Samsung Galaxy S26+ vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Verdict

Samsung Galaxy S26+ scores higher on the OH Rank (81 vs 79), winning 2 of 10 categories including Performance and Battery. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is 1.8mm wider than Samsung Galaxy S26+. Samsung Galaxy S26+ is the more recent release, from Mar 4, 2026.

Score Breakdown

Category

Samsung Galaxy S26+

75.8mm (2.98in) · Mar 4, 2026 · Rank #6

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

77.6mm (3.06in) · Feb 3, 2025 · Rank #12
Performance /15
13
11
Battery /15
10
7
Screen /15
15
15
IP Protection /15
12
12
Main Camera /15
12
14
Selfie /5
5
5
Video /5
4
5
SD Memory /5
0
0
Software /5
5
5
Desktop Replacement /5
5
5
TOTAL
81
79
Samsung Galaxy S26+
75.8mm (2.98in) · Mar 4, 2026 · Rank #6
13+10+15+12+12+5+4+0+5+5 = 81
* TOP Screen* TOP Selfie* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement

EDITORIAL: Like with all S models this year, Samsung saw no reason to innovate – the S26+ gets an upgraded processor and 25W (instead of 15W) wireless charging. Everything else stays the same. Still it is a top flagship phone with great performance, top screen, very good imaging and DeX, 7 years of stabile and feature rich OS, plus tons of AI tricks

PROs
just 7mm thick, excellent build, fast SD 8 Elite Gen 5 (EU gets Exynos 2600) with UFS 4.0 performance, >1400nits bright >500ppi LTPO AMOLED screen with HDR10+ support, IP69 protection, reliable 50MP 24mm main + 10MP 67mm tele (both OIS PDAF) + 12MP 13mm back setup, excellent (from Feb 2023) 12MP 26mm dual pixel PDAF selfie, solid video recording, feature-packed OneOS with 7 years of updates, industry leading (with Pixel and Honor) AI integration, excellent DeX (Desktop eXperience) multi window desktop replacement environment and a fast USBC 3.2 port with DisplayPort and OTG features
CONs
same as S25+ but for much higher price, small 4900mAh Lithium battery with >60min 45W (25W wireless) charging, no expandable memory, kill-joy lack of innovation and improvement
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
77.6mm (3.06in) · Feb 3, 2025 · Rank #12
11+7+15+12+14+5+5+0+5+5 = 79
FLY* TOP Selfie* TOP Video Recording* TOP Software* TOP Desktop Replacement* TOP Screen

EDITORIAL: The S25 Ultra may be an incremental upgrade in hardware and camera tech but it is a world leader in AI functionality as Samsung turns to AI software to set itself apart from the competition. This is a phone with top performance, a full day of battery life, excellent photo and video results and 7 years of very stable OS package. Included is DeX - still the very best desktop replacement software there is. The screen, while not the brightest minimizes reflections and is more usable outdoors than any other. This year, Samsung decided to give us an Ultra with improved battery endurance and faster charging too. The lack of expandable memory is the only thing keeping the S25 Ultra back. The included stylus lost its Bluetooth but still works great.

PROs
Snapdragon 8 Elite, >1400nits ~500ppi LTPO AMOLED screen with HDR10+ and anti reflective coating, excellent 200MP main camera joined by 10MP and 50MP telephoto lenses and a 50MP ultrawide, tried and true 12MP PDAF Selfie, 7 years of OS updates and AI features ahead of the pack, amazing DeX computer replacement software
CONs
218gr 77.6mm wide glass and metal brick with a small 5000mAh battery, >60min slow 45W (15W wireless) charging, Samsung's refusal to include expandable SDmemory storage (do you know how big are these 8k video files?), the ecosystem that's trying to lock you in since 2019

Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.

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