attractive compact flagship that does nearly everything well but little brilliantly.
Read ↗ Tech Advisor review 80 Tom's Guide Hands-on review · 2026
A good phone that does everything well, but its audience is narrow because the Ultra beats it on cameras and battery while the standard S26 is cheaper.
Read ↗ Tom's Guide review 80 Engadget Hands-on review · 2026
A solid, premium but safe phone that is too similar to last year's model, with weak AI extras and shorter battery life on the Exynos version.
Read ↗ Engadget review 70 WIRED Hands-on review
A competent flagship with fast performance, good screens and long support, but it barely improves on last year and costs more.
Read ↗ WIRED review 70 Android Central Hands-on review · 2026
Fast with smooth software, but the larger body, higher price, old cameras and slow charging make it hard to recommend at full price.
Read ↗ Android Central review 60 Expert Reviews Hands-on review · 2026
A solid but unnecessary phone that costs more for nearly the same hardware as last year.
Read ↗ Expert Reviews review
What critics praise most Performance 7 of 9
Battery life 5 of 9
Picture quality 4 of 9
What critics dislike most Price 4 of 9
Battery life 2 of 9
Other smartphones critics rate highly
Compare head to head Compare the Samsung Galaxy S26+ with Choose one… Samsung Galaxy S25+ · 80, clear consensus Oppo Find X9 Ultra · 94, clear consensus Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max · 91, clear consensus Apple iPhone 17 · 90, clear consensus Oppo Find X9 Pro · 90, clear consensus Apple iPhone 17 Pro · 90, general agreement Apple iPhone 18 Pro · 89, general agreement Google Pixel 9a · 89, general agreement Xiaomi 17 Ultra · 89, general agreement Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max · 88, clear consensus Xiaomi 15 Ultra · 88, clear consensus CMF Phone 2 Pro · 88, general agreement OnePlus 13 · 88, general agreement Xiaomi 15T Pro · 88, general agreement OnePlus 15 · 88, general agreement Honor Magic V5 · 87, clear consensus Oppo Find X8 Pro · 87, clear consensus Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 · 87, general agreement Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra · 86, clear consensus Poco X8 Pro Max · 86, clear consensus Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra · 86, general agreement Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 · 85, clear consensus Honor 600 · 85, clear consensus Poco F8 Ultra · 85, clear consensus Poco F9 Ultra · 85, clear consensus Xiaomi 17 · 85, clear consensus Google Pixel 9 Pro · 85, general agreement Honor Magic V6 · 85, general agreement Motorola Razr Fold · 85, one dissenter Redmagic 11 Pro · 84, clear consensus Honor 400 · 84, clear consensus Honor 400 Pro · 84, general agreement OnePlus 13R · 83, clear consensus Motorola Edge 70 Fusion · 83, clear consensus Oppo Find X10 Pro Max · 83, clear consensus Xiaomi 17T Pro · 82, clear consensus Nothing Phone (4a) · 82, clear consensus Apple iPhone Duo · 82, general agreement Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra · 82, general agreement Poco X6 Pro · 82, general agreement Google Pixel 10a · 81, clear consensus Google Pixel 10 · 81, general agreement Nothing Phone (3a) Pro · 81, general agreement Poco F7 · 81, general agreement Samsung Galaxy S25 FE · 81, general agreement Samsung Galaxy S25 · 80, clear consensus Honor 600 Pro · 80, clear consensus Xiaomi 17T · 80, clear consensus Honor Magic 7 Pro · 80, clear consensus Motorola Edge 60 Pro · 80, clear consensus Samsung Galaxy A56 · 80, general agreement Google Pixel 10 Pro XL · 80, one dissenter Google Pixel 11 · 80, split verdict Apple iPhone Air · 79, general agreement Poco X7 Pro · 79, general agreement Poco F7 Ultra · 79, general agreement Nothing Phone (4a) Pro · 79, split verdict Samsung Galaxy S26 · 78, clear consensus Fairphone 6 Plus · 78, clear consensus Google Pixel 11 Pro · 78, clear consensus Honor Magic 8 Lite · 78, clear consensus Oppo Reno 13 Pro · 78, clear consensus Samsung Galaxy A57 · 78, clear consensus Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 · 78, clear consensus OnePlus Nord 5 · 78, general agreement Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) · 78, general agreement Google Pixel 10 Pro · 78, one dissenter Honor Magic 8 Pro · 78, split verdict Apple iPhone 17e · 77, clear consensus Apple iPhone 16e · 77, general agreement OnePlus 15R · 77, general agreement Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold · 76, general agreement Nothing Phone (3) · 75, one dissenter Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE · 73, general agreement Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold · 73, one dissenter Google Pixel 11 Pro XL · 72, general agreement Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge · 72, general agreement Motorola Edge 70 · 72, general agreement Poco X7 · 72, one dissenter Motorola Moto G Stylus (2026) · 69, general agreement Samsung Galaxy S26 FE · 67, general agreement
Also reviewed, not yet scored
Common questions Is the Samsung Galaxy S26+ worth it? Critics are divided: 3 of 9 recommend it. It barely improves on last year and costs more, with slow charging.
Do critics agree about the Samsung Galaxy S26+? Critic agreement: one dissenter. Scores range from 60 (Expert Reviews) to 80 (TechRadar), a spread of 20 points across 9 reviews. Expert Reviews is the dissenter: it scored it lower than the others. Its review has no printed score; we read it as 60/100. The other 8 average 78.
What do critics dislike about the Samsung Galaxy S26+? Price (4 of 9 reviews), Battery life (2 of 9 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S26+? The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (critic score 91 (clear consensus)), top pick, narrowly.